Computer Golf Design

[LeeH]

I thought Jeremy might like these,
this is all from a design package thats very similar to 3d studio max but costs about 30 or 40 dollars



http://dynamic3.gamespy.com/~links/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001548


http://www.geocities.com/mikescourses/newpreviews.html

http://www.geocities.com/mikescourses/ElEscorpion.html

http://www.geocities.com/mikescourses/northerndunes.html

http://www.geocities.com/mikescourses/driftwood.html

[LeeH]

http://www.geocities.com/mikescourses/previews.html

some nice ones of sand hills style

it helps if you have some talent like Mike, hes actually a real life pro whos just missed out on his european tour card this year

[Richard Chamberlain]

Lee

Thanks for the tip.
I have never seen graphics like it. I did a bit of snooping in the Links design circles and this Mike fella seems to be one of the guru's. I hope its not too hard to learn.

If those graphics can be produced from design contours we're really onto something.

[Steve Pozaric]

Pretty nice work.  I tried to mess around a little with the APCD, but it seems to have a pretty steep learning curve.

Steve

[jglenn]

Lee,

You're right.  They do indeed look very good.  Surprisingly good, really.  And for 30 bucks, how can you go wrong?

I would buy it in a second if there was an easy and quick way to

a) Transfer to and from CAD, or...
b) ...lacking the first point, control contours and elevations with the speed, ease and accuracy necessary to portray realistic representations of our designs.  I'd have to look at it a bit closer (we actually have Links 2001 in our office, believe or not!).

Thanks for sharing.

[LeeHarris]

You can quite easily import actual DEM models (digital elevation) from many sites eg the US government
they are accurate to about 10 feet

while its not totally easy to recreate real life plots without some practice, it can be done and with a much higher degree of accuracy than other game sims, since it is basically a cad program

its not easy to make things look like Mike does, in fact theres only a handful of guys who can do it, but I would say its easy to anyone who has any familiarity with CAD and can handle the planting of the trees and stuff (the artistic bit is the hardest for most of us, but I guess if youre copying from a real course thats not too hard either)

[Richard Chamberlain]

Interesting.
Most of the half decent civil engineering software programs should be able to export some type of DTM or DEM file of the terrain of the layout.

If you have the program Lee, i'd like to send a small DEM of a hole to see if it works.
I have also begun some e-mail correspondence with Mike, and he may be able to do it.

[Derek_L]

In regards to designing with computers, I recently (in the last month or so) came across a design firm whom has wrote there own software, kind of an add on for software similar to AutoCAD.  What the name of the person who wrote the program or the software itself I don't remember.  All I know is that it supposedly has 100's of symbols to aid in computer golf course design.  On another note, what are some of the different computer software programs being used by people in here?

[Richard Chamberlain]

Derek

I'm using:

Microstation J as the core Cad software. (it creates the design drawings from the input of contours etc, but also has some pretty powerful capabilities for 3D imagery and fly-thru's)

Geopak for the compilation of the DTM (digitial terrain models) which is the basis for 3D imagery and all earthworks calcs.

Adobe Photoshop for "tweaking" the imagery.

Corel Draw for putting it all together in presentation form.

[Jeff_McDowell]

Jeremy,

I spoke with Mike Franco who works with the Jack Nicklaus software about the problem of getting existing topo into their design module. He said it wouldn't be difficult for their programmers to create a conversion package. He said one of their business types would contact me about a price, but I haven't hear anything.

Lee and Dr. Kildare,
If you guys can find a way to import DEMs into one of these simulation games, I would love to know how. If you need any help, let me know how I can help. I'm extremely interested in finding out what this technology can do.

Thanks,
Jeff

[jglenn]

I am very interested to find a way to import topography (as a DTM or other type) into Links or the Nicklaus game.

Mike Franco, if you are around, feel free to contact me.

[Michael Franco]

Jeremy,

I'll also email you privately, but we've looked at importing DEM, DTM or other "standard" terrain data into the Jack Nicklaus 6 Golf Course Designer software. We are currently importing height maps for the courses we simulate. Adding this ability to the architect is very straightforward; we just need to allocate the programming resources to a project like this.

Mike