[Mike Hendren]

Barney,

Now I really feel bad since I lunched across the river in Owensboro at the Moonlite.  A Hillbilly cannot pass up the rare feast on ba-a-a-becued mutton.

Did you repair the Magic Spoon?

Mike

[Sean_A]

Beechtree looks the type of course I would enjoy.  Quite straightforward, but a lot of holes that move either right or left.  Bunkering that isn't over the top.  Though the clubhouse looks well out of control!  What do you folks think of the course?  I looked at Ran's profile and the website.  I think I only saw one photo of a par 3.  This strikes me as quite abnormal.

Ciao

Sean

[John Kavanaugh]

No I didn't repair the magic spoon...I bought a replacement fancy face hickory that I have yet to hit.

[mike_malone]

 Sean,


    The files are full of Beechtree references. Most of the comments are very favorable. You can try a highly regarded Dye --Bulle Rock--- when in the area. We often compare and contrast the two courses.

[Jay Flemma]

I agree with the first comment in the thread.  See the closest one first...like today!  I'd go to Tom's website and read his design philosophy and then print out his thoughts on each course.  They are a nice prep for what you'll face out there.  Ran's reviews are also spot on.

If distance is no object, then I'd say treat yourself to the best (MHO) and my fave first - Pacific Dunes.

It is the most mystical golf experience I have ever had.  I wrote this about it last year when an old college buddy asked me where to play:

Pacific Dunes is a golf course to end all arguments, one of those life experiences that defy description by mere words. It is as poetic and blessed a plot as our golf nation has ever seen – the closest thing to a terra incognita golf adventure as can be found in America.  The days seem to pass with a soothing timelessness and the sweet gorse-perfumed nights are filled with a cherished comradery found only at the rarest and most fabled golf venues. If any golf destination can refill the elixir of the soul – be a restorative - it is Pacific Dunes. It may be the best trip of your life.

Oh...while you're out there, you can also play the other three too;)

I also love Beechtree and apache as well...beechtree cause it's so serene and laid back (and three hours from NYC...three hours distance and a world of cares)  Hell, even my-ex-girlfriend liked Beechtree!  She shot 172 (not including the many, many whiffs), but it was her favorite place.  (If that frightens you, you should have seen what she shot at Royal New Kent!  Dont worry, she has since quit golf and also quit me;)

Apache is a living encyclopaedia of excellent hole designs and green complexes.  Front plays fast and firm (biscuit brown), tell them to water the back for a change.

I'll see the Rawls course in two weeks!

[Pete Buczkowski]

I will pay for the round of the first GCA'er with at least 100 posts that travels to Indiana to join me for a round at Quail Crossing.  I will even share the email that Doak sent me explaining which greens he particularly likes.

I think its put-up-or-shut-up time...organize an outing that centers around Quail Crossing and see how many show up.  I know a few Hillbillies that would be in tow.

[Ian Andrew]

Brent,

"So could we refer to High Pointe as "Tom Doak's Woking", perhaps?"

I may be too thick to understand what you are saying......

[Brent Hutto]

Ian,

I've just seen Paton and Low's Woking Golf Club in Surrey referred to as a sort of playable museum of architectural ideas. Apparently a lot of ideas that were somewhat novel when implemented at Woking influenced later architects to elaborate on them and go on to design lots of notable courses.

My analogy was that even though High Pointe may not be the best course Tom Doak ever designed, it is a logical starting place for someone who really wants to understand Doak's philosophy from the ground up.

[John Kavanaugh]

I will pay for the round of the first GCA'er with at least 100 posts that travels to Indiana to join me for a round at Quail Crossing.  I will even share the email that Doak sent me explaining which greens he particularly likes.

I think its put-up-or-shut-up time...organize an outing that centers around Quail Crossing and see how many show up.  I know a few Hillbillies that would be in tow.

I am not capable of organizing anything...but for those who want to come and play Quail Crossing we also have another new course by a great architect in town.  Tim Liddy did Cambridge..A very, very poor mans Whistling Straits.  Both courses are just now finishing their clubhouses...fantastically affordable golf.

[Philip Gawith]

Sean - I have played four of Tom's courses: Pacific Dunes, St Andrew's Beach, Barnbougle Dunes and Cape Kidnappers.

None of them will be on your list because they are too far. Clearly that is a great portfolio of "modern Doak"; it would be nice to be in a position to compare and contrast the old and the new. I suppose the obvious point must be that as his reputation has increased, so has the quality of sites, so the ones I have played are probably the four best sites he has had.

I am not in a position to comment on how he has evolved as an architect - not qualified, and haven't seen the early ones - but I can certainly say that I enjoyed all of these courses enormously. Barnbougle is a great site, but not uniquely so among links courses. Kidnappers and Pacific Dunes (you could say the same for Bandon, obviously) are sensational places, with Kidnappers probably slightly the more unique.

St Andrew's Beach does not have the same physical splendour, but it is an excellent course. When I am feeling brave and have more time I might post my Doak eclectic from down-under (the 18 holes I like most from the three courses). SAB will certainly do well in that test.

I love the look and feel of his courses - the challenging greens, the bunkering, the wide-open fairways - and it sure helps when the locations are so exceptional.

Maybe you should wait for his first course in the UK - I think he is working on one in Scotland, near Muirfield - though not sure whether that is still just a hope or a plan, or is moving towards being built.

[ed_getka]

Sean,
  The one thing to keep in mind is that the links courses you refer to are not likely to be solid all the way through. Pacific Dunes has more good-great-world class holes throughout than most links course I believe. Granted I have limited experience with links courses in my travels, but I think you would be hardpressed to find a dozen links courses in your neck of the woods that are on par with PD. Of course, I could be wrong.
    I think that is one of the great things with the modern architects that are admired here. I think they find and/or create more good holes per course.

[Sean_A]

As we live and breathe, heres Philip!  I think his Archerfield project is a go, but it too is meant to be "American style" private.  I am inclined to believe that the place to start is High Pointe (though Apache Stronghold looks very interesting).  That seems to be the general concensus as well. Besides, Traverse is a four hour drive from where I grew up.  How hard can it be to get up there?  

Ed

You could well be right.  I am often caught going against the tide of GCAers because I have a different take on golf than many on this site.  Even so, I would dearly love to play Pac Dunes some day, but I fear that day is many a year off.  ations.  

When you rattle off those big four and two other sure to be big guns don't even get a look in, all must know that we are talking about a truly talented fellow.  This guy is like the Tiger Woods of design.  Tiger Tom chasing down the grand old men.  Who will be usurped next?

Ciao

Sean

[George Pazin]

If you end up doing HP, you might want to ask about some of the other courses in that area. I believe Kingsley isn't far from there, and a few others.

[Mike Nuzzo]

I'd play his first - I read he spent a lot of time on site.

I haven't seen it myself, I've been to busy visiting his other courses...  

[peter_p]

Sean,
I've played Apache Stronghold, Beechtree, High Point and Black Forest and Pacific Dunes. Haven't been to Myrtle Beach.
Skipping the west, I'd pick Michigan. It is his earliest work and I think you get closer to the basic architect with the first works. Plus that's home to Renaissance Golf and DeVries Golf. Some other real good tracks that you could probably visit.

Beechtree is a welcoming site also, and the Philadelphia contingent is hard to ignore.

[Jesse Jones]

As a former Baltimore resident I would say Beechtree is a nice option.
And your first two par 3's there will be a test.
Alot of Five Farms members play there.
It was mentioned before, and I agree, Pete Dye's Bulle Rock is a nice track.
IM me if you make the trip. I have friends at both courses.

[Bill Wernecke Jr]

I will pay for the round of the first GCA'er with at least 100 posts that travels to Indiana to join me for a round at Quail Crossing.  I will even share the email that Doak sent me explaining which greens he particularly likes.

I am posting as fast as I can...

[Sean_A]

I am bumping this in the hope Tom D. will respond.

Ciao

Sean

[Jerry Lemons]

I will pay for the round of the first GCA'er with at least 100 posts that travels to Indiana to join me for a round at Quail Crossing.  I will even share the email that Doak sent me explaining which greens he particularly likes.

I think its put-up-or-shut-up time...organize an outing that centers around Quail Crossing and see how many show up.  I know a few Hillbillies that would be in tow.

I am not capable of organizing anything...but for those who want to come and play Quail Crossing we also have another new course by a great architect in town.  Tim Liddy did Cambridge..A very, very poor mans Whistling Straits.  Both courses are just now finishing their clubhouses...fantastically affordable golf.

I will fly any two Tennessee GCA's to the site and play both these courses to make a 4some with John.
First two that email me.

Plane Leaves Nashville. Luggage must be light. Each splits cost.
Jerry

[Tom_Doak]

Sean:  Well I have three to choose from off the top 50 in the world and they are all public-access courses ... not many other people can say that.  I'm sorry you live a bit far from any of them, but you can't say I'm not trying.

It would be silly to make a trip from the UK to Baltimore or Myrtle Beach to play golf, and say you couldn't justify the extra distance to Oregon to play one of my best courses.  However, I hope that wherever you do choose, you'll find it worth the trip.

[Sean_A]

Tom

Any trip I make to The States is invariably compromised by time and family obligations.  The left coast is two days extra travel plus there are two other crackers to play when in Bandon.  No, Pac Dunes and friends needs more time than the usual skip back home will allow.  Difficult to explain to my wife, but perhaps worth a go at some point when our daughter is a little older.  

Given my reality, which course do you reckon I should see firstand why: High Pointe, Black Forest or Heathlands?  Of course if you think Beechtree has something over the others I would love to hear your thoughts on that course as well.

Ciao

Sean

[Joel_Stewart]

Has to be Pacific Dunes, then you could play your first C&C course and then your first David Kidd course, its a trifecta.

[Tom_Doak]

Sean:

If you are going to make me pick between those four, I would have to pick High Pointe, although there is no telling what sort of shape it will be in -- they let go their superintendent over the winter and I haven't heard about a replacement yet.  

Plus, you could play High Pointe and Black Forest in the same [long] day if you wanted to, they are about an hour's drive apart.

Some people would prefer Beechtree but High Pointe has more original stuff on it.

[Sean_A]

Tom

Cheers!

Ciao

Sean

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