Our Process

How We Create Our Golf Course Prints

Each golf course print begins with real course references and is manually rebuilt as vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator. Our designers study the course layout, trace its main features, separate those features into editable elements and refine the finished artwork into The Golf Prints style.

Our prints are stylised representations of real golf-course layouts. They are designed as artwork for display, not as surveying plans or technical course documents.

Browse Golf Course Prints Ask About Our Process

Based on real
course layouts

Manually built
vector artwork

Reviewed before
publication

Framed golf course print in walnut frame by The Golf Prints

A finished golf course print prepared for display.

How It Works

How are The Golf Prints designs made?

We start by studying available references for the real golf course. These can include course maps, satellite imagery and other visual references that help us understand the routing and major features of the layout.

A designer then manually traces and rebuilds the course in Adobe Illustrator. Fairways, greens, bunkers, water, rough, boundaries and other visible features can be created as separate vector elements. The design is then simplified, balanced and refined for print.

The result is not a direct copy of a source image. It is our own stylised visual interpretation of the real course geography.

From Course Reference to Finished Artwork

Our workflow separates research, tracing, feature construction, visual refinement and final review.

Research the
course layout

We review available course references to understand the routing, shape and visible geography of the course.

Trace it manually
in Illustrator

The course is manually traced and rebuilt as editable vector artwork rather than generated automatically.

Build the main
course features

Greens, fairways, bunkers, water and other visible features are organised as individual elements.

Refine the
visual style

We simplify and balance the artwork so it remains recognisable while working as a clean wall print.

Review before
publication

We check the finished composition, visible course features and overall print presentation before it goes live.

See the Work

Watch Part of Our Design Process

These examples show how course artwork is worked on and refined. They are short demonstrations rather than a record of every step involved in producing a finished print.

Building the Course Artwork

A closer look at the hands-on work involved in developing course artwork and shaping individual design elements.

Refining the Final Design

An example of the visual refinement that turns traced course geography into a cleaner piece of wall artwork.

Design Breakdown

How a Golf Course Is Broken Into Visual Elements

A course is not treated as one flat image. Its visible features can be separated, rebuilt and refined individually before the complete design is assembled.

“The layout comes first. The styling comes after.”

Golf course print design breakdown showing practice green, tee boxes, rough, water hazard, fairway, boundary, trees, sand bunker and green

Geography
structure
detail
refinement

Our References

Designed Around Real Golf-Course Geography

Our artwork starts with references that help us understand the actual course layout. Depending on the course and the information available, this can include course maps, satellite imagery and other visual references.

We use those references to understand the routing and position of major features before manually building our own vector artwork.

Course routing and hole shapes
Fairways and greens
Bunkers and water features where visible
Course boundaries and surrounding visual context

What the Print Represents

A Stylised Map Artwork, Not a Technical Survey

Our goal is to keep the course recognisable while producing a clean piece of artwork that works on a wall. That requires visual simplification and design decisions.

The finished print should therefore be understood as a stylised representation of the course rather than a surveying map, navigational map or technical architectural drawing.

Small details can also change over time as courses are renovated, hazards move or newer reference material becomes available.

Human-Led Artwork

We Do Not Use AI to Generate Our Golf Course Artwork

Our designs are created manually by our team in Adobe Illustrator. The reference material helps us understand the real course, but the finished vector artwork is constructed, adjusted and refined by a designer.

We use digital design tools because they allow us to build editable vector artwork, but the creative and layout decisions remain human-led.

Manual tracing

Course shapes are traced and rebuilt by a designer rather than generated automatically from a prompt.

Editable vector elements

Course features can be adjusted independently as the design is refined.

Human review

The final composition is checked visually before the design is published.

Always Evolving

Why Some Golf Course Prints Are Updated

Golf courses change, and the information available to us can improve. When clearer reference material or updated course information becomes available, we may review and refine an existing design.

This means an older version of a print may not always be identical to a later version of the same course.

Want More Detail?

Questions About a Specific Design or Our Workflow?

This page explains the main stages of our process, but not every design decision or every reference used for every course. If you would like more information about our workflow or have a question about a specific print, contact The Golf Prints and our team can provide more detail where appropriate.

Contact The Golf Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

How are The Golf Prints golf course prints made?

We begin with references for the real golf course, then manually rebuild the layout as vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator. Major features are organised as separate elements before the complete design is refined and reviewed for print.

Do you use AI to generate your golf course artwork?

No. Our golf course artwork is human-led and manually created in Adobe Illustrator. Digital tools are used to build and edit the vector artwork, but the course is not generated from an AI prompt.

What references do you use to create a course print?

The references can vary by course. They may include course maps, satellite imagery and other available visual information that helps our designers understand the real layout and its visible features.

Are your golf course prints exact technical maps?

No. They are stylised pieces of wall artwork based on real golf-course geography. They are not surveying plans, architectural documents or navigational maps.

Why can prints of the same golf course look similar?

The underlying golf-course geography is the same. Accurate representations of the same course will naturally share recognisable routing, fairway positions, greens, hazards and boundaries. Our design work is in how those real features are manually interpreted, simplified and styled.

Can an older golf course print be updated?

Yes. We may review an existing design when a course changes or when better reference material becomes available. A newer version can therefore contain refinements that are not present in an older version.

Can you create a print for a course that is not in the collection?

Yes. If the course you want is not already available, you can use our custom golf course print option and provide the course details required for the request.

View our custom golf course print .

How can I ask about the process behind a specific print?

Contact our team with the name of the golf course or product you are asking about. We can clarify the relevant design process or provide additional information where available.