An evaluation of an architect's work is formed in many ways, the most enlightening being one's own playing experiences.
Getting a grip on George Thomas's best works is relatively easy - they are tightly bound in a ~60 mile radius but in the case of Tom Doak, that distance is nearly 10,000 miles, stretching from Florida to Tasmania!
What are Doak's four best in North America? My own tally says Rock Creek, Ballyneal, Pac Dunes and Old Mac. Others clamor for the inclusion of Dismal River and/or Streamsong. Whatever, the collection is impressive.
What's more remarkable is a comparison of that group to his best four (with two design assists from Mike Clayton) in the southern hemisphere (Barnbougle, Tara Iti, Cape Kidnappers and St. Andrews Beach): it isn't clear at all which part of the world houses his best.
Similar to Tom's hero Alister MacKenzie, the preponderance of his work is in the northern hemisphere but a case can be made that the more limited work in the south best encapsulates and highlights his design tenets.
One thing is for sure: the southern hemisphere group is spread over incredibly diverse landforms. In fact, it is hard to imagine four more distinctive sites that offer such strong golf.
Tara Iti enjoys a palette different from any other Doak course.I can't think of many courses with so much exposed sand close to water; a few courses in Cabo, perhaps, but in general exposing sand to wind is as wise as letting your children run wild in a candy store. Yet, the juxtaposition of sand and water is irresistible and at Tara Iti, Lead Associate Brian Slawnik and Green Keeper CJ Kreuscher deserve heaps and heaps of praise for pulling off this delicate balancing act. You can read how they did it in our course profile here:
http://golfclubatlas.com/tara-iti/Throw in the 100% fescue grassing scheme, drier, sunnier summer conditions than other islands famous for golf, CJ's prowess and you have firm, true playing surfaces second to none. It's the most mature young course I've ever seen.
When GolfClubAtlas.com went live in 1999, I wrote that New Zealand was the most squandered opportunity world-wide; the timeless Paraparauma Beach was its sole standout. Finance titans Julian Robertson and Ric Kayne have changed that in part because both men were wise enough to have hired Doak & crew. That's great because few places in the world possess all the key ingredients (soil, climate, environment, beauty, etc.) for conditions conducive to great golf.
While some exotic countries, not known for golf, occasionally feature a course that breaks the mold of mediocrity, I care more about the great golfing nations (of which there aren't many) raising the bar. What's interesting/surprising is that New Zealand has always enjoyed a strong golf culture despite a lack of quality courses (how they accomplished that, I know not!).
Tara Iti is an important and welcome addition to world golf. More such opportunities exist in New Zealand (and Australia) where the raw beauty of a Pacific island can be melded to first rate, core golf in brilliant techni-color.
A course like Tara Iti shows what's possible while causing other courses/clubs to take a hard look at themselves. In the process, we all win.
Throw in Mike Clayton’s superb work in Australia as well as Bob Harrison and the southern hemisphere hasn't had it so good since a good doctor toured there 90 years ago.
Best,