Which Would You Rather

[Steve_Roths]

Which would you rather play:

The World Top 10
   
       Or

Doak's Top 30 (Gourmet Choices)

[Brian_Gracely]

For those of us without a copy of TGC, what are the Doak 30? (if you can list them without copyright violations)

[Jim Franklin]

I thought it was Doak's 31, like Baskin Robbins' ice cream flavors.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Aren't some of the World Top 10 on Doak's Gourmet's Choice list?

[ed_battye]

it is 31.

in no particular order:

The Addington
Ballybunion
Casa De Campo
Commonwealth
The Creek
Crystal Downs
Desert Highlands
Durban Country Club
Forest Highlands
Garden City
Kawana
Lancaster
Merion
The National Golf Links Of America
North Berwick
Pinehust #2
Pine Valley
Praire Dunes
Riviera
Royal Dornoch
Rye
St Andrews
St Enodoc
St Georges
St Georges Hill
Sand Hills
San Fransisco
Shadow Creek
Stonewall
Westward Ho
Woodhall Spa


I go for Doak's.

[ed_battye]

"no particular order" ......... except alphabetical.











doh!

[Brent Hutto]

Let's see...choose between playing 31 courses, not a one of which is devoid of architectural merit and playing challenge, versus playing 10 courses, not a one of which is devoid of architectural merit and playing challenge.

I choose to play 31 instead of 10 great courses. Was that a trick question? I doubt there's a single course on either list that wouldn't be an awesome experience.

[Jfaspen]

I choose the 31 as well.. Although it would have been a MUCH easier decision if Cypress was included in teh 31 instead of only the 10.

jf

[THuckaby2]

I'm with Jeffrey also... the ommissions of Cypress, Pine Valley, Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush Dunluce make this a tougher question than it otherwise might be... but still, 31 beats 10.

TH

[Jim Franklin]

I'll go with the top 10 as I want to play Royal County Down, Augusta National and Shinnecock, and play Oakmont and Cypress Point again.

[George Pazin]

Brush up on them readin' skills, young Huck - Pine Valley is one of Tom D's 31 flavors.

Whose top 10 list is every using?

Regardless, I'd be happier, I think, playing St Enodoc, Rye, Woodhall Spa, GCGC, Westward Ho, North Berwick, Crystal Downs, NGLA, Prairie Dunes and Sand Hills (trying to pick out 10 that aren't in the world top 10 on many lists) than pretty much anyone's world top 10 list.

[JakaB]

At least 14 of Doak's 31 are throwaways....gotta go with the top 10.

[ForkaB]

I'd go for the Top 10 with no qualms.  The 5 or so I've played are all worth playing again, and the 5 I haven't are all on my Christmas list to Santa.  It's the old "quality vs. quantity" argument we've had on here before.  I'll always opt for the former, and I assume that the rules of the quiz are such that you get to play each of the top 10 three times to even things out.  No?

[John_Cullum]

I apologize for not memorizing the world top 10. Can someone point me to a list.

[paul cowley]

......i think i would play the ones that as a group exuded the least on the pretension scale....not sure how to pick though [is westward ho pretentious ?]

[Tim_Weiman]

John,

Why don't you go ahead and name the 14 throwaways?

[JakaB]

Tim,

Of all people I didn't expect you to ask the obvious....14 courses that it just wouldn't be all that hard to find somewhere else to play or something else to do...throwaways..

Shadow Creek
Casa de Campo
Desert Highlands
Forest Highlands
Kawana
Lancaster
St. Enodoc
St. Georges
St. Georges Hill
Stonewall
Westward Ho
Woodhall Spa
Commonwealth
Durban

[Paul_Turner]

Yeah, of course, courses like Westward Ho! and Kawana are two a penny.

The 31 flavours easily wins this one.  How many links in the "official World Top 10" from Golf Mag?  Probably only 2 or 3:  TOC, Muirfield, RCD.

Only 2 or 3 countries too??

[JakaB]

Paul,

I remember reading somewhere that Doak had given Westward Ho a 6 on the Doak Scale and said that Hirono was the best course in Japan....when talking about the top 10 in the world...that alone qualifies the Ho and Kawana as throwaways.....

[Tim_Weiman]

John,

Well, I can't say you didn't step up and answer my "obvious" question!

Out of curiousity, what do you think of St Enodoc? Is it not worth a special trip ......if one has at least made it to London?

[Paul_Turner]

John

I think Tom gave the Ho! a 6 because he feared that the course was too much of a "culture shock" for his average reader.  He visited the course again this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he'd give it an 8 now.  Regardless of its number grade; it's every bit as unusual as most in the official top 10.

Pebble is the second best in CA and somehow makes the top 10...how's that different from Kawana?

[JakaB]

Paul,

Even in the top ten you get a dog now and then....Pebble is the throwaway of the 10..

[Paul_Turner]

PS

At the risk of being labeled a "Doak butt boy".  I really do think that Tom's list is much more interesting than the standard Top 10 or even Top 50.  Variety that has a course from most of the top regions.  And the 31 architect criterion ensures the quality.  It was an intriguing and original way to list his favourite courses.

PS

Not sure why he picked Kawana before Hirono.  But I suspect it was simply because us plebs have a remote chance of playing Kawana...Hirono is completely off limits.  

[JakaB]

Paul,

He picked Kawana over Hirono because the greens at Hirono were rebuilt for bent grass and did not hold their original flavor..I think.   If I ever go to Japan I doubt I will waste my time golfing....so which is what is moot to me..

[JakaB]

John,

Well, I can't say you didn't step up and answer my "obvious" question!

Out of curiousity, what do you think of St Enodoc? Is it not worth a special trip ......if one has at least made it to London?

Tim,

I'm sorry if I ever implied I had played any of the 31 flavors....I've only played one and it is not a throwaway.   As far as St. Enodoc goes I am sure it would be worth a special trip if you are in London.....Sadly my criteria would be is it worth going to London to play St. Enodoc...and that I doubt.  I could see myself being my typical three over after four and thinking..."My God, Tom Doak broke 70 on this trac and I'm going to be lucky to shoot 80.." the pressure would be devastating..