Ok, since I've been labeled a Tom Doak Butt Boy a time or two in the past, I'll be the first to REALLY sing the praises of the man.
Mr. Doak's resume is becoming as impressive as any ever to design a golf course.
Pacific Dunes
Cape Kidnappers
Barnbougle Dunes
soon to be finished Sebonac
soon to be built Ballyneal.
Of course he has Lost Dunes, Texas Tech and the two Stonewalls to fill out the resume, not to mention a lot of other stuff.
But those first five courses, (and yes, and know many will talk a bunch of junk about me speaking of two courses that are not even built yet) are flat out awesome.
Doak is wise enough to know that the worth of any leader is the caliber of the talent he surrounds himself. I'd say that makes him quite intelligent.
Doak understands that a great course is one that addresses all calibers of players.
Doak understands the history and traditions of the game.
Doak understands that a golf course must slip seamlessly into the existing environment. Many of his courses look timeless, already, like they were dropped in from the Golden Era itself.
And all the while he does it quite humbly, taking the time to chat with us here in golfclubatlas.
Now, genius is an awfully strong word. I imagine that the humble Doak is quite dismayed with this thread and it's no wonder he has not chimed in here, although I bet he is paying attention
I always prefer to apply the genius label to dead guys, because then they are not burdened with the notion.
Come the time Mr. Doak starts taking his dirt nap, I believe in my heart of hearts that his name will go down in history as one of the best to ever design and build courses.
Until then, however, I bet he'd prefer to be considered in that elite company along with C & C, etc...and prefer to stay away from calling himself a genius