Nicklaus Design and Hyperscapes Golf Club Team up to Create First Members-Only Metaverse Golf Club

The new virtual-only golf club will incorporate the traditional design philosophies and standards of the world’s leading golf course design firm with state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge terrain systems built by Hyperscapes. Together, the partnership will develop a one-of-a-kind golf experience only possible in a virtual setting: a new, professionally designed Nicklaus golf course playable from anywhere in the world, with exciting terrains and user experiences that are impossible in the physical world.

The golf design team will be led by Chad Goetz, Senior Design Associate at Nicklaus Design and member of the prestigious American Golf Course Architects Society, who will oversee all aspects of the design process.

Unlocking a Scottish Gem Thanks to the Power of the Metaverse

In the quest for the ideal terrain on top of which to craft a golfing masterpiece, Chad Goetz selected a one square mile peninsula nestled along Scotland’s western coast, near the city of Shieldaig. “Our choice of Scotland for Rocabarra Cliffs highlights our commitment to honoring golf’s illustrious heritage,” said Gabor Tankovics, CEO and founder of Hyperscapes Golf Club. “Beyond its historical significance, Scotland’s spectacular and now largely vanished Caledonian forest provides an unparalleled backdrop for golf, an opportunity uniquely realized in a virtual-only setting.”

“The location is truly superb, on the edge of Loch Shieldaig, the continuation of Loch Torridon,” Goetz added. “The peninsula features breathtaking views to the Loch and surrounding mountainsides. Its dramatic rocky landforms and extensive shoreline provide an ideal canvas for a unique and exciting golf experience that will translate well to the virtual world. I cannot wait to visit the site in person to gain additional inspiration and insight to translate into the design work. Reimagining the Caledonian forest on the site and integrating the course within it will be an exciting and rare design opportunity.”

The golf design process unfolds atop a digital twin of the terrain, utilizing LIDAR data, high-definition aerial photography, and digital terrain maps transformed into contour maps. The finished course will feature challenging golf design and stunning photo-realistic 3D scenery.

Merging Physical & VR Golf Design

Goetz further remarks on the design process, “Thus far, we have approached the design process for Rocabarra Cliffs in the exact manner that we develop all new designs around the world. Even though this golf course will be in the metaverse, we will design and “build” the course with the same detailed hands-on approach that we utilize on every project in the real world. We are excited about the virtual reality tools that Hyperscapes is developing that will allow us to craft the finer details of the design just like we always do on site.”

“The core of Nicklaus Design has always been the artistry and knowledge of our designers and their understanding and respect for the historical traditions of the game of golf,” said Phil Cotton, CEO of Nicklaus Companies. “Over the years, we’ve built on the traditions of our founder, Jack Nicklaus, to design more than 435 golf courses on six continents, reflecting almost every style of course design on a wide variety of sites – many in places that had never seen a modern golf course. We now bring that unprecedented, real-world expertise to the virtual world.”

“Working with Nicklaus Design, we have access to the most experienced golf designers in the world,” Tankovics added. “Together, we are developing a suite of tools which bring to our virtual-only golf play the exact hand-crafted process the Nicklaus Design team applies on their physical golf courses.”

Founding Members Program

Membership to this first-of-its-kind metaverse golf club will be available through the purchase of Rocabarra Cliffs Memberships, which provide access to visit and play the course, as well as member rights in the golf club.

Early access is available through a Founding Members Program limited to just 30 memberships. Like traditional founder memberships in newly developed golf facilities, the Founding Members Program will reward members who play an important part in the club’s story from the very beginning. Among other benefits, Founding Members will have private access to follow the entire golf design process, Founding Member-only events, significant discounts on future Hyperscapes offerings, and an unprecedented buy-back guarantee. Further perks and partnerships will be announced shortly.

For more information, visit www.hyperscapes.golf.

About Hyperscapes Golf Club

Hyperscapes Golf Club is a metaverse golf community offering cutting-edge experiences for virtual golf play. It relies on three foundations: expertly designed virtual-only courses, exclusive memberships, and playability in photorealistic 3D landscapes. Founded in 2022 in New York City, Hyperscapes Golf Club’s aim is to bring the quality and exclusivity of top level private golf resorts to the virtual realm.