It's clear that the raters for the Confidential Guide have quite a bit of agreement in their ratings. Infrequently do ratings vary by more than one point on the scale when there are multiple ratings. The ratings often reflect how courses are ranked within a specific country or region. I would infer that the four raters have a good idea of what they are rating and how they are applying the standards used, due to this level of agreement.
I can see how raters using the scale might adjust downward by a point when "rawness" extends to marginal conditions or when rawness becomes a feature detracting from the experience of playing the course.
In terms of measurement, the Doak scale would seem to meet standards for reliability and validity, as behavioral scientists speak of when they look at issues of measurement in their efforts to quantify concepts with ratings when there isn't an obvious physical dimension involved. What I like about the Doak Scale is that it rates courses in terms of the effort, time, and resources that one with an appreciation of golf course architecture would expend if that person were allocating time, effort, and resources in relation to course quality. For the less than elite courses, it seems to recognize those that are worth expending some effort to see while in some proximity.
I'm fine with how the scale deals with the Donegal courses. For many, if not most, there was limited professional input from highly respected architects. After my first trip to Ireland, I made a point of returning to the Donegal area for reasons that have less to do with playing at the best of the best. I decided to look at returning to Ireland, particularly Donegal, because it was an affordable way to play quite a bit of links golf, and I found the courses to welcome a solo golf traveler. I've probably spent close to eight months in Ireland on eleven trips and have spent about six months of that time in Donegal. So the courses are accessible and affordable to the extent that someone can do a three or four week trip and play golf in an environment not like what we find in the U.S. Over time, I have found ways to cut costs so travel there has become more economical.
If someone has played the eight or ten must play courses covered in a first trip to Ireland and is looking for something else, Donegal is very good choice.
Charles Lund