Getting Started with GSPro Course Building
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Overview
Welcome to GSPro course building! This guide covers everything you need to know before you start creating custom golf courses. We'll cover the essential concepts, software requirements, Unity installation, and basic Unity navigation.
1. Welcome & Introduction
Welcome to Course Building
Start your journey into GSPro course building with this welcome video that sets expectations and outlines what you'll learn.
Best Practices
Learn the essential best practices that will save you time and prevent common mistakes throughout your course building journey.
How This YouTube Channel is Organized
📺 How This YouTube Channel is Organized
Understand how the Between Two Biomes channel is structured so you can find the tutorials you need quickly.
2. Discord Community
Discord Introduction
📺 Discord Introduction (Optional)
Learn about the OPCD Discord community where you can get help, share your progress, and connect with other course builders.
Asking Good Questions in Discord
📺 Asking Good Questions in Discord
Master the art of asking questions that will get you the best help from the community.
Join the Discord: OPCD Discord Community
3. Course Building Process Overview
Overview/Theory of the Course Building Process V4
📺 Overview/Theory of the Course Building Process V4
Get a high-level understanding of the entire course building workflow from start to finish. This is essential viewing before you dive in.
Key Topics Covered:
- The V4 toolset workflow
- Major stages: Lidar → Inkscape → Blender → Unity → GreenKeeper
- Realistic time expectations (40-100+ hours per course)
- When you'll be able to play your course
4. PC & Software Requirements
PC Requirements
Learn what hardware you'll need to build courses effectively.
Minimum Requirements:
- Modern multi-core CPU
- 16GB RAM (32GB recommended)
- Dedicated GPU (NVIDIA/AMD)
- 50GB+ free storage per course project
Software Requirements (V4)
Complete list of all software tools you'll need:
- Unity 2018.4.36f1 (specific version required)
- QGIS (free)
- Inkscape (free)
- Blender 4.0.2 (free)
- OPCD Toolset (requires registration)
- Optional: CloudCompare, Photoshop/GIMP
Project File Structure
Learn how to organize your project folders for maximum efficiency and to avoid losing work.
Recommended Structure:
MyCourse/
├── QGIS/
├── Inkscape/
├── Blender/
├── Unity/
└── References/
5. Unity Installation (Required)
Unity is the primary software you'll use to assemble and build your course. Follow these steps carefully.
Unity 2018 Installation
Step-by-step installation of Unity 2018.4.36f1 (the specific version required for GSPro courses).
Important: You MUST use Unity 2018.4.36f1 - other versions will not work properly.
Registering for the OPCD Toolset (V4)
📺 Registering for the OPCD Toolset (V4)
Get access to the OPCD (One Person Course Developer) toolset that makes course building possible.
Registration includes:
- Access to the Clender (automated Blender processing)
- OPCD Unity tools and scripts
- Community support and updates
Unity Base Project Installation (V4)
📺 Unity Base Project Installation (V4)
Install the OPCD Unity base project that contains all the essential tools, shaders, and assets.
Fixing the Unity Clipping Bug (V4)
📺 Fixing the Unity Clipping Bug (V4)
Fix the camera clipping issue that affects terrain editing in Unity. This is a required fix.
6. Unity Basics (Theory)
If you're new to Unity, these tutorials will help you understand the interface and basic concepts.
Introduction to Unity (Optional)
Brief introduction to Unity for complete beginners.
Unity Tutorial (Watch First 30 Minutes)
Comprehensive Unity tutorial covering the essentials. You only need to watch the first 30 minutes to understand:
- The Unity interface
- Scene view navigation
- Hierarchy and Inspector panels
- Basic object manipulation
- Play mode vs Edit mode
Key Unity Concepts:
- Scene: Your course environment
- Game Objects: Everything in your course (terrains, meshes, trees)
- Inspector: Properties panel for selected objects
- Hierarchy: List of all objects in your scene
- Project: Your assets (materials, textures, models)
7. Heightmaps and Overlays (Theory)
Before diving into QGIS and lidar processing in the next section, understand these fundamental concepts.
Terrain and Overlay Theory
Learn what heightmaps and overlays are, and how they form the foundation of your course.
Key Concepts:
- Heightmap: Grayscale image where brightness = elevation
- Inner vs Outer terrain: Course area vs surrounding landscape
- Overlay: Satellite imagery draped over terrain
- Resolution: Trade-off between detail and performance
How Do I Get My Lidar and Satellite Overlays? (Theory)
📺 How do I get my lidar and satellite overlays? (Theory)
Understanding data sources and quality considerations.
Data Sources:
- USGS (United States)
- OpenTopography (global research data)
- National/regional government GIS portals
- Google Earth (satellite imagery)
- Bing Maps (often higher resolution than Google)
✅ Checklist Before Moving Forward
Before proceeding to the next guide section, make sure you have:
- Watched the course building overview video
- Installed Unity 2018.4.36f1
- Registered for OPCD toolset access
- Installed the Unity base project
- Fixed the Unity clipping bug
- Created your project folder structure
- Understood basic Unity navigation
- Joined the Discord community (optional but recommended)
What's Next?
Now that you have your software installed and understand the basics, you're ready to obtain lidar data and create your terrain heightmaps and overlays.
Next Guide: Obtaining Lidar Data & Overlays →
Additional Resources
- OPCD Documentation: Written Guide
- QGIS Support Files: Google Drive
- Discord Community: Join OPCD Discord
Navigation:
← Back to Guide Hub | Next: Lidar Data →