Tom Doak's Best Holes - Fillet Mignon

[Michael Moore]

Doak -

Because you build them so very far from Maine, it was not until a couple of months ago that I was able to play one of your courses, Beechtree.



I thought the eighteenth hole was very very good. As with most of the holes at the Tree, the fairway is enormously wide. I have yet to decide whether wide fairways are masterpieces of strategy or merely a slasher's delight (I suspect the latter), but when I see such a fairway it says to me "come on and freewheel one".

The fairway bunkering is impressive. The locations are trite, but the scale is not - the landing zone bunkering is seventy yards long on each side and the second shot bunkering eats well into the fairway.

Playing downwind, slightly uphill, and maintained screamingly fast, this hole is ultra-reachable, especially because the fairway funnels everything strongly towards the green.

And who gives a shit if you reach the green in two, because from that far you'll probably be fifty or sixty feet from the pin and you'll probably walk away chewing on a five for the entire ride home. A great green that recieves balls and then repels them. What a closer.

[Tim Bert]

Pacific Dunes - I could talk about just any hole, but since most of my favorites have been discussed, I'll have a go at #13.  I have a painting of this one hanging in my house, and I think it is a wonderful intersection of pure eye candy, and great golf architecture.

It is appealing enough that I could just stare at it for hours on end, but when you start thinking about the strategy is when I really wish I could shape or position a shot.  I've only played the hole in the summer, so the wind is usually coming at me.

You are faced with blown out dunes on the right that are so bold and spectacular that the ocean side of the fairway doesn't seem like a bad option to challenge.  The fairway is generous, and there's plenty of room out there.  Miss badly in either direction, and you won't be rewarded.  Missing left all but eliminates par from the equation, but I think the left side of the fairway provides the better approach to the green.  Missing right still allows a chance at par (speaking from experience) but leaves a difficult second shot that might need to both carry bunkers and take a line that could leave your approach in the ocean if hit too far.  I really like the back pin position, which allows for you to run the ball back with a lower shot since there's a good chance you are playing a hybrid or longer iron in during the summer.  At the same time, the green really narrows up back there and makes you consider playing to the fat part of the green and attempting a longer putt or going aggressively at it and bringing the hazards into play.  As a bonus, you get a nice view of the Sheep Ranch from the back edge of the green.


Ballyneal - I'm still trying to figure out my favorite hole out there.  I really like #2, #5, #7, #8, #13, and #18.  That list changes daily, but #2, #7, and #13 have been on it just about every day.  I've written enough about all of the holes on the Ballyneal thread that I won't bore anyone here.  

[Joel_Stewart]

Nicklaus has 3 courses called "Nicklaus Best" with one in Las Vegas which I've played.   I see Tom Doak building such a course

Somebody has to mention Barnbouggle Dunes as having some of his best holes?

[Mark_F]

Barnbougle Dunes - 13th Hole.  Mid long par three to turbulent green.  Just great fun.

St Andrews Beach - 5th Hole.  High tee shot to bowled fairway bunkered left and further ahead centrally, then a semi-blind punchbowl type green that slopes from front to back and right to left.  Always difficult to pick how best to play it. Subtle.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Citing #6 & 9 at PD would be just too easy. I also like the rest of them just as equally.

Best Doak hole would be: (Top Five)

--Stonewall #18 is pretty magnificient, as far as a finishing look on this tremendous piece of rolling farmland, property. It's pretty strategic too.

--I would also put Apache Stronghold #6 and or #12 in there.

--I love Stone Eagle 7B! But I also think that Stone Eagle #14 isn't far behind. People will hate it if they think they are going to try to get away with something left off of the tee!

--I'm still amazed by the strategy of Pacific Dunes #3. I think #3 sets up the tune for the rest of the round perfectly, being careful not to dismiss the two holes previous to it.


There are a lot more, but I'm getting tired and I want to go to bed!

(So show me the way to go home!)

[Shane Gurnett]

17th at Barnbougle Dunes - 400m par 4 dogleg right. Tee shot must be postioned close to fairway bunker on RHS to have the best angle into the green. Left of the green is death. Excellent green.

[Jim Nugent]

I have actually been trying to get my own associates to help compile a list of our best holes so I can put it on our web site -- descriptions of whole courses tend to be too general to cite what makes them different.  But even my associates are like Tom H, picking too many and giving no reasons.

So, anyone responding to this thread, please limit yourselves to one hole and state why you really like it.  As Matt always says, thanks in advance!

Tom -- a suggestion on your website.  You may not want to show the holes you or we think are the best.  That could easily go over, or around, many people.  Instead, pick the holes that picture the best.  May be some differences.  

I really think you should show at least an aerial of Cape Kidnappers, and probably at least one spectacular hole from there, too.  

[Tom_Doak]

Jim:  Most architects' web sites are all about the pictures, and some are obsessive about listing all the rankings they have achieved -- "fifth best affordable public course of 1997".  So I've made it a point to be different.

I am proud of the fact that we've designed some golf holes over the years which are really original, and that's what I'd like to illustrate.  Some of them will also photograph great, some won't, but that's fine.

[Kevin Pallier]

I'll respond from a P3/4/5 combination.

Barnbougle Dunes:
P4 = 4th I adore short P4's with options and this hole has them
P3 = 7th Tom's Little Devil - lovely short one-shotter
P5 = ??...BDunes P5's aren't it's strength so at a stretch I'd say the 14th

St. Andrews Beach:
P4 = 2nd - easily the best short P4 built in Australia in the last 75 years and close to the best short P4 in the country -period. Options galore and virtually begs you to hit driver (I didn't)...I also liked the long P4 3rd - great contrasting holes B2B
P3 = 6th - has a well angled and protected green
P5 = SAB only has two of them and the panoramic drive off the 1st is a great start to the round.

[Matt_Sullivan]

Barnbougle
3 -- one of the freakiest tee shots in Oz and a great green
4 -- top notch short par 4
7 -- wonderful little par 3. In 3 rounds I hit 5 iron, 7 iron, wedge for 3 pars. Only hit the green once (7 iron) and one time holed it for par from the swale on the right (with the putter)
17 -- a great example of doing a long, tough hole well

(The photo of barnbougle posted above by Joel shows 3 in the foreground and 4 in the top left background)

St Andrews Beach
2 -- fun short par 4
3 -- a hard hole done well and made interesting (compared to 13 which is a hard, boring hole)

[Scott Szabo]

I've only played two Doak courses (Riverdale Dunes and Ballyneal), so my choices are limited.  I'll go with Ballyneal's #12, which doesn't seem to get as much press as some of the other holes (i.e. #7).

Challenge the left bunker complex and be awarded with a full view of the green, or take the safer route on the right side of the fairway leaving a blind shot over a yawning bunker.  

My personal favorite at Ballyneal.

[Jim Nugent]

Jim:  Most architects' web sites are all about the pictures, and some are obsessive about listing all the rankings they have achieved -- "fifth best affordable public course of 1997".  So I've made it a point to be different.

I am proud of the fact that we've designed some golf holes over the years which are really original, and that's what I'd like to illustrate.  Some of them will also photograph great, some won't, but that's fine.

Tom -- I don't know what the purpose of your website is.  I do think it's a good idea, probably no matter what, to show how highly ranked you and your courses are.    

If the pix get across the originality, great.  If they don't, I suggest you try others that do.

Does your website help you get new clients?  Or is it mostly for show?  Do you know?  

[PThomas]

13 at PD...God, it's stunning

[Andrew Thomson]

St. Andrews Beach Gunnamatta - 2nd hole.

Truly World Class, perhaps my favourite hole in Australia behind 6 RMW

[Mark Leo]

My choice for best Doak hole would have to be Pacific Dunes #6.  All that a great short par 4 should be, with options from the tee and just rewards for good shot into a green which seems to accept a shot from the proper part of the fairway/rough, and is extremely diffficult to hold when the tee-ball gets off line. Doesn't get any better.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Aside from PD, I am going to offer up a little # from one of his courses that doesn't get much discussion/notoriety on this site:  Charlotte Golf Links - A $44 daily fee in NC that is more fun for me to play than Myers Park CC (Ross).

#6 at CGL is a downhill par 5 with a generous landing area, and if you can hug the right edge of the fairway, you will be rewarded with a kick a la #10 at ANGC.  The fairway is so big, you never even think about bumping an iron out there on your tee shot and playing it as a 3 shoter.  I liken it to what the German tank divisions thought in the summer of 1942 as they rolled across the Ukrainian plains, "We be celebrating in Red Square before November..."

This is where the fun starts/continues...

Do you go for it in two knowing that any miss is a tough up and down, or do you hit a lay up of 120 yards???

Lay-ups are only good in basketball and inebriates at last call, so haul out the 4 iron and blast away.  There's plenty of bailout right because the O.B. fence left is definitely an issue.  

So you're now short-sided in the collection area on the right with the green 2-3 feet above your ball, lob or putt?  Bank shot cut or bank shot hooded?  5 is starting to look pretty good...

BTW, I believe #7 at CGL is a replica/homage to #13 at HCEG, and that uphill par 3 is one of the best holes in my addled memory.  While most people do not like uphill par 3's,due to their blindless, both of these holes are really well done because of their challenge relative to the length of tee shot.  I do wish that HCEG had kept the yardage at 150yds for the pros in 2002.

So much fun, so little $,

JWK

[Paul Jones]

Pacific Dunes #3: 499 yards, par 5

I played the hole twice:

1st day hit Drive then 5 iron on the front of the green.

2nd day hit Drive, then 3 Wood, then 8 Iron on the front of the green.

The green gave me fits both days.  I really enjoyed the differences the wind made on that hole.  I had to play to different parts of the fairway and deal with a different set of trouble.  It was like playing a different hole from a different set of tees on the 2nd day - great variety.

[Dan Herrmann]

I'll be a contrarian.

Stonewall #4.  It's under 400 yards, and it's the number one handicap hole - that should tell you something.  It's simply a stunningy beautiful hole to behold from the tee too.  

Pacific Dunes #11.  One of the finest par 3 holes I've ever played.  It challenges a golfer's soul when the wind is blowing, and it challenges his spirit when he gazes west to the ocean.

I know TD asked for one, but what the heck

[Ari Techner]

I will have to go qith PD #2.  So many options off the tee depending on the wind and the green complex is one of my favorites on the course.  

(PD#6 is really my favorite hole but its been mentioned enough)

[Jason Topp]

7th at Barnbougle. - An extemely tough 110 yard hole that has, and needs a bailout area to the right of the green.

[Peter Pratt]

I have to go back to a golden oldie, as so many have mentioned great holes at Pac Dunes. I'll take the 13th at High Pointe. Great drive over the ferns to a semi-blind fairway that's much wider than it looks and cants from right to left. You often have a sidehill lie for the second into a crazy wonderful green that is unique in my experience of golf--it invites (no bunkering) and repels at once. I consistently underclub on this hole and can't figure out why. A beautiful, strategic hole.

[Jim Franklin]

Lost Dunes #1 is an excellent choice, but I will go with #4. I remember being on the second tee and looking at this WILD green to my right thinking "What the hell is that and how is that going to work?". So we get to the par 5 4th and the green is awesome. I think the hole works great as a risk/reward par 5, but would not be good as a long par 4, but could also work as a short par 4 (green site that is). I went for it in two and found the middle of the green with the flag back left. Three putts later I had my par, but I was smiling the entire time I putted. My playing partner laid up and hit a sand wedge to a few feet to make birdie. Great hole.

[Matt_Ward]

I erred when I posted previously on the best Doak holes as I listed the bcak-to-back duo of #7 & #8 at Pac Dunes.

I meant to say the 6th and 7th holes. They are indeed stunning.

[Tom_Doak]

Aw, Matt.  I was so pleased you had singled out the 8th at Pacific Dunes for attention.  It isn't the most spectacular hole there, but that is my favorite green of all of them, there are just so many different ways to play the approach depending on where they put the pin.

And now it turns out you mixed up the numbers!

Six and seven are among the best holes I've built, too.

[Tom Huckaby]

TD - so some of us are allowed to pick multiple holes,
others get just one?

I refer you to the early posts in this thread.

I kinda dig 8 green also.  But if I am limited to one golf hole, leave me on 6.  I'll keep myself occupied.