[BCowan]

Below I wrote the definitions of the Doak Scale.  I find the older I get, I'm more interested in seeing obscure courses, ones with great genius loci, fun day or two trips with friends or solo day trips.  I find I enjoy the experience at country Florida or Michigan courses more then many Doak 7s or 8s.  I've found that many top rated courses are overrated and many overlooked courses are underrated.  To simplify this, do you like taking a 2 hour trip to play new courses even if they are 5's or 6's?  Or are you frankly into playing the Best of the Best?     


5.  Well above average Golf course, but the middle of my scale.  A good course to choose from if you're in the vicinity and looking for a game, but don't spend another day away from home to see it, unless your home is Alaska.

6.  A very good course, definitely worth a game if you're in town, but not necessarily worth a special trip to see.  It shouldn't disappoint you.   

[Tommy Williamsen]

Anymore I'm not really interested day trips that require four hours of driving. But if I were to do it the course would have to be one of my favorites. I might go for a Doak 6 on my personal ranking but nothing less.

[John Foley]

My thinking is to look for places of architectural interest - might not be 7 or 8 but there is something there. One reason I want to see the Schoolhouse 9 next yer. Love the concept of that place.


As for the long drive, I've been not making many because it seems that there is not anything unique there - I LOVE Leathersstocking, but it's been a long time since I've been back. Great friend of mine lives in MD & I am in Western NY. We will grab a day and meet in the middle (Central PA Northern NJ area). Those days the course could be a 2 or 3 but the company, competition and comraderia make it all worth while.

[MCirba]

Yes.  Or less. 


The joy is still in the discovery.

[Thomas Dai]

Travel for 2 hrs or more to play a few DS's 5-6's, even 3-4's, over the period of a few days and it'll still be a pretty enjoyable trip.
Atb

[Sean_A]

Yes, I will travel 2 hours each way for some good/interesting golf (don't care about the Doak number), but I am quite picky.  When you live where I do and want to play good golf its a given that I have to get behind the wheel.  Although, I am very mindful of the weather...I don't want to travel and play in rain...makes me feel muy estupido. 


Ciao

[Tom_Doak]

Ben:


The past couple of days I've started to do my trip planning for 2017 -- which will include flying 10+ hours several times to see courses that I doubt will rate more than a 6 on the Doak Scale.  But the difference between 5 and 6 ought to be the most important one in the book ... whether a course is worth sticking around town to play, or not.


Luckily, I still agree with Mr. Cirba that the joy is in the discovery.


I think your objection to the higher-rated courses could be turned on its head -- if the courses you are championing were rated as 7's or 8's, you might label THEM disappointing, instead.  A 7 carries with it a lot more in the way of expectations, and expectations often lead to disappointment.  Indeed that is one reason the Doak Scale is skewed toward the lower numbers, compared to other ratings systems that seem to start at 3 stars, and give way too many courses 4 stars out of 5.

[BCowan]

Ben:


The past couple of days I've started to do my trip planning for 2017 -- which will include flying 10+ hours several times to see courses that I doubt will rate more than a 6 on the Doak Scale.  But the difference between 5 and 6 ought to be the most important one in the book ... whether a course is worth sticking around town to play, or not.


Luckily, I still agree with Mr. Cirba that the joy is in the discovery.


I think your objection to the higher-rated courses could be turned on its head -- if the courses you are championing were rated as 7's or 8's, you might label THEM disappointing, instead.  A 7 carries with it a lot more in the way of expectations, and expectations often lead to disappointment.  Indeed that is one reason the Doak Scale is skewed toward the lower numbers, compared to other ratings systems that seem to start at 3 stars, and give way too many courses 4 stars out of 5.

Tom,
 
     I agree with you and Mike in regards to the discovery and also the journey.  You traveling 10+ hours is for the CG, so its not the same as for your standard GCAer.  I drove round trip 8 hours to play Champions Hills 10-15 mins from The Downs.  I'd do it again in heartbeat again, and I think you should take Mrs Doak there...

    The overrated/underrated you are misinterpreting what I'm saying.  Even courses I've played and rated an 8, id rather play a 5 or 6 due to the culture and to quote Mr Warne ''ass trap'' production of most 8's.  I don't have the CG.  I'm like Jkava, I go in with my own preconceived rating or outlook and then try and prove it when I'm finished  .  The overrated comment was more in the lines of courses who have higher ratings due to hosting majors or PGA tourneys. 

    The whole point of this thread is after being on GCA, I'm more interested then ever of reading certain folks thoughts on obscure courses or just playing gem(s) within 4-5 hours.  There are many on here that JUST want to play the best of the best which is fine.  I'm curious if people on here travel in their car 1-2 hours for just good courses verse GREAT courses.  How many GCAers still have that child's sense of wonder???   

[Tim Gallant]

Ben:


The past couple of days I've started to do my trip planning for 2017 -- which will include flying 10+ hours several times to see courses that I doubt will rate more than a 6 on the Doak Scale.  But the difference between 5 and 6 ought to be the most important one in the book ... whether a course is worth sticking around town to play, or not.


Luckily, I still agree with Mr. Cirba that the joy is in the discovery.


I think your objection to the higher-rated courses could be turned on its head -- if the courses you are championing were rated as 7's or 8's, you might label THEM disappointing, instead.  A 7 carries with it a lot more in the way of expectations, and expectations often lead to disappointment.  Indeed that is one reason the Doak Scale is skewed toward the lower numbers, compared to other ratings systems that seem to start at 3 stars, and give way too many courses 4 stars out of 5.

Tom,
 
     I agree with you and Mike in regards to the discovery and also the journey.  You traveling 10+ hours is for the CG, so its not the same as for your standard GCAer.  I drove round trip 8 hours to play Champions Hills 10-15 mins from The Downs.  I'd do it again in heartbeat again, and I think you should take Mrs Doak there...

    The overrated/underrated you are misinterpreting what I'm saying.  Even courses I've played and rated an 8, id rather play a 5 or 6 due to the culture and to quote Mr Warne ''ass trap'' production of most 8's.  I don't have the CG.  I'm like Jkava, I go in with my own preconceived rating or outlook and then try and prove it when I'm finished  .  The overrated comment was more in the lines of courses who have higher ratings due to hosting majors or PGA tourneys. 

    The whole point of this thread is after being on GCA, I'm more interested then ever of reading certain folks thoughts on obscure courses or just playing gem(s) within 4-5 hours.  There are many on here that JUST want to play the best of the best which is fine.  I'm curious if people on here travel in their car 1-2 hours for just good courses verse GREAT courses.  How many GCAers still have that child's sense of wonder???   

Ben,


Answering your last question, I would say, yes, most of us still do have that sense of wonder. Take our Goswick day out happening in three weeks. From Edinburgh, it will take me roughly 2 hours I imagine, and there are a few coming from further away (Jon B is coming from the States ). I don't remember what the Doak scale rating was, but I seem to recall it being a 5. Regardless of the ranking/rating, I am hoping to find a course that has several if not more, decent golf holes that are unique, memorable and make me think about the strategy on all shots. I am also expecting a few average holes, but that is fine by me. For 30 quid, the price is right!

[Tim Martin]

I've taken a lot of roundtripers of considerable distance to play less than great courses. I agree that the company can usually make the day regardless of the course quality. I love seeing anything new and hope that feeling never fades. Just today I did a 120 mile round trip to play Fairchild Wheeler in Bridgeport Connecticut which is a 36 hole muni and had a blast. Low 40's when we teed off with 10/15 mph of wind and semi frozen conditions. Absolutely fantastic day and $23 to walk.

[Mark Pavy]

  How many GCAers still have that child's sense of wonder???   

After a steady diet of Top 100 courses I've found my palate craving off the beaten track, less than 3 ground staff type courses, playing with my buddies.

[Carl Rogers]

At this point in life, just turning 63, and having done zero destination or traveling for golf except for the last 10 years, I will travel half a day for a 6.  I live 4.5 hours from the NC Sandhills.  I have a lot to make up.

[Kyle Harris]

How many courses must one play in order for this to become relevant? Cory Lewis is almost to 1300, and we just drove around Central Florida for the sake of "seeing more." I'd imagine driving two hours to play a Doak 4 if it is only your 10th course is a lot more noteworthy than if it is your 300th.

[jeffwarne]

Ben,
I fly across oceans regularly to play 4,5's and 6's(as ranked by someone else).


It would be a sad day indeed(for me) if I ever put a preassigned number (by someone else no less) as the reason I wouldn't travel to a course.
Many of these courses are my favorites anywhere in the world and I return as often as possible.There are almost always elements of a course experience (individual great holes,uniqueness,nostalgia, topography,scenery,rawness/remoteness,pub/town, companionship/nightlife, competition) that I would rate a 9-10.

Dunfanaghy would be a perfect example of this on a course that many would rate at 4.Rented a house on the 6th hole this last September for the second year in a row.


I do make it a point to travel with 2-3 invitees that rate no lower than 8 as people however, so as long as we play a 3 or higher we do OK

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Ben, Quite simply yes....

[Mike_Young]

Ben,
If I was to ask my buds to go play golf somewhere I don't think that question would come up.  They just want to go play....HNY

[Wade Whitehead]

I played last week with my brother in heavy wind and a high temperature of about 40 on what I would guess is maybe a Doak 3.

The truth is that golf is a game to be played among friends.  The vast majority of rounds played around the world aren't even played on "good" golf courses.  They're part of a game.  They make memories.

May the GCA community remember to balance preference for excellent design and construction with the reality of what golf is for most people who play it.

WW

[James Brown]

Yep.  Every time I travel for business or pleasure, I am always looking for something new and interesting.

[Steve Lang]

Have travelled with buds for 2-15 hours for play... and stayed overnights to a week as well at some destinations to play alternatives..

[BCowan]

Thanks for all the feedback, i guess maybe I'm not or not the only one off the reservation 

[Mike_Young]

I don't know a single person I play with who would know what a Doak scale was....

[jeffwarne]

I don't know a single person I play with who would know what a Doak scale was....

Doak scale, sounds like one of those things Rymer used to use with his Georgia Tech dates....... (and not to rate them...)

[Mike_Young]

I don't know a single person I play with who would know what a Doak scale was....

Doak scale, sounds like one of those things Rymer used to use with his Georgia Tech dates....... (and not to rate them...)

You really don't want to know about his GT dates....

[jeffwarne]

I don't know a single person I play with who would know what a Doak scale was....

Doak scale, sounds like one of those things Rymer used to use with his Georgia Tech dates....... (and not to rate them...)

You really don't want to know about his GT dates....

Actually, if he had one he would be the first.......

[Jerry Kluger]

Conditioning can be a serious factor in this decision.  I am not going out of my way to play a course that is a 6 if it is lush and soft but I will make the trip if it is playing firm and fast.

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