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Generate free golf yardage books from OpenStreetMap data

Generate free golf yardage books from OpenStreetMap data

by npilk·May 22, 2026·4 points·1 comment
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AI Analysis

●MidNiche GemShip It

Removes Python barrier but lacks the topographical slope data of the original.

Strengths
  • •Porting complex geospatial logic from Python to client-side JS lowers the entry barrier.
  • •Interactive rectangle selection tool simplifies defining course boundaries on the map.
  • •Auto-generation of distance calculations removes manual surveying work.
Weaknesses
  • •Missing topographical data means it cannot visualize slopes, a critical feature for yardage books.
  • •Relies entirely on OpenStreetMap data quality, which varies significantly by region.
Category
Other
Target Audience

Amateur golfers, course managers, weekend hackers

Similar To

GolfShot · 18Birdies · hacker-yardage

Post Description

Hey HN, I'm sharing a tool I made to create yardage books for golf courses.

I'd originally written a Python tool a few years ago that pulled data from OpenStreetMap, auto-calculated relevant distances, and then created imagery for a yardage book. If you want to see the original, it's here: https://github.com/npilk/hacker-yardage

But Python was a pretty big technical barrier for most casual golfers. Then recently I realized most of the same functionality could be bundled into a JS app. Claude did most of the port for me.

The result is OpenYardage. You can search for a golf course and the tool will auto-generate a yardage book for you.

I'd welcome any feedback or ideas! The Python version still has some features I haven't been able to port yet, the main one being topographical data to visualize slopes.

The source is available here: https://github.com/npilk/openyardage-web

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