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Anthony Gray

How many Doak courses have you played?
« on: August 04, 2011, 01:52:28 PM »

 Just wondering. What do they have in common? How far have you traveled? Do you have a favorite?

  Anthony

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Carl Johnson

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2011, 01:58:32 PM »
As best I can recall, only one: Charlotte Golf Links.
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Terry Lavin

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2011, 02:08:05 PM »
Did he design Merion?
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Steve Kline

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2011, 02:09:30 PM »
Ballyneal
Old MacDonald
Pacific Dunes

What do they have in common? Width with a great set of greens combined with significant hazards that force you to think and play the angles.
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Jud_T

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2011, 02:11:25 PM »
In order of favoritism, which of course is subject to change:

Pac Dunes
Ballyneal
Lost Dunes
Old Mac
Bahia de Los Suenos
Legends Heathland
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Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2011, 02:22:08 PM »
Stonewall Old

Beechtree NLE

Atlantic City CC
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jonathan_becker

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2011, 02:25:56 PM »
In playing order

Stone Eagle
Lost Dunes
Pacific Dunes
Old Macdonald

When I showed up to the Rawls it was under a foot of water.
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Joe_Tucholski

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2011, 02:29:31 PM »
I've played two (Old Mac and Pac Dunes).  Besides what has been stated and the obvious similarities due to proximity I don't have much more to add.  Made the trip from Los Angeles.  My preference is for Old Mac.
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Joe Bausch

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2011, 02:31:33 PM »
Quail Crossing
Pacific Dunes
Stonewall Old
Atlantic City CC
Legends Heathland
Beechtree

My favorite being Beechtree, and I also played it way more than any of the others.

What do they have in common?:  fun to play.
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David Kelly

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2011, 02:52:03 PM »
15.

In very rough order of preference.  I would like to play Old Macdonald in better weather and in different winds because it could move up. I also had only one play at Charlotte and it was in very poor conditions.

Barnbougle Dunes
Pacific Dunes
Ballyneal
Old Macdonald
Apache Stronghold
Cape Kidnappers
Rock Creek Cattle Co.
St. Andrews Beach
Stone Eagle
Atlantic City
Lost Dunes
Sheep Ranch
Beechtree
Charlotte Golf Links
Lengends - Heathlands
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Michael Whitaker

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2011, 02:59:29 PM »
Black Forest
Heathland at Legends Resort
St Andrews Beach
Barnbougle Dunes
Cape Kidnappers
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald
Ballyneal
Tour of Dismal River routing

General observations:

1  Lots of width.
2  Lots of uphill approach shots.
3  Tends to route up and down hills rather than along valleys, as a result not always easy to walk.
4  Beautifully shaped and tied into terrain.
5  Meaningful bunkering. Few, if any, non-purposeful bunkers.
6  Very bold greens with a fair amount of internal contouring.
7  Not generally card & pencil friendly (which is OK with me)
8  A good number of 1/2 par holes.
9  Reward imagination and well thought out play
10  Rarely cause a lost ball

Could come up with 100 more thoughts, but this is the top 10 that popped into my head.

My favorite so far is Old MacDonald. Barnbougle and Pacific Dunes are just slightly behind, but Old Mac is a unique course unlike anything else on the planet.

I'm going to play a few more "Doak Originals" before the year is out:  Lost Dunes and (hopefully) the courses at Stonewall. I'm also going to try and get down to Atlantic CC and see the redo there before I have to move back to SC at the end of November.

PS - Anthony, it is good to have you back!!!
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"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

John Kavanaugh

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2011, 03:01:53 PM »
Michael,

Why not Sebonack?
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Ash Towe

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2011, 03:09:01 PM »
Barnbougle
Ballyneal
Cape Kidnappers
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald

Michael W is on the mark with his observations in my opinion.
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Pete Lavallee

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2011, 03:18:46 PM »
Barnbougle Dunes
Pacific Dunes
Old MacDonald
Ballyneal
Stone Eagle

What do they have in common: high green fees.
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Alex Miller

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #14 on: August 04, 2011, 03:27:35 PM »
Pacific Dunes
Old Mac
Stone Eagle

All three very different from each other.
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Michael Whitaker

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #15 on: August 04, 2011, 03:27:47 PM »
Quote from: John Kavanaugh on August 04, 2011, 03:01:53 PM
Michael,

Why not Sebonack?

Wouldn't know how to go about getting an invitation.

You might notice that all of the courses I've played so far are public access. I got a great opportunity to visit to Lost Dunes while I'm out on the Dunes Club trip, and a friend has invited me to visit Stonewall, but that's it of the privates.
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"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

John Kavanaugh

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #16 on: August 04, 2011, 03:30:53 PM »
I am surprised at the lack of Sebonack responses.  It has been my understanding that they are quite open for play.
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Jud_T

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #17 on: August 04, 2011, 03:31:58 PM »
Yes,

But it's not the cheapest ticket in town...And also not a pure Doak....
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Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Michael Whitaker

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #18 on: August 04, 2011, 03:32:21 PM »
Quote from: John Kavanaugh on August 04, 2011, 03:30:53 PM
I am surprised at the lack of Sebonack responses.  It has been my understanding that they are quite open for play.

I don't know. Maybe it is cost prohibitive.
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"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

Mark Pritchett

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #19 on: August 04, 2011, 03:33:08 PM »
Quote from: Michael Whitaker on August 04, 2011, 03:27:47 PM


You might notice that all of the courses I've played so far are public access. I got a great opportunity to visit to Lost Dunes while I'm out on the Dunes Club trip, and a friend has invited me to visit Stonewall, but that's it of the privates.

Ballyneal  
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Michael Whitaker

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #20 on: August 04, 2011, 03:36:22 PM »
Quote from: Mark Pritchett on August 04, 2011, 03:33:08 PM
Quote from: Michael Whitaker on August 04, 2011, 03:27:47 PM


You might notice that all of the courses I've played so far are public access. I got a great opportunity to visit to Lost Dunes while I'm out on the Dunes Club trip, and a friend has invited me to visit Stonewall, but that's it of the privates.

Ballyneal  

You know, in my mind I forgot that Ballyneal was private. My visit was part of a small group set up by a friend, so it didn't "feel" like a private club invitation, if you know what I mean. But, yes... Ballyneal is very private. My bad.

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"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

Mark Pritchett

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #21 on: August 04, 2011, 03:38:40 PM »
Mike,

Sorry couldn't resist.  Hope all is well in New York.  Looking forward to the Dixie Cup.

Mark
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Joel Zuckerman

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #22 on: August 04, 2011, 03:55:29 PM »
Cape Kidnappers (#1 with a bullet)
Pac Dunes
Old Mac
Stone Eagle (ultra-cool, and in the company of "Mr 59, besides)
Stonewall Old
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Gary Slatter

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #23 on: August 04, 2011, 03:59:58 PM »
1, Renaissance Club in Scotland
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Gary Slatter
gary.slatter@raffles.com

Chris_Hufnagel

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Re: How many Doak courses have you played?
« Reply #24 on: August 04, 2011, 04:01:58 PM »
Listed in order of preference...

1. Pacific Dunes
2. High Point
3. Beechtree
4. Black Forest

What they have in common?  
-Space off the tee if you don't put a premium on angle into the greens.
-Accuracy is demanded on the approaches into greens with preferred areas to "miss"
-Exciting/fun for the mid-handicap golfer because the course does not beat you up yet can be frustrating for the low handicapper to shoot what he/she thinks they should be able to score
-No prescribed method for how to approach a hole; not formulaic; makes you think one or two shots in advance

I do wish High Point would make it back - that was the course where my eyes were opened to good design and the course where I really learned to appreciate architecture more and put me on a life-long course to read/experience as much as I could as it relates to golf course design, architecture, strategy, maintenance, etc.  I consider myself very fortunate to have played there for it has added an immeasurable amount to my appreciation for this great pursuit.
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