Tom Doak-
Tom, I am homer when it comes to Deal. No doubt about it.. It was our mutual compadre RT who whispered in my ear that I had to get down there and I fell in love with it. You wrote in the Confidential Guide that Deal is course that must be played to be enjoyed, understood. It is a course more stark and demanding then most, a cruel taskmaster in the wind (ask the blokes I hosted from this forum back in May (Rihc Goodale, Sean Arble, Craig Disher).. It will never win any beauty contest but to me it is the fairest links I've played (and I've played about 55/100 on the Golf World GB&I List so that is a lot of links) that still has the quirk and fun factor attached to it. I'd really love to play it with you one day with RT and the club secretary in a nice game of foursomes. The work Donald Steel has done is subtle there but the course easily could hold an open and the locals reckon it is 2 shots harder than Sandwich. I wonder if it could host the Open again whether it would skyrocket up the list. I don't know anyone who would travel to Deal to play unless they are going to RSG...
Maybe, I am just bias, maybe I just like links and heathland golf better than all the rest. That is true, that is why the Golf World Top 100 list is probably the least controversal.
Tom, I'd love to see you, Gil, RT or C&C get a shot at building a Kyle Phillips esque "Grove" in the UK.. Given the terrain, it would be amazing to see what you guys could do in Heathland type terrain..