10 Favorite Recent Discoveries by Tom Doak

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I don't remember seeing this posted here. If it has been posted, let me know and I'll take it down. Only one Doak 9 on this list from Tom Doak himself:

From thegolfermag.com



The ultimate list for the discerning golfer


10 Favorite Recent Discoveries
by Tom Doak
Tom Doak, principal architect of Renaissance Design, has designed such world famous courses as Pacific Dunes and Cape Kidnappers. In 1996, he published the highly provocative "Confidential Guide to Golf Course Architecture," a review of more than 800 golf courses around the world. He excluded his own designs from this list.





Bandon Dunes:
If David Kidd hadn’t done so well in front of me with this design on the Oregon coast, I never would have gotten to build my own best course at Pacific Dunes.

Caledonia:
Mike Strantz’s first solo design on Pawleys Island, S.C., and possibly the most interesting and fun course I have seen on a flat site.

Fenway:
A great Tillinghast course lying in obscurity just a couple of miles from Winged Foot in the Westchester suburb of Scarsdale.

Friars Head:
Designed by the team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, it is the only course in this list which would get a "9" on the Doak scale, even if the club on Long Island pretends not to care.

Wild Horse:
Some think of it as a poor man’s version of that other great Nebraska course, Sand Hills, but it stands on its own merits as the best affordable course in America.

Brora:
A bit short for scratch players at 6,100 yards, but golfers should still take time out to play it when they go to Royal Dornoch for a swing through the Scottish Highlands.

Cabo del Sol (Ocean):
My favorite Jack Nicklaus course, it has several fine holes away from the ocean, too.

Kauri Cliffs:
The most beautiful coastal views from any golf course on earth, and quite a test when the wind blows.

Kingsbarns:
An authentic modern links down the road from St. Andrews with a lot of cool little contouring that wasn’t there to start.

Woodlands:
Small greens and great bunkering. But it gets no respect in the Melbourne Sandbelt because Dr. MacKenzie did not make a stop there.

[Geoffrey Childs]

I'm glad to see that Tom has "discovered" to merits of Fenway and the wonderful club gets a bit more press.  I was there last Thursday with a couple of other GCA members and the newest work this year is spectacular.

Friars Head gets a 10 from me.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Geoffrey,

What work has been done this year?  Was it also done by Gil Hanse?

Some tree removal would benefit a few holes on this terrific layout.

[ForkaB]

RE: Brora, the many scratch (and better) players who have come out of there (viz. Jimmy Miller) haven't found its 6100 yard length to be detrimental to their game.

[Tony_Muldoon]

This thread has got me thinking, (it might even be the real 20 000th post) where should he look next.  I.e. what interesting course has so far not featured in the confidential guide?  In the various Heathland Threads MWP keeps speaking up for Blackmoor and it isn’t in the version I’ve seen.  The Peugeot Guide gives it 17 out of 19, seems worthy of a visit to assess.

Where else deserves a visit?

[Chris Kane]

Woodlands:
Small greens and great bunkering. But it gets no respect in the Melbourne Sandbelt because Dr. MacKenzie did not make a stop there.

If that was the extent of it, Commonwealth would never have been so highly respected.

[RJ_Daley]

I'll bet they are wetting their pants in Gothenburg.  That is some rare company Senor Doak has put them in!

[Tom_Doak]

Steve:

I don't know if that was ever posted, but it's about two years old.

I showed great restraint not plugging any of my own courses; I think we've built a couple since writing The Confidential Guide that can hold their heads up in that company.

[Geoffrey Childs]

Geoffrey,

What work has been done this year?  Was it also done by Gil Hanse?

Some tree removal would benefit a few holes on this terrific layout.

Scott-

There has been much tree removal but still a lot more to go.  The major in house work is restoration of a stream that runs across 7 and 9 fairway and then up the left side of #9 and also paralleling the right side of 18 fairway. 18 is much less claustrophobic and the water adds to the strategy. There is an irrigation (I assume) pond well right of #7 fairway that can come into play off the tee of 7 (because the big willows next to the fairway bunkers were removed and in play off 9 tee to the right.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Tom

Any newer recent discoveries? The Bear's Club, for example?

[Tom_Doak]

Steve:

I have hardly seen any new courses in the past two years, other than my own.  I know there is a lot of good stuff being done out there, but I'm busy doing some of it.

The most interesting new course I saw last year was the second 18 at Pronghorn, by Tom Fazio, which was only about half done when I toured it.  They must be spending $$$$$ to build it, but they seemed to be getting their money's worth.

[Craig Disher]

Mark,
I can't tell if you're serious about the new tee. It may look a little (and I mean a little) better when grassed over but given the topography on the course, doesn't it seem very out of place?

[Bill_McBride]

That elevated tee is how I see the new 4th tee at Oakmont in my (horrified   ) mind's eye.

The price we pay for today's length is stiff indeed -- speaking of Oakmont.

[Voytek Wilczak]

I love Fenway and was up to see and play it a few weeks ago.  In my opinion, it has some of if not the best Tillinghast bunkering out there.  Also one great set of greens.  I would not say it is his best routing but still a superb golf course.  

Here are a few shots of the work going on.



Photo from the #7 tee looking out at the new irrigation/holding pond



Photo of the new stream that cuts across the course.



Something had to be done with all that fill from the pond.  This is the new elevated tee on #14.  I was concerned about it but when grassed over, it should look a little better.  

I am not sure if you are serious.

The first photo depicts an ugly cartpath.

The second photo depicts an artificial looking, stone-lined "stream".

The third photo depicts a mound of dirt.

??

[corey miller]

I am with Voytek on this.  Certainly, the least impressive pictures I have ever seen of this fine course and restoration.

Was the stream across 7,9 an original natural feature?  Was the holding pond an original wetland area?  

Assuming the holding pond was necessary, why create an artificial looking stream across two fairways? Is this better than pumping underground?

[RJ_Daley]

I have to chip in and say the same.  I thought it was a put-on.  It may be a heck of a course, but those pics don't exactly say "classic" to me.

[ForkaB]

Is there enough elevation on Fenway for a waterfall?

[Mark_Fine]

This is the part of Fenway that I love most - the bunkers and the greens!!  





I am holding final judgment on the recent changes until they are complete.  I know the stream did go through the property and I know water is an issue for the club.  I was shocked when I saw that back tee and I very much agree with Bill about the one's at Oakmont.   I am hoping the look is very much softened when it is finished.  Gil would not have done it if he didn't think he could get it to look at least decent.  The same goes for the pond as I know he hates to build water hazards and only does so at a last resort.  I am very impressed with the extensive tree work at Fenway.  I told the Grounds Chairman, Steve Frankel, who is one of the best out there, that he should be very proud of this!  I'd be curious to hear Geoffrey's thoughts about the changes.  

[Scott_Burroughs]

Geoffrey,

What work has been done this year?  Was it also done by Gil Hanse?

Some tree removal would benefit a few holes on this terrific layout.

Scott-

There has been much tree removal but still a lot more to go.  The major in house work is restoration of a stream that runs across 7 and 9 fairway and then up the left side of #9 and also paralleling the right side of 18 fairway. 18 is much less claustrophobic and the water adds to the strategy. There is an irrigation (I assume) pond well right of #7 fairway that can come into play off the tee of 7 (because the big willows next to the fairway bunkers were removed and in play off 9 tee to the right.

Yes, 18 was the primary hole I was thinking of.  Here's 18 last year from the tee:



and the approach through the chute:



Comparing the pics Mark showed:

#7 from tee recently:


#7 last year (note tree partially obscuring bunker).  I also felt
most of the trees on the inside of the dogleg should go, as it
is a good poke to the bend (the guys pictured must not be
long - and needed to punch out around trees):


#9 off the tee had trees encroaching:


Another spot for possible tree reduction, the approach to #13:

[Geoffrey Childs]

They are finally doing something about the overgrowth of trees at Fenway to a degree that the results are clearly noticeable.

There is more to do.  I agree that the inside of #7 and #15 are great candidates.  The improvements on 9, 18, the inside of 16 and on 8 are excellent.

I think the stonework on the creek are fine as it is irregular and looks as it is basically shoring up the banks so they don't erode away every season. The work is not like it would be at Trump. It crosses #9 at 260-265 on the left and 275 or so on the right.  It is in the same position it was when the course was built. It then runs up the left side of 9 that is shared with #18.

To those who have not been there, Mark's first photos do not adequately show the artistic work done by Gil Hanse and co-workers. In my opinion, those are the nicest Tillinghast bunkers I have seen and by a LONG SHOT.  That includes Bethpage (rees), Quaker Ridge (rees), Winged Foot (fazio), Baltimore (forse), Alpine (Mungeen, Forse - the new ones by forse are EXCELLENT).

The new 14th tee is another story.  I'll wait till grass grows in but t my eye it was horrible.

[Scott_Burroughs]

They are finally doing something about the overgrowth of trees at Fenway to a degree that the results are clearly noticeable.

There is more to do.  I agree that the inside of #7 and #15 are great candidates.

I agree about #15, but I wondered if criticizing such a great
hole was allowed.     Take away the trees on the left and
you can see (or partly see) the reachable green from the tee:



....but if you go straight at it and are short or left, the rough
or a bunker short left of the green gets you and you have a
bad angle in (from left of here) to this tiny, sloped green:

The improvements on 9, 18, the inside of 16 and on 8 are excellent.

#16 before:

the creek...It crosses #9 at 260-265 on the left and 275 or so on the right.  It is in the same position it was when the course was built. It then runs up the left side of 9 that is shared with #18.

That will make for a big decision on the tee, lay up or go for clearing....to this magnificent approach/greensite:

The new 14th tee is another story.  I'll wait till grass grows in but t my eye it was horrible.

The new tee here:


must be somewhere in this vicinity, between old back tee and
#11 green (one of 3 terrific par 3's on the course)

[Greg Stebbins]

Mark,

Regarding the 14th tee, it seems to me based on the proximity to the bunker on 11 that the tee was moved to the right.  If that is the case, I think it would be a much tougher driving hole as you would have to hit towards the OB left on the tee shot rather that away from it.  How much distance will it add?  

I'm excited to hear about tree removal on 18.  Its the only hole on the course I don't like, but that could definitely change if it is indeed opened up.  

[Paul_Turner]

The only explanation for Painswick's absence must be that Tom wrote it before the event

[Dan Herrmann]

that is one FINE looking golf course!  Congratulations!

[Tom_Doak]

If they build any more tees like that at Fenway, it will be crossed off my list of favorite recent discoveries!

That's got to be the work of a green chairman who just couldn't stomach the "blind" tee shot on 14.  Nice work.

Fenway out, Painswick in.