Pinehurst No 2 Alpha(ish)

[linkster]

I wanted to have this course ready for the US Open but came up short on that goal. The shapes are in the terrain, I added a few details to the greens and runoffs, started the clubhouse, forest planted trees and grass, but only got the 1st hole seam blended. I'll make this available anyone who wants to try the course out.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

Notes on the course playability:
- The waste and pine needle areas play as rough. Struggled with this decision but I thought rough was an appropriate penalty when trying to hit those small targets on the greens.
- The back tees has the course at 7172 yards which I think is realistic for Links. The ladies tees has the course at full length at 7606 yards.
- The 0 pin locations were the Sunday pin locations for the 2014 US Open.
- This course uses custom texture properties. The Fringe texture reacts the same as Mc hardness fairways would and roll at a stimp of 12. I also added some roll to the Sand and Rough textures to a stimp of 3 instead of <1. These texture changes will not change with the selection of course conditions at the round setup options.
- If the "use course settings" are selected for the round setup options, the fairways will react the same as Mc hardness fairways but with roll out with a stimp of 8 (Same as putting on ScMc greens). The greens will react the same as Mc hardness greens but will roll at a stimp of 15 (Between McFc/FcMc and FcFc).

screen0003.jpg (286.2 KiB) Viewed 6639 times

The custom texture properties seem to recreate the real life ball physics decently giving the limitations of the ball physics in the game. Let me know what you think of the course and the rolling terrain.


Good Luck on this tough but fair course!

[Pete]

Looks real promising

[dko]

I was so happy to see this Linkster. I played around with it a (very) little bit using your custom settings and was glad to see the extra fairway roll and seemingly appropriate green speed. I didn't go into things enough to get a full appreciation for the green runoff areas, although I ran into one situation during my limited play, and it seemed right: I hit a short sand shot weakly that landed on the green but short of the pin and it rolled back into the trap.

Since this is still only a sorta alpha version (although a pretty good one), my only question so far is about using the regular rough characteristics for the sandy waste areas lining the fairways. Maybe see how the tournament actually plays out and note what the shot reactions are out of these areas to determine if an adjustment (if reasonably available) might be appropriate. Also, the real course has some really thick rough intermingled with the waste areas, and I didn't play enough to see if you recreated any of that. I thought Robert Miller's restoration version captured it at least to a certain extent.

I think you have an awesome start to your effort and hope you stick with it through to completion.

[Adelade]

The problem with using course conditions is that Rough textures (like the waste/pine needle areas in this case) become pretty much unplayable due to some bug (they become even thicker than deep rough textures when playing out from them - and not because of "plugged" lies or planted grass).

[pmgolf]

The problem with using course conditions is that Rough textures (like the waste/pine needle areas in this case) become pretty much unplayable due to some bug (they become even thicker than deep rough textures when playing out from them - and not because of "plugged" lies or planted grass).

I ran into that problem with Kapalua Plantation and course conditions.

Pete

[dko]

I didn't know that, and now realize that's apparently why yesterday when I tried to play the 2024 Augusta version using course conditions for the first time, I was getting killed by the rough (which hadn't happened during previous rounds.)

[badgolfer1]

I didn't know that, and now realize that's apparently why yesterday when I tried to play the 2024 Augusta version using course conditions for the first time, I was getting killed by the rough (which hadn't happened during previous rounds.)

IN PAST WROTE.
Re: green settings using 'course settings'
Post by dko » Sat May 04, 2024 1:00 am
g3b, not quite sure what exactly you are looking for, but this link may help you:
viewtopic.php?t=11
Green firmness affects the reaction of the ball when it lands on the green (soft means a lot of spin, firm (challenging) means more roll.) Also, these settings affect how much ball roll you get on the fairways (soft not so much, firm (challenging) a lot more.)
Green speed does exactly as it implies. In the U.S., tournament greens seem to be set at a stimp meter setting of around 12 or 13 (a bit faster at Augusta,) except Hawaii where it seems to be more like 11. European courses, especially in the U.K., also seem to be around 11 typically. Slow green speed settings (in my mind) make the green like putting in mud. If you set your greens at firm (challenging) and fast (challenging) it's like putting on ice, although there are some players who like the challenge of that.
(((((For shots out of the rough, some course designers have made it more challenging to get out of, and others make the distances achieved more like from the fairway with the exception that you get lots of roll after shots land in the fairway or on the green (not so much if you end up in rough again.) Having a downhill lie may affect this, however.)))))
Since I only play real courses, I typically choose settings of medium for firmness and fast (challenging) for green speed.
Hope this helps.
Doug

[morvio100]

Linkster know his Qgis... but Linkster is just trying to be me.. I remember the days when I had to teach Robert Miller how to texture ....aahh they were the days.. both are good students of mine..

[Adelade]

Some people are going to think you are serious Morvio...

[dko]

badgolfer1,

When I responded to you, I misunderstood the term "course settings." I thought of the term to mean choosing one of the six options available for each of the firmness and speed settings yourself and was unaware (or had forgotten about) the custom settings a designer might provide for a course, which I had never used before discovering them for Linkster's new Pinehurst version. When I also tried the custom settings for Linkster's new Augusta course, I expected shots out of the rough to behave like they do when you choose the firmness and speed settings yourself. When they didn't, I was confused until seeing Adelade's very helpful explanation.

So, I apologize if I misled you.