The worst acronym for a great golf course…NLE…no longer exists. Now we’ll speak of Beechtree in Aberdeen, Maryland in holy whispers like we do with Lido. Tom Doak wrote this message to Golf Club Atlas.
Play it now, while you still have a chance.
Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus’s Sebonack G.C. in Southampton, NY will host the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open. Click here for the Cybergolf.com story. From the article: “It will be the first U.S. Women’s Open held on Long Island and the first time the championship will be conducted in New York State since 1973. Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck hosted...
Thanks to Sal Johnson for running this piece that compares golf architect Tom Doak to Twain’s Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s court. From the piece: Even his gibberish enraptures those hanging on every word. Morgan achieved “miracles” while uttering ridiculous “magic words” like...
So I’ve been up in Lake Placid writing, trying not to break my hip skiing, and listening to Phish. The seclusion of Whiteface Mountain is a great retreat to write. I have been reviewing alot of old notes and found some wonderful snippets from my Tom Doak interview that hadn’t been printed yet. There’ll be more as I finish the chapter about Tom for...
From Jeff Shelley’s Cybergolf story. By the way, get ready for another Doak masterpiece; Rock Creek Cattle Company opens in rural Montana later this year.
With the names of Tom Doak and William Flynn involved in the design of this course, which dates back to 1897, it can’t help but be good. From Golf.com: Not many new public courses can claim a champions’ roster that includes Walter Travis, Babe Zaharias and Don January or claim the first American to win the U.S. Open as its former head pro (John J...
Readers of Mark Twain’s classic novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court will note many remarkable similarities between Twain’s resourceful, noble, and hilarious protagonist Hank Morgan who forces the 19th century on the 6th and the equally ahead-of-his-time, progressive thinking, paradigm-shifting Tom Doak. When you meet Doak, you are...
Here you go. This is what a golf course architect thinks about when he’s designing. It’s Tom Doak analyzing St. Andrew’s Beach. He was aided by Mike Clayton, Australia’s greatest golf writer and my Golf Observer colleague. Note to Donald Trump and Turning Stone Casino: do you see a waterfall? A stained glass window? How bout that line...
Tom Doak had the most high profile year and takes home this year’s award for some searing achievements in the most pressure filled jobs. He certainly rose to the occasion with Sebonack, Ballyneal and landing the new course at Bandon Dunes – due to open in 2010. Jim Engh gets the runner up nod and gives Dan Maples and Pete Dye runs for their money as the...
Since it’s the holidays, it’s time to wind up the year with the Annual “Jay’s Golf Awards” a.k.a. the Jazzys. Today – Best New Private Course. This one was easy. At Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club, Tom Doak built the O’Neal brothers a brilliant rejoinder to nearby Sand Hills and a terrific sister course to Pacific Dunes. The...
Please note: Part one of the interview is here. Tom answered some Qs by email, others by tape. In two cases, we hit the same topic twice. Enjoy. Jay: We know that you love telling people the joys of being a minimalist. What do you do different in building golf courses? What’s unique about a Tom Doak design? Tom: You know it is very had to define. I think I see...
I’m still busy compiling all my notes from the Michigan trip, but after a wonderful round at the charming, refined and eminently natural Crystal Downs (Alistair Mackenzie, 1932) Tom Doak shared some thoughts over chili dogs and root beer at the Frankfort, MI A&W stand. JF: How did you pick Northern Michigan for a home base? Doak: While I was in college, I...
PACIFIC DUNES GOLF COURSE Round Lake Drive Bandon, OR 888.345.6008 www.bandondunesgolf.com Architect: Tom Doak Par 71 Excitement Level – 12/12 Difficulty – 9/12 Conditioning – ***** Cost – $200 peak, $60 reduced Value – ***** Tees Yards Rating Slope Tournament 6557 72.9 133 Regular 6174 70.9 131 Resort 5799 69.3 125 Forward 5101 71.1 131...
Right now the AWITP team is on 95-S in the teeth of a snowstorm. Not the greatest omen for golf, but as we have not yet reached VA, hopefully we’ll see 50s, maybe even 60s by journey’s end. I would shudder to think of trying to walk and play Tobacco Road in blowing 40 degree cold. The course would prove most cruel indeed. On such days, always remember...