How to map a golf course in Google Earth

If you’ve used Google Earth then you know what an amazing application it is.

The tools inside Google Earth are as impressive as our big blue planet and for golf courses it is a valuable piece of software that gives players an insight into your golf course. Eye Spy Golf have mapped over 16,000 courses and now we’re in the process of adding detailed views indicating Greens, Tees, Yardage and Pins. Not a small feat and we need your help.

Below is a guide on how to map your course. It is tricky and if you are a little technology challenged then be prepared for late nights and some head scratching!

Just adding pins to a course is major advantage to a golfer so if this is all you manage don’t be concerned, it all helps.

To start, locate your course using Eye Spy Golf and click on the “Aerial Image” icon at the top right of the page. This will automatically fire up Google Earth and zoom you into your course. It maybe slightly off as we have mapped courses using physical addresses. It’s easy to amend.
Next zoom in to a position that you feel golfers would want to see of your course.

Here's an example of an Eye Spy Golf mapped course in Google Earth, you may recognize the course!
Note we have angled the course to 30º to add more depth to the course.

Steps to mapping your course

1. In “Add” on the top menu click on “Folder” and name your course. You can also add a description of your course in this dialogue box.



2. Now add another folder inside this one and label it “Hole 1”

3. Now comes the fun bit, Locate hole 1 by moving over course and add a Placemark (Small tack icon, see below).

 

While this dialogue box is open move the tack to where the hole is on the course.
You can change the tack icon into a flag by clicking on the tack icon inside the dialogue box (see diagram below)



Here you will find a few preset icons to choose, the golf pin is perfect! Add a description in the dialogue box . E.g. 450 yards – Par 3.
You have just marked your first hole!

4. Click on the course name which is the top folder you created and follow steps 2 – 4. The hardest bit is now adding all 18 holes!

5. To add Tees is very similar to adding holes. It is important you have clicked on the hole where you want your pin to be. It’s an easy mistake to start adding pins and realise they are all in the wrong folders. It’s not a problem, all you have to do is click on the placemark icon in your folder structure and drag it into the right folder.
Making amends to Pins or Tees is very easy. If you have made a mistake or you want to move a pin then just right click on the icon in folders and a pull out appears, scroll down to “Properties” if you are on a PC or “Add info” if you are using a Mac. You’ll notice your icon (Pin or Tee) will start flashing. KEEP THE DIALOGUE BOX OPEN and move your placemark to it's new position.

Tip: To make your map look even better when you have finished move to Hole 1 in a view where a golfer would get most benefit and take a "snapshot view". You do this by right clicking on "Hole 1". If a golfer now clicks on your file and clicks Hole 1 folder then the snapshot view is saved at angle you predetermined.

Adding boundaries and yard indicators.

To use this feature you have to subscribe to Google Plus it is $20 for a years subscription and well worth it.

Click on “Hole 1” and then click on “Add Path” icon.


KEEP THE DIALOGUE BOX OPEN and start drawing your path. Tricky with the dialogue box open and in the way so be prepared to keep moving it. Now you can label the path and if you’re up to it coloring the path, which is a tab next to “Description”.
If you make a mistake don’t worry you can easily amend it later.

Tip: Sometimes (and it’s unavoidable) the path seems to add in a lot more points than you require. Hit the delete key numerous times and the points disappear.

To add a boundary highlight  “Hole 1” and then click on the Polygon icon.


KEEP THE DIALOGUE BOX OPEN and start drawing a boundary. By default is is a white box, change this by clicking on the style and color tab next to the “Description” tab. Change colours and choose an appropriate boundary color. We suggest green for first 9 and red for back 9 holes. Using 60% strength to make line not so prominent. Once you have finished hit “OK”. Repeat all of these steps for every hole!

Once you have finished Eye Spy Golf would be more than happy to add it to our database, and remember even if it's only half finished it will help golfers view your course.

Send KML or KMZ files to:


Good Luck!