After returning from the Boomerang, I received several requests from other GCA Members to share my thoughts on Barnbougle Dunes and to compare it to other Doak's I've played (including High Pointe, Pac Dunes, Ballyneal, Lost Dunes, Old MacDonald, Commonground and St. Andrew's Beach). So here goes one man's view, although I'm more than interested in hearing everyone else's opinions please keep in mind the lists below are completely subjective and subject to change at any time.
I'd rank them as follows:
1. Ballyneal - the best walk, the best mix of holes and the most fun. I have the benefit of repeated plays, so there are shots I've played that someone who has only seen the course once or twice might not even be aware of. There is no better stretch of Doak holes than from 1 to 8. Love how BN continues to reveal itself and provide you with wow moments as you play your round (fairway on 2, figuring out 3, walking up to the tee at 4, peak at 7 from 4, 8th tee and green, 11 to 12, 13th tee, 15, corner on 16, tee at 17).
2. Barnbougle Dunes - a more intimate version of BN, without the extreme elevation changes. Some great holes (par 3's and short par 4's especially), but the par 5's suffer in comparison to BN. I also prefer a meandering routing with constant direction changes to out and back 9's. The back at BbD does shift direction a little more than the front, but you don't get the same sense of getting lost on the course like you do at BN. Hole to hole transitions aren't as seamless as BN
3. Pacific Dunes - lacks one ingredient that the top two courses have, an owner that gave Doak free-reign (see the 7th and 16th at BN and the 7th and 13th at BbD). This is not necessarily a bad thing, as MK certainly knew what kind of golf course he wanted to build to suit his model. Some all world holes (2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13) but a few sleepers as well.
4. Old MacDonald - the toughest to judge, as the experience of playing the template holes is first rate. However, I found my favorite holes to be away from the flat parts of the course, where contours allowed you to play away from the hole (3, 16, 18). A good test of golf, but not without the demanding nature of some of the shots on the three courses above.
5. St. Andrew's Beach - Wonderful green sites, but the repetitive nature of the downhill drives and uphill approaches gets old. There are a few holes that are extremely challenging (long Par 3 4th, 10th, long Par 4 13th or 14th?). Stretches of the back nine tend to blend together, but this could be due to only having played the course once two days after a transcontinental flight.
6. High Pointe - the starting point for everything else on this list. Very cool to see how Tom's work has evolved from HP, and how a few of the themes have remained (skyline par 3's, green contouring, drives rewarded by finding the speed slots.) A great mix of holes on open and wooded terrain, some flatter and some on more undulating ground.
7. Lost Dunes - feels like it was built for a membership that wouldn't appreciate too much quirk, although a good bit snuck in. Still has all-world moments (4th green, 11th green). The same thing Doak is praised for on this site (fitting a good course onto a tough site) is probably what holds it back, as the bisecting highway disrupts the round and the holes working around the wetlands seem to be the weakest on the course.
8. Commonground - probably the least interesting piece of property they had to work with. Still, a good variety of holes that uses the one high point near the clubhouse to provide some elevation change at the start and finish of each nine.
My list of best holes from the 8 courses noted:
Hole Winner Runner-Up
1. Ballyneal Old Mac
2. Pac Dunes Ballyneal
3. Old Mac Pac Dunes
4. Barnbougle Lost Dunes
5. St. Andrew's Old Mac (amazing how many of these are par 3's)
6. Pac Dunes Barnbougle
7. Ballyneal Barnbougle (really strong group top to bottom)
8. Ballyneal St. Andrew's
9. Barnbougle Old Mac (perhaps the weakest set)
10. Ballyneal Barnbougle
11. Pac Dunes High Pointe
12. Barnbougle Ballyneal
13. Pac Dunes Barnbougle
14. Pac Dunes Ballyneal
15. Barnbougle Ballyneal
16. Ballyneal Old Mac
17. Ballyneal Barnbougle (with apologies to PD and OM - both holes I like)
18. Barnbougle Old Mac
Interested to hear what others have to say, not only on the courses listed, but on those I haven't played. What other holes would challenge for a spot on the all-18 list?