Online Virtual Golf Course Tours

golfwallah

Recently came across Golfcoursevisualtours.com - a site that has made a good start with visual tours of golf courses in Ireland. They still have a way to go before all courses are set up on the site but they have good virtual tours for a number of courses already.
The site allows you to experience golf courses in Ireland before you play. The visual tours walk you through each course from a player perspective, from tee to green with an audio visual of each hole, showing, distances, indexes, etc.
Definitely worth a look: http://www.golfcoursevisualtour.com/
Any views?

alxmorgan

Pretty cool - I'd imagine it would be very handy for a course you haven't played before.

Garda S Horgan

Very good.

Yours etc,
GSH.

Anatom

Once you get yer man's annoying voice out of the way, the guides are very good. Its amazing how many of those courses I have yet to play.

I played the Drumoland course about ten years ago and looking at the site just brought that day back to me (unfortunately), same with Adare last autumn! Would love to see more of these, but does anyone know how much it costs an individual club to have this done?

PhilipMarlowe

It's not for me anyway... Clicked on The South County and the twee music and the zooming in on still photos instead of (actual) video is a bit lame IMO. I suppose it's a step in a direction but I'm not sure I could be bothered with it, think I'd nearly be put off by it actually.
'Proper' pinpoint visualisation and (virtual) graphics like on the European Tour site (Wentworth here on the right) is more interesting but is also way more $$$.

9holeg

My home club is on the visual tour website and I believe the service is free to the clubs. Think its a great idea with the overlay and voice over. Good to get a feel for a course before you play.Good job:)

Golfgraffix

I think that this type of visualistion is quite dated, virtualcaddy.com (http://www.virtualcaddy.com/) have been doing it for years and would be somewhat ahead in terms of quality.

Its funny as outside of Ireland especialy in Asia 3d graphics are a given for most new courses, here the interest is very small but growing.

We are soon launching our next generation product, which when combined with our 3F Flybys will give golfers a very nice feel for how a hole looks and plays. Still not sure if we will add in a pro tip or not - Thoughts?

Here is a sample on YouTube, colour looks a little funny (youtube compresses our video in strange ways)

http://youtu.be/pmQOdIZBbZo?hd=1

I would say kudos to the guys from VirtualTours, it is not easy starting a new venture not only in this climate but also in the golf industry, I wish them well.

J

golfwallah

Licksy wrote: »

It's not for me anyway... Clicked on The South County and the twee music and the zooming in on still photos instead of (actual) video is a bit lame IMO. I suppose it's a step in a direction but I'm not sure I could be bothered with it, think I'd nearly be put off by it actually.
'Proper' pinpoint visualisation and (virtual) graphics like on the European Tour site (Wentworth here on the right) is more interesting but is also way more $$$.

I think you're being a tad harsh as regards this site. After all, we all know how hard pressed Irish clubs are for cash these days, unlike the European Tour and major clubs like Wentworth.
The type of service offered by golfcoursevisualtours.com (being free of charge) is welcomed by many clubs and golfers operating on tight budgets in these financially restrained times.

jimmystars

Nice one. Good find, playing tralee the weekend for the first time and now have an idea of what to expect. Thanks