Total Pro Golf Course Designer Released

[Gary Gorski]

The TPGCD is now available for anyone who is interested. For anyone who's not interested, its FREE so give it a shot - you might have some fun messing around with it anyways. Head on over to wolverinestudios.com to pick it up

[FrogMan]

that's sweet Gary, I'll check it out, although as I said before, I don't think I have even an ounce of designering in me, so it'll mostly be to check out what the other will put out. I'm sure we'll see famous golf courses in no time :)

FM

[Coffee Warlord]

Sweeeeeet. Time to make Soangetaha Country Club!

[Gary Gorski]

that's sweet Gary, I'll check it out, although as I said before, I don't think I have even an ounce of designering in me, so it'll mostly be to check out what the other will put out. I'm sure we'll see famous golf courses in no time :)

FM

Well give it a shot just for fun or even let the kids have a go at it. It might be fun for them to make a hole shaped like Mickey Mouse or something. Not everything has to be dead on accurate portrayals of Augusta National or something - just mess around and make like the most outrageous course ever. Something like an entire island course where its tees, fairways, green and nothing else but water :)

[KWhit]

Well give it a shot just for fun or even let the kids have a go at it. It might be fun for them to make a hole shaped like Mickey Mouse or something. Not everything has to be dead on accurate portrayals of Augusta National or something - just mess around and make like the most outrageous course ever. Something like an entire island course where its tees, fairways, green and nothing else but water :)

I haven't done so yet, but I plan on creating a unique course along the lines of the island course you describe.

But first I have to finish my dead on accurate portrayal of Augusta.

:)

[st.cronin]

Fantastic marketing idea!

[Gary Gorski]

I haven't done so yet, but I plan on creating a unique course along the lines of the island course you describe.

But first I have to finish my dead on accurate portrayal of Augusta.

:)

I look forward to both. I wouldn't play a season event at a course like the island course but I think it would just be great fun to not only make a course like that but then to fire it up in non season mode and create some real life golfers and watch them plunk one for every drive that misses the fairway and every missed green.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I swear, the first thought I had when I saw the thread title was:
"Whoa, I wonder what the guy did to get fired?"

[SirFozzie]

you drama monkey, Jon ;)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just wondering about something here, figured I'd throw it out for Gary (or anybody else for that matter) ...

If I understand this software right, it allows a gamer to create golf courses (ostensibly) for use with the upcoming Total Pro Golf. And those can be created from scratch or from things like course maps (or whatever they're called, I'm not a golfer so I don't know the correct phrase) that are found online for certain clubs, courses, tournaments, etc. And if you use the latter method, I'm guessing that you could edit the file to make the real-life course harder, easier, add/remove hazards, terrain features, etc.

If I've got that part basically right, then I start wondering about the eventual output. After skimming through the manual .pdf, I think there's at least an option to output the created course as a .jpg file.

Question is, once you've created a course, is there an option to create a .jpg of the entire completed course? i.e. produce a "course map" like one I tried to described as an import option, except that it'd be an export (just pretend for a minute that I wanted to go nuts creating courses & then print 'em out & hang 'em on my wall or something).

Where I'm going with these questions is this -- I'm not a golfer IRL, so I really don't see me getting into course design for my own entertainment. BUT I've known quite a few tabletop gamers who were really into a variety of dice-and-chart golf games ... some of which didn't really have a process for easily coming up with good looking images for their courses/holes (doesn't affect game mechanics since they're dice & chart, but it does affect immersion for some of these gamers). My thinking is that, if this thing does what I think it does, then it could be something that would accomplish multiple purposes.
a) It could open a path into the tabletop consumers for TPG
b) The tabletoppers would be creating courses for their own purposes while simultaneously creating courses that could be used for TPG as well. In other words, getting multiple benefits from the same work. Seems like a potential win-win for everybody all the way around.

Or, alternately, this isn't what the Course Designer does & I've thought about all this for nothing.

[Gary Gorski]

There's no option to produce a .jpg of the entire course. With the course designer you really are building 18 holes that are in the same file and played one after the other. The holes all face the same direction (left to right) and there's no "greater view" of the course.

Now I suppose you could take screenshots of the individual 18 holes and print them out for use in table top games but there's not like one overhead shot of all the holes or anything.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Now I suppose you could take screenshots of the individual 18 holes and print them out for use in table top games ...

Although I didn't word it clearly when I asked, that's actually what I had in mind.

[DanGarion]

Can I build a miniature golf course? :)

[moriarty]

One thing I didn't understand in the manual/demo. It said (paraphrasing) when choosing the path, try to understand where the golfers will hit if they don't hit the fairway so as to not create a Tin Cup situation.

But if you want to design a hole (say par 5) where if the golfer hits the fairway, a decent hitter will go for the green in two over water but if they miss the fairway they would lay up .... how would you go about designing this so that the AI would recognize when to go for it or not?

[KWhit]

One thing I didn't understand in the manual/demo. It said (paraphrasing) when choosing the path, try to understand where the golfers will hit if they don't hit the fairway so as to not create a Tin Cup situation.

But if you want to design a hole (say par 5) where if the golfer hits the fairway, a decent hitter will go for the green in two over water but if they miss the fairway they would lay up .... how would you go about designing this so that the AI would recognize when to go for it or not?

To have a par 5, you have to create 3 shot points, so you would need to set set up the shot points as if the golfer is laying up. However, I believe that Gary said that the AI will go for the green if they can and bypass that last shot point.

[dervack]

Can I build a miniature golf course? :)
Not really. The grid boxes are 8 yards by 8 yards I believe, and you need one for the tees and one for the holes I believe.

[DanGarion]

Not really. The grid boxes are 8 yards by 8 yards I believe, and you need one for the tees and one for the holes I believe.
Be kind of neat if you could, but I figured it wasn't possible :)

[SackAttack]

What, no beer tents?

[Gary Gorski]

One thing I didn't understand in the manual/demo. It said (paraphrasing) when choosing the path, try to understand where the golfers will hit if they don't hit the fairway so as to not create a Tin Cup situation.

But if you want to design a hole (say par 5) where if the golfer hits the fairway, a decent hitter will go for the green in two over water but if they miss the fairway they would lay up .... how would you go about designing this so that the AI would recognize when to go for it or not?

What Robin is referring to is making sure that if you have a Par 5 that is reachable in 2 that the 2nd shot point actually falls in a safe area so that normal golfers will hit it safely and not be forced to go for a shot they can't make. The AI will evaluate the shot based on the shot point - if the shot point tells them to lay up it will consider whether or not it should lay up or it can go for the green. If the shot point is only on the green the AI won't realize it had the option of laying up there.

[moriarty]

What Robin is referring to is making sure that if you have a Par 5 that is reachable in 2 that the 2nd shot point actually falls in a safe area so that normal golfers will hit it safely and not be forced to go for a shot they can't make. The AI will evaluate the shot based on the shot point - if the shot point tells them to lay up it will consider whether or not it should lay up or it can go for the green. If the shot point is only on the green the AI won't realize it had the option of laying up there.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.

[Galaril]

To have a par 5, you have to create 3 shot points, so you would need to set set up the shot points as if the golfer is laying up. However, I believe that Gary said that the AI will go for the green if they can and bypass that last shot point.

Wow. I thought I had some basic understanding of golf, but after reading the above quote I am aware that this not the case. I didn't understand anything in that post:)

[KWhit]

Wow. I thought I had some basic understanding of golf, but after reading the above quote I am aware that this not the case. I didn't understand anything in that post:)

Hehe. Don't mind me. I'm usually mostly incoherent after a long day of work.

:p

[Craptacular]

Downloading now ... the newer screenshots look pretty sweet.

[Craptacular]

Wow. I thought I had some basic understanding of golf, but after reading the above quote I am aware that this not the case. I didn't understand anything in that post:)

Remember, this is for good golfers. For most of us, it should be:

* Place shot point #1 on men's tee
* Place shot point #2 just behind and to the left of the ladies tee
* Place shot point #3 about 120 yards out from ladies tee, and about 40 yards right of fairway in deep rough
* Place shot point #4 three feet in front of shot point #3
* Place shot point #5 fifteen yards behind shot point #4 (hit a tree)
* Place shot point #6 approximately 130 yards towards the green, IN THE FAIRWAY!!
* Place shot point #7 in same place as #6 (your divot went 20 yards, but the ball didn't move)
* Place shot point #8 in left rough, approximately 150 yards short of green
* Place shot point #9 in front of bunker near front-right of green
* Place shot point #10 in back of bunker near front-right of green
* Place shot point #11 in bunker over the green
* Place shot point #12 on fringe between back bunker and green
* Place shot point #13 on fringe between front-right bunker and green

Congratulations, you've created your first hole ... a beautiful 506-yard par 15.

[RPI-Fan]

http://www.rpi.edu/~smithk7/course.jpg.JPG

My first hole... thoughts?

Gary -- I'm concerned about how elevations will be shown on non-imported courses?

[Gary Gorski]

Gary -- I'm concerned about how elevations will be shown on non-imported courses?

On non-imported courses you can show elevation in the following way. If you look under the left area where you pick one of the 18 textures there's three options - a downslope, level, and an upslope. It is defaulted to level but if you click on one of the slopes and then start clicking squares (while in the edit/query mode) you will see arrows appear on the course. These arrows will stay on the course in the designer - in the game itself you will have the option to view the hole with or without the arrows so that people could click them on to see the elevation quickly and then turn it off again so as not to distract from the hole itself.

[chinaski]

now thats how you design a interface, well done Gary.

[Gary Gorski]

now thats how you design a interface, well done Gary.

Thanks - but give the credit where it's due and that's my graphics man Paul. He gets better with the interface (and not to mention everything else) each game we produce.

[tanglewood]

Just done the most famous hole in golf. Very easy to use indeed. Nice work Gary.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5827/17thscreen6wp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It did remind me that you need to add a road texture though. ;)

[KWhit]

I've created a number of new textures for the game. They make everything blend together better and includes some additional options for bunkers and streams, too.

Here's the link to the post on the Wolverine Forums:

http://www.wolverinestudios.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140


And here's a sample of how the new textures look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/KWhit/HoleExample2.jpg

[SirFozzie]

Ok, here's my first created hole if folks want to critique it:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2847/hole14ho.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hole #1 at the FOFC GC is a medium length par four; You MUST keep your teeshot to the left, if you put it in the right hand bunker, you will have NO shot at making the green in regulation. The hole is flanked by trees and the back bunker will collect any errant shots.

[Balldog]

Oh man, I can't wait to download this and start hacking away at courses!

[SirFozzie]

Seriously, I think as soon as this game is released, we all build a course (or if you're unambitious, a couple holes, or if really ambitious, SEVERAL courses) and call it the FOFC Golf Tour.

Even build our own golfers file.

If the save games are not too atrociously big, we could even do a VC)

[SirFozzie]

BTW, it only took me 15 minutes to create the hole.. love the double click and drag mouse method

[Pumpy Tudors]

OK, around when is this game being released? The course designer is making me drool. :)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

OK, around when is this game being released? The course designer is making me drool. :)

Site just says Q3 2006.

[johnnyshaka]

I've had fun with this as well. I'm trying to recreate one of my favorite courses, Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course. It's a beautiful course set in the Rockies which is open enough for the average golfer to enjoy themselves and put up a decent score but when played from the tips, a scratch golfer will have a lot of fairway bunkers to contend with so course management is of the utmost importance if they want to score well. Unfortunately, the scenery is one of the reasons I love this course so much and that is pretty tough to convey in a 2D rendition, but it will have to do.

Kwhit, your new textures look great, I'll be thieving them for sure...thanks!!

[Gary Gorski]

I've had fun with this as well. I'm trying to recreate one of my favorite courses, Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course. It's a beautiful course set in the Rockies which is open enough for the average golfer to enjoy themselves and put up a decent score but when played from the tips, a scratch golfer will have a lot of fairway bunkers to contend with so course management is of the utmost importance if they want to score well. Unfortunately, the scenery is one of the reasons I love this course so much and that is pretty tough to convey in a 2D rendition, but it will have to do.

Kwhit, your new textures look great, I'll be thieving them for sure...thanks!!

Is there a website for that course with hole layouts? Often times sites have overhead 2D layouts that are very nicely done and those (or any other .jpg files) can be used in the course designer instead of making the holes yourself if you like.

[AlexB]

I've had fun with this as well. I'm trying to recreate one of my favorite courses, Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course. It's a beautiful course set in the Rockies which is open enough for the average golfer to enjoy themselves and put up a decent score but when played from the tips, a scratch golfer will have a lot of fairway bunkers to contend with so course management is of the utmost importance if they want to score well. Unfortunately, the scenery is one of the reasons I love this course so much and that is pretty tough to convey in a 2D rendition, but it will have to do.

Kwhit, your new textures look great, I'll be thieving them for sure...thanks!!

I've played that course - it is indeed one of the most picturesque settings you could imagine... Jasper's a cool place - reminds me I must phone my mates who live there: haven't spoken to them for a long time.

[johnnyshaka]

Is there a website for that course with hole layouts? Often times sites have overhead 2D layouts that are very nicely done and those (or any other .jpg files) can be used in the course designer instead of making the holes yourself if you like.

Why, yes there is: http://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/Activities/CDResortActivity/0,1095,code%25255Ftype%253DGOLF%2526category%25255Ftype%253Dactv%25255Ftype%2526property%25255Fseq%253D100104,00.html

Scroll down a little bit and you'll see a description and 2D of every hole. That would be sweet if we could just use what's there already.

[johnnyshaka]

I've played that course - it is indeed one of the most picturesque settings you could imagine... Jasper's a cool place - reminds me I must phone my mates who live there: haven't spoken to them for a long time.

It is a very nice place...I really love it in the mountains. My family has put on a memorial golf tournament every year for the past 30 years and Jasper has been the destination for the majority of them. The last couple of years we've stayed right at the Jasper Park Lodge (for those who don't know about it, it's one of the best resorts in the world, even fit enough for the Queen of England!!) and that has been a treat. Not a cheap weekend, but because we bring so much business for that weekend they give us a really great deal.

If you are ever back in the Rockies and are looking for more great golf, head south to Kananaskis Country, it's about 30-40 minutes west of Calgary or 10 minutes east of Canmore. It's very cheap for Alberta residents, like $80 w/cart (a little more for outsiders!!) and there are two beautiful 18 hole courses, one being a little flatter with more water and sand and the other with very dramatic altitude changes. Again, very easy on the eyes.

[moriarty]

Just done the most famous hole in golf. Very easy to use indeed. Nice work Gary.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5827/17thscreen6wp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It did remind me that you need to add a road texture though. ;)


Ahh, my favorite hole. Hopefully you made the trap in front of the green a deep pot bunker!

[Groundhog]

Seriously, I think as soon as this game is released, we all build a course (or if you're unambitious, a couple holes, or if really ambitious, SEVERAL courses) and call it the FOFC Golf Tour.

Even build our own golfers file.

If the save games are not too atrociously big, we could even do a VC)

This is an awesome idea.

[KWhit]

Kwhit, your new textures look great, I'll be thieving them for sure...thanks!!

Cool! Glad you like them.

[KWhit]

So let's share some holes guys!

:eek:

Did I really just say that?


Hole 17 at Geaorgia Pines:
Short, 100 yard par 3.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/KWhit/HoleExample3.jpg

[SirFozzie]

Now if that green was elevated 4-5 Meters up.. god.. that's a nice short tester :)

[Balldog]

is there any way to turn on the whole grid?

[RPI-Fan]

is there any way to turn on the whole grid?

There's a button on the left side of the screen.

[Balldog]

There's a button on the left side of the screen.

Thank you sir.

[moriarty]

The holes posted rather remind me of the old golf game for Mattel Intellivision.

[Gary Gorski]

Just curious - has anyone tried to design their course using photoshop or paint or something and use the import method in the designer? For anyone with some talent in graphics editing you could make some really nice looking courses using that method since really the only limitation to your design is whatever you are capable of doing graphically. If you wanted to put in backdrops of mountains or desert or cliffs with the ocean next to it...really the possibilities are pretty endless doing it that way.

[KWhit]

I have done that to an extent with Augusta. I have used the hole images from the website but instead of whitespace behind them, I have used an image of the course as a background. I like the look of it, but I've got some tweaking to do to the background as I think it could still be improved.

[tanglewood]

Just had a brainwave. Would it not be possible to use Google Earth to get satellite pictures of golf courses and use them to make phototrealistic maps very quickly?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just had a brainwave. Would it not be possible to use Google Earth to get satellite pictures of golf courses and use them to make phototrealistic maps very quickly?

I tried that with St. Andrews. I was able to find it, but they are a bit fuzzy compared to what you can do with a drawing that a lot of courses put on their website and their scorecard. I decided to stay with the scorecard.