Sean,

The name will be Tumble Creek and it's a private club just across the river from MountainStar, but part of the same development.  Mountainstar is located by Roslyn where they used to film that tv show that was supposed to be in Alaska.

Tom Doak is quoted in the article saying that of the "seven great pieces of land" that he has seen over the last two years he is "doing five of them".  I assume he is referring to

1. Sebonack
2. Kilshannig
3. St. Andrew's Beach
4. Cape Kidnappers
5. Barnbougle

...but perhaps he is referring to the projects in Colorado, Washington & California that are also mentioned in the article.  I discounted the Rawls Course because I have read that it was an very uninteresting piece of land.  So, are these the five great pieces of land he was speaking of....where top 100 courses are waiting to be shaped?

I'll take a stab that the Holyoke course in Colorado (called
Ballyneal - he's also doing another course south of Denver
called The Canyons) is one of the five he's referring to.  
Sandy duneland.  I posted this pic of the land about a week ago:




Craig,

Last I heard, Tumble Creek was called the Swiftwater course
at MountainStar.  The GolfWeek article said it was to be
completed this fall, but another web site on GC construction
said by fall of 2005.  That web site on GC construction had
two pics of Tumble Creek:

Scott,

        I got the name Tumble Creek from Tom Doak about a week ago.

Sorry, I wasn't doubting you.  I was just mentioning the name of the project as of a few months ago in the GW article.  Did Doak say when it's supposed to open?

Also, that TV show shot up there was "Northern Exposure".

Let's see...he doesn't agree with the guy's politics and his feelings are hurt because his old home course was criticized so he can't stand the thought of having his book. Talk about needing thicker skin!  It bothers me when people seek only news or information that reinforces their world view. As if anything that might contradict them is inherently wrong or dangerous. Grow up.

Now, *I*, on the other hand have a legitimate gripe. My copy of  The Confidential Guide has an error. In the beginning where Tom lists his "Baskin Robbins" 13 favorites, I only have 12 because one of the entries is repeated. I'll have to double check which course is mentioned twice (one in England I believe) and what edition/printing I have.

TimT

<clipped>... I know someone with has such an item (1st edition, I think) in near new condition, who, after learning of the author's political orientations and his low opinion of the course the owner of this book learned to play the game on, may be interested in disposing of it.

Scott,

      Thronson was the on-site guy for Arnold Palmer at the Running Y in Oregon.  It is my understanding that the first course should be open this summer (Palmer/Thronson).  Then the Doak course sometime next year, followed by another.

It took them like 8 years to get approval.

Ah yes, Northern Exposure.  Thanks.

Tim,

I'll pass on your comments to "my friend".  I do think that the second paragraph was tongue-in-cheek, though I could be mistaken.

You are aware that Doak does not put a great deal of weight on his opinions depicted in this book.  The book was not researched extensively at all, and was not meant to be published.  Some of the courses he opines on he did not play. Many more were based on one round (God knows that raters have been castigated enough for making quick judgements), and considerable amount of time elapsed between playing many of the courses and the actual transcribing of thoughts and notes into publishing form.

But to my original question, any thoughts on the value of the book autographed by the now famous Tom Doak?  Personally, I don't think that "my friend" is really interested in selling, though for the right price, who knows?

Scott,
Are those 2 construction pics of the Palmer course?
I'd guess they are.

Don't know, but the link I got them from has them alongside the tidbit about Doak's course here:

http://www.weitzgolf.com/projects/golf-courses-underway/