Tom Doak: "By the Numbers"

[Howard Riefs]

Perhaps the only benefit of going to the dentist: the waiting room has copies of Golf Magazine.  

The September issue has a "by the numbers" item featuring Tom Doak. And the numbers are...


0      Careers other than course architect that he considered
5      Copies he owns of his 1996 book, The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses
8      Untouched sites he has seen suitable for a Top 100 course
10    Times he has been recognized while traveling
12    Most routings done for one course (North Course at Stonewall)
56    Days spent on site during Pac Dunes construction
73    His best score on his own design (Heathland at Legends Golf Resort in S.C.)
87    Golf Magazine top 100 Courses (World) he has played


So, Tom, who from the board has accosted you while you've been traveling?

[Garland Bayley]

...
So, Tom, who from the board has accosted you while you've been traveling?

Don't know how he counts, but I believe he wrote he has run into DeVries and Harbottle while travelling.

[Tom_Doak]

...
So, Tom, who from the board has accosted you while you've been traveling?

Don't know how he counts, but I believe he wrote he has run into DeVries and Harbottle while travelling.

I took the question to mean how many times I'd been recognized by people I didn't know.  There are at least a couple from Golf Club Atlas among the ten.  [I run into other golf course architects on occasion, too ... saw Ross Perrett in the Hong Kong airport a couple of months ago].

Did they run the question about how many miles I travel in a year?

[Howard Riefs]

Did they run the question about how many miles I travel in a year?

No. The above is the extent of the column. How many miles?

The piece was accompanied by a tightly cropped version of this photo:

[Emile Bonfiglio]

Perhaps the only benefit of going to the dentist: the waiting room has copies of Golf Magazine.  

The September issue has a "by the numbers" item featuring Tom Doak. And the numbers are...


0      Careers other than course architect that he considered
5      Copies he owns of his 1996 book, The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses
8      Untouched sites he has seen suitable for a Top 100 course
10    Times he has been recognized while traveling
12    Most routings done for one course (North Course at Stonewall)
56    Days spent on site during Pac Dunes construction
73    His best score on his own design (Heathland at Legends Golf Resort in S.C.)
87    Golf Magazine top 100 Courses (World) he has played


So, Tom, who from the board has accosted you while you've been traveling?

1,457,256  Times he has been asked if Dismal River is better than Ballyneal 

[Dan_Callahan]

You've probably answered this before and I missed it, but what are the 13 top 100 courses you haven't played.

[Tom_Doak]

You've probably answered this before and I missed it, but what are the 13 top 100 courses you haven't played.

It's always changing as new courses go in and out of the rankings.  But, I miscounted, it's actually 14 I haven't played:

Oakmont
Whistling Straits
* Nine Bridges
Morfontaine
* Castle Stuart
Diamante
Southern Hills
* Oitavos Dunes
Inverness
Loch Lomond
* Nanea
Chambers Bay
* Valderrama
* The European Club

* these are the ones I haven't seen.  I've walked courses like Oakmont and Inverness several times, just never had a chance to play them.

P.S.  71,000    The number of miles I flew from January 1 to June 30 this year.

[Mark Pearce]

The European Club is in the World top 100?  Has anyone let Scott Warren know?

[Tom_Doak]

Of the six courses I haven't seen, the only one I am particularly interested to see someday is Castle Stuart.  I'd be shocked if I thought any of the rest belonged on the list if I went and played them, so I haven't bothered.

[Anthony Butler]

73    His best score on his own design (Heathland at Legends Golf Resort in S.C.)

That's the most impressive number on this list... especially if the wind was up that day.

[David Davis]

Of the six courses I haven't seen, the only one I am particularly interested to see someday is Castle Stuart.  I'd be shocked if I thought any of the rest belonged on the list if I went and played them, so I haven't bothered.

Interesting statement Tom, I can imagine you not thinking too much of Oitavos Dunes, although it's my favorite course in Portugal has some nice architecture as well but some average holes. I was amazed it made the list. I think they felt Portugal was being left out. Perhaps, advertising had something to do with it. However, I'm surprised that you'd put European Club in the "don't give a hoot" list. Why is that?

I'd definitely think you would like Castle Stuart. It has everything, I call it Scotland's version of Disneyland for spoiled American golfers. And while I've not yet seen Trump's almost next door Magic Mountain I'm sure I will like it as well.

[Simon Holt]

P.S.  71,000    The number of miles I flew from January 1 to June 30 this year.
[/quote]

That sir, is a lot of miles.  And upgrades.

[Scott Warren]

I walked around some of Oitavos Dunes on a day that was too windy to play and couldn't see the big deal. Nice place, but didn't scream World Top 100.

Mark, I knew TEC was in there - and high up - before I went, that's what led to such crushing disappointment!

Tom,  five copies of the 1996 edition is a nice little nest egg!

[Dan_Callahan]

You aren't interested in seeing Chambers Bay? I thought it looked really cool at the US Amateur in 2010. While it's not in my top 10 list of courses I've never seen and would like to play, I've only seen a fraction of the great courses you have.

[Scott Warren]

Dan,

The lack of an asterisk means he has seen Chambers Bay, but not played it.

[Dan_Callahan]

Got it. Sorry. Read this on my puny iPhone screen and missed that.

[David Davis]

I walked around some of Oitavos Dunes on a day that was too windy to play

Scott, too windy to play but you could still walk around in it...if you can stand up in it it's not too windy to play. If we had to wait for the wind to die down here I'd have to take up bridge or chess.

[Scott Warren]

David,

Having spent two years playing at Deal and a good amount of time on the cliffs at NSWGC, I'm not shy of the wind.

On the day in question massive seas had waves landing 50m inland of the beach courtesy of the wind, a section of seaside road in nearby Cascais collapsed... this was not the kind of wind you play golf in!

[Kirk Moon]

Of the six courses I haven't seen, the only one I am particularly interested to see someday is Castle Stuart.  I'd be shocked if I thought any of the rest belonged on the list if I went and played them, so I haven't bothered.

Even Nanea?  The reviews have been pretty strong.  Any particular reason for writing it off?

[Mark Saltzman]

David,

Having spent two years playing at Deal and a good amount of time on the cliffs at NSWGC, I'm not shy of the wind.

On the day in question massive seas had waves landing 50m inland of the beach courtesy of the wind, a section of seaside road in nearby Cascais collapsed... this was not the kind of wind you play golf in!

Scott, I think I played it that day.  The 5th is 400 yards and into the wind I hit driver, 3w, pw.  The next hole playing 360ish downwind I drove it over the green.  Waste of time.

[Scott Warren]

Mark,

I'm almost certain it was Feb 27 2010.

[Niall C]

Of the six courses I haven't seen, the only one I am particularly interested to see someday is Castle Stuart.  I'd be shocked if I thought any of the rest belonged on the list if I went and played them, so I haven't bothered.

I'd be shocked if you thought Castle Stuart belonged on that list also but I'll say no more before I have to issue another public apology. 

Niall

[Ronald Montesano]

Tom Doak,

What happened to the other 11 routing plans for Stonewall? Were they quite different from the final brew?