Doesn't the idea of locating the clubhouse last say that Doak doesn't think much about pace? I mean, is there a pace difference between the first hole being a tough par 4 versus if it was any other hole? It's a good question, but thinking about it all morning among other things, I kinda sorta think that in the end, the best golf course would be the one with the largest collection of good holes. Do that first, and where there are routing options, then consider the variation of holes within routings that have great holes.
BTW, I always kinda sorta disagreed with Doak on the Clubhouse gets placed last theory. Its more sound bite than sound practice in most cases. There is a lot that goes into siting a clubhouse to make the course work well because it is important, not unlike Jim Engh considering the cart circulation - golfers underestimate how important circulation is to a functioning golf course. It must have room for parking, cart storage and staging, and practice areas. We must also consider access, road proximity, course identity, govt jurisdiction, such as utility extensions, liquor licence, sun orientation for golf holes (from 12 noon to 5 is best, not hard to accomplish when your site is on the Pacific Ocean in OR) etc. I once had to move a clubhouse because long term plans called for a school near the site and local law prhobited alcohol sales within 1000 feet of a school.
At Firekeeper, logical clubhouse location was across the road from the casino, right on the highway to reduce costs. But, using the center ridge near the crotch of the L provided for a centralized clubhouse that allowed returning nines and avoided opening and closing holes to play into a low sun. I had to move the range from the sales plan, because it crossed a creek. I found that placing the range on that main ridge, which didn’t look promising on plan, actually looked great on the ground, and it didn’t require any creek impacts or tree removal.
Eventually, we used that upper portion of that ridge for tee and green sites, moving the clubhouse halfway back down the hill to a tree lined meadow to create its own internal views. The clubhouse is far enough off the road for serenity, but is close enough to reduce entry road and utility connection costs. It could have better visual control of opening and closing holes.
We ended up moving the entire entrance road, too. We did it to save bridge cost. Sure, crossing a creek on the entry is nice, but we found a way to parallel it, reducing our emphasis on the close connection to the hotel from people driving in - hotel guests now will get in a cart shuttle at the front door. That road can also serve some future villas that are nestled in among some trees.
In the last week, we had to move the clubhouse again - because I used the ridges for golf holes, there were no visuals for view or control without moving it again and removing some trees. And, we found that two different electrical companies provided power and where it was located (or if it had been on the ridge) we would have had to use the second company, and brought a line several miles and at great cost. I think I would rather spend my money on the golf course than power lines......
So, in a way, I located the clubhouse both first and last! And many times in between.....