GreenKeeper Setup - Course Configuration

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Overview

GreenKeeper V4 is the essential tool for configuring your course's gameplay elements. It defines out-of-bounds areas, hazards, tee positions, pin placements, scorecards, and ratings. This is where your course transforms from a visual model into a playable GSPro experience.

What GreenKeeper Does:

Sets course metadata (name, designer, par, yardage)
Defines out-of-bounds (OOB) boundaries
Marks water hazards and penalty areas
Places tee boxes and aim points
Creates pin positions and green conditions
Generates scorecards with ratings and slopes
Runs flyover benchmarks for performance testing

1. GreenKeeper V4 Introduction

GreenKeeper Intro and Best Practices (Theory) (Legacy)

📺 GreenKeeper Intro and Best Practices (Theory) (Legacy)

Legacy video providing foundational GreenKeeper concepts. While V4 has improved workflows, the core principles remain valuable.

GreenKeeper Best Practices:

Work methodically through each hole
Save frequently (crashes can happen)
Test in GSPro after every few holes
Use accurate measurements from satellite imagery
Verify all markers are on playable surfaces
Double-check hazard boundaries

GreenKeeper V4 - Installation

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Installation

Installing the GreenKeeper V4 plugin into Unity.

Installation Steps:

Download GreenKeeper V4 from OPCD Discord
Import Unity package into your project
Verify GreenKeeper menu appears in Unity
Check for any dependency errors
Restart Unity if necessary

Compatibility:

Requires Unity 2018.4.36f1 (OPCD standard version)
Works with OPCD Base Project V4
Must have course built and scene loaded

2. Loading and Base Configuration

GreenKeeper V4 - Loading Up Your Course

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Loading Up Your Course

Opening your course in GreenKeeper and initial setup.

Loading Process:

Open your course scene in Unity
Go to Tools > GreenKeeper > Open GreenKeeper
GreenKeeper window appears as floating panel
Course is automatically detected from scene
Navigate between holes using hole selector

GreenKeeper Interface:

Hole selector: Switch between holes 1-18
Category tabs: Base, OOB, Hazards, Tees, Pins, Scorecard
Save/Load: Persistent course data
Benchmark: Performance testing tools

GreenKeeper V4 - Base Course Info

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Base Course Info

Setting up fundamental course information.

Base Information:

Course name: Official name as it appears in GSPro
Designer: Your name or team name
Location: City, State/Country
Year built/modified: Course vintage
Course type: Private, Public, Resort, Municipal
Description: Brief course history or characteristics

Metadata Tips:

Use proper capitalization
Be concise but descriptive
Include renovation dates if significant
Match real course info if it's a replica

3. Out of Bounds (OOB)

GreenKeeper V4 - OOB

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - OOB

Defining out-of-bounds areas for each hole.

OOB Fundamentals:

OOB = stroke and distance penalty (re-hit from previous location)
Typically white stakes or boundary fences in real golf
Should align with course design and safety

Setting OOB Boundaries:

Switch to OOB tab in GreenKeeper
Select hole number
Click "Add OOB Area"
Use polygon tools to draw boundary
Verify boundary is on terrain surface
Test by hitting shots toward OOB line

Common OOB Areas:

Property boundaries (roads, neighboring properties)
Between holes (to prevent playing wrong hole)
Environmental hazards (cliffs, extreme rough)
Clubhouse/parking areas

OOB Placement Checklist:

☐ All holes have appropriate OOB defined
☐ OOB boundaries are visible and logical
☐ Adjacent hole boundaries prevent crossover
☐ OOB aligns with real course (if replica)
☐ Tested with ball landing near boundaries

4. Hazards

GreenKeeper V4 - Hazards

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Hazards

Marking water hazards and penalty areas.

Hazard Types:

Yellow stakes/lines: Lateral relief (drop with 1-stroke penalty)
Red stakes/lines: Lateral water hazard (multiple relief options)
Penalty areas: General areas with drop options

Marking Hazards:

Go to Hazards tab
Select hole and hazard type
Draw polygon around hazard perimeter
Ensure polygon covers water surface and edges
Set drop zones if custom relief is needed
Test penalty scenarios

Water Hazard Best Practices:

Include entire water body and banks
Extend slightly beyond visible water edge
Consider ball roll-in areas
Mark streams, ponds, lakes consistently
Define bunkers as non-penalty hazards

Hazard Checklist:

☐ All water bodies marked
☐ Hazard type matches real course rules
☐ Drop zones placed for challenging hazards
☐ Boundaries are accurate and fair
☐ Tested with shots into each hazard

5. Tees and Aim Points

GreenKeeper V4 - Tees and Aim Points

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Tees and Aim Points

Placing tee markers and setting aim direction for each hole.

Tee Setup:

Switch to Tees tab
Select hole number
Define tee sets (Championship, Back, Middle, Forward, etc.)
Place tee marker for each set
Set aim point/target line
Record yardage for each tee

Tee Placement Guidelines:

Place on flat tee box surface
Face toward intended fairway line
Standard spacing: 15-25 yards between tee sets
Verify tee is on terrain (not floating/sunken)

Aim Points:

Set directional target for camera orientation
Typically aims down fairway center
For doglegs, aim at apex or layup zone
Adjust for strategic tee shot preference

Tee Sets Naming:

Black/Championship: Longest, hardest
Blue/Back: Strong players
White/Middle: Average golfers
Gold/Senior: Shorter, senior-friendly
Red/Forward: Beginners, juniors

Tees Checklist:

☐ All 18 holes have all tee sets placed
☐ Tee markers on flat surfaces
☐ Aim points set correctly
☐ Yardages measured and recorded
☐ Tested each tee in GSPro camera view

6. Pin Placement and Conditions

GreenKeeper V4 - Pin Placement and Conditions

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Pin Placement and Conditions

Creating multiple pin positions and green speed conditions.

Pin Positions:

Most courses support 3-6 pin locations per hole
Vary difficulty (front, middle, back)
Consider green contours and slopes
Maintain minimum distance from edges (typically 12 feet)

Placing Pins:

Go to Pins tab
Select hole number
Click "Add Pin Position"
Place pin on green surface
Name position (Front Left, Back Right, etc.)
Repeat for all desired positions
Set default pin for typical play

Green Conditions:

Stimp speed: Green speed (8-13+ typical range)
- 8-9: Slow (wet, soft conditions)
- 10-11: Medium (normal play)
- 12-13: Fast (tournament conditions)
- 13+: Very fast (championship/major)
Firmness: Affects bounce and roll
Moisture: Wet greens hold shots better

Pin Placement Guidelines:

Avoid extreme slopes (max ~3-4% at pin)
Vary difficulty throughout round
Front pins easier to hit but harder to hold
Back pins require precision but safer landings
Side pins create angle strategy

Conditions Checklist:

☐ 3-6 pin positions per hole
☐ Pins placed on playable surfaces
☐ Variety of easy/medium/hard placements
☐ Green speed set appropriately
☐ Default pin selected
☐ Tested approach shots to each pin

7. Scorecards and Ratings

GreenKeeper V4 - Scorecards and Ratings/Slopes

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Scorecards and Ratings/Slopes

Generating scorecards with yardages, par, and USGA ratings.

Scorecard Elements:

Hole numbers: 1-18 (Out 1-9, In 10-18)
Par: Standard strokes for each hole (3-5)
Yardage: Distance from each tee set to pin
Handicap: Hole difficulty ranking (1=hardest, 18=easiest)
Totals: Front 9, Back 9, Total

Par Guidelines:

Par 3: Up to 250 yards
Par 4: 251-475 yards
Par 5: 476+ yards
Adjust for elevation and forced carries

Course Rating and Slope:

Course rating: Expected score for scratch golfer (e.g., 72.5)
Slope rating: Difficulty for bogey golfer (113 = average)
GreenKeeper can calculate estimates
USGA official ratings require on-site evaluation

Handicap Allocation:

Rank holes 1-18 by difficulty
#1 handicap = hardest hole (typically long par 4)
#18 handicap = easiest hole (typically short par 3/4)
Consider length, hazards, OOB, green difficulty

Scorecard Checklist:

☐ All yardages accurate from tees to pins
☐ Par assigned correctly based on length
☐ Handicap rankings logical and balanced
☐ Course rating calculated
☐ Slope rating assigned
☐ Front/back/total verified

8. Finalizing and Testing

GreenKeeper V4 - Finishing Up - Benchmark and Save

📺 GreenKeeper V4 - Finishing Up - Benchmark and Save

Running final checks and saving course data.

Final Steps:

Review all GreenKeeper tabs for completeness
Run flyover benchmark test
Check performance metrics
Save GreenKeeper data
Export course file

Flyover Benchmark:

Automated camera flight through course
Measures frame rates on each hole
Identifies performance problem areas
Target: 60+ FPS minimum, 90+ FPS ideal

Performance Troubleshooting:

If FPS drops below 60:
- Reduce vegetation density
- Optimize tree LOD levels
- Simplify distant background meshes
- Check for unnecessary objects
- Review post-processing settings

Saving GreenKeeper Data:

GreenKeeper saves to .gk4 file in project
Backup this file regularly
Save after every major change
Version your files (Course_v1.gk4, Course_v2.gk4)

Loading Your Course into GSPro

📺 Loading Your Course into GSPro

Testing your course in GSPro for the first time.

Loading Process:

Build course file from Unity
Copy course files to GSPro courses directory
Launch GSPro
Select your course from course list
Play a few holes to test

First Playtest Checklist:

☐ Course loads without errors
☐ Tee markers and aim points correct
☐ Hazards trigger properly
☐ OOB boundaries work
☐ Pin positions visible and accurate
☐ Performance acceptable (smooth gameplay)
☐ Scorecard displays correctly

Common First-Load Issues:

Course not appearing: Check file location and naming
Missing textures: Verify material references
Performance lag: Run benchmark, optimize meshes
Incorrect yardages: Remeasure in GreenKeeper
Hazards not working: Check polygon boundaries

9. GreenKeeper Tools

📺 GreenKeeper Tools

Advanced GreenKeeper utilities and workflows.

Additional Tools:

Collider inspector: Verify terrain collision meshes
Bulk editing: Update multiple holes simultaneously
Data export/import: Transfer settings between courses
Validation tools: Check for common errors
Measurement tools: Precise distance calculations

Next Steps

Once your course is configured in GreenKeeper and tested in GSPro, you're ready to move to the finishing and publishing phase.

Up Next:

Finishing & Publishing → - Final polish, pre-beta checks, and course submission

See Also:

Unity Setup & Materials - Return to Unity optimization
Planting Vegetation - Add more trees and foliage
Advanced Techniques - Polish and refinement techniques

Part of the Building GSPro Courses complete guide series

GreenKeeper Setup