My recall of events is a bit different than Tom's and I share them here as it is the story that is told on-site. I also find it very funny and hope I can put it into words that tell that properly.
Tom and Eric arrived Dismal when, like today, the club was closed for the season. That meant that they had to "rough it" and eat with the handful of us that remained in OZ (maintenance), rather than experience the "Emerald City" (the clubhouse). In fact I don't recall even showing them the clubhouse during the visit - that's not why they were there. They were very focussed.
Anyway, Tom arrived in the afternoon and took command of the 4 seat Polaris Ranger and he and Eric went out. That night at dinner, Tom casually mentioned he wanted to "look across the road" (the entrance drive) and explore the land between the Road and the Dismal River. My response was that the club had always wanted to preserve the wonderful viewscape from the clubhouse and, while I was not around at the time, I was pretty certain the members would not like the view "tainted" by a golf course and asked him to fouces on other areas north of the road. Those who have been to Dismal know about the view from the famed back deck fire pit. I could tell Tom wasn't very happy with the answer but he agreed...for now.
Dinner was "country nice" and Tom asked alot of questions about what I thought I wanted in a course, probing a few specifics like "importance of walkability", "how important is for Par to be 72" and "how improtant is overall length". I recall responding that I enjoy walking as I do at Sand Hills, that a Par 72 was unimportant, that I loathe really long par 3's, and that loverall ength didn't matter much. I told him we wanted something unique and different as the site allowed. I recall the only contributions that Tom let me prevail were "non circus greens" and bentgrass putting surfaces to match our other course. In the whole, it was obvious Tom thought me weird and I thought him to be quite "odd" as well.
The second day at Breakfast, Tom asked again (still nicely) about crossing the road. I again, but probably a bit more firmly told him no. Both the first and second expeditions on the site were DO (Doaksters Only) and I was not with them. I didn't think it was my place to attend and don't recall being invited.
To digress, I had sent Tom an set of elevations early on and told him any of the land South of the entrance road was his canvas. Unfortunately, (or Fortunately), the plans I sent did have the elevations for the land north of the road towards the river and huge bluffs including both "Big and Little Horseshoe". That was my mistake and I never thought anything more about it. In all honesty, I had sent the wrong plans to Tom!
The second day at lunch, the boys came in and shared that they had "staked out a few holes" and really liked them. While eating Tom paused, and this time stated rather firmly (even defiantly) that they were crossing the road after lunch. Not asking anymore, just a very firm Doakish statement. I didn't know what to say, was a bit struck, and said something like "goshdarnit, Tom, you can have a look but we can't building a course over there. Mind you, I still didn't know that the closely guardrd routing that Tom had prepared already had holes there, and was too stupid to to know that was the reason the routing was so closely guarded! It's also probably why he came out in the first place. I just thought the guy was secretive as Tom certainly is a very artistic in his craft. Through this, Erik was "stoically amused" by the entire dialog over, then, 3 meals. I think Erik knew they were crossing the road all along! Me? I felt like I do when my daughter keeps asking to come in later on a Saturday night. Permission by attrition is what we call that here at the house, and young Paige is a master at it.
Now that the "curfew" was eliminated, Tom invited me to come along. Eric was grinning and we set out to explore. I still didn't get it for a while but Eric kept unfolding and closely studying the site plan. I thought: man these guys can really read an elevation on the fly! Tom and Eric weren't looking for passages, they were looking at their routing! Silly me. Hole after wonderful hole was revealed and Tom was unusually quiet, those who know him know he is pretty reserved to begin with. Concentration personafied. Me, I was telling dopey stories about the site and was probably little more than a nuisance. After looking at several outstanding holes routed together, and beaching the Ranger in a bog after a wrong turn, Mr. "let me know if you ever see water up to the hubs cause we could have a problem then " (that was my job) showed me the 18th, the prettiest natural hole I had ever seen! Looking right at the clubhouse a half mile away, to boot! That's when Tom kicked the dirt and asked "how important" it was (to me) that the course finished where it starts. Now full of the DoakAid, I told Tom this was his design and I really liked the fact that it ended as it did, if he did - it was Dismal River after all and we liked being different. For those who haven't been out, you must take a cart to the Nicklaus course as it is at least a mile from the clubhouse. We don't have a huge priority on proximity out here.
In sum...fortunately, we crossed the road. Tom has a 250 yard par 3, kind of like a beautiful 7-foot blonde. We have a front 8 and back 10. Par is not 72. We'll be lucky to hit 7,000 yards. These aren't compromises, it's what was there to be discovered by a master. The routing is both wonderfully unique and very, very good. 18 terrific holes. Old' can I look across the road" has become a (still strange and quiet) friend but I confess fear he has some more tricks up his sleeve - it has to be the greens! Did he set me up? Yep - he already had the river holes on paper! Fortunately, he didn't take no for an answer, especially from a person like me who didn't know anything. Then again, this wasn't his first rodeo and he probably deal with tons of of folks who have a copy of "Architecture for Dmmies"
I also recall Tom saying one thing and, again, Tom isn't much for words. As we began the walk back to the Ranger to begin the trek back to homebase, Tom simply stopped, hands in pockets, briefly looked me in the eye, and said very seriously "this course has to be built". Knowing Tom's history with Dick Youngscap and Sand Hills, that really hit home. We wouldn't build a second course just to have two, and this is important to Tom as he gets to make his mark on a very special area. Then, imagine my surprise when I saw Tom's simple post soon after he left on a GCA thread strated by another titled "a genius routing". After visiting with this strange fellow and his sidekicks, and seeing what they found and put together, it was game on!
Other tidbits... I believe, the rumor is true, Brian Slawnik shapes to ABBA. And...we coined a new term...Doakish. And...Don Mahaffey really is that good. We are in very good hands with outstanding people. Our team, and members, are very excited!