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
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
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
.gk4file 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
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
