Who is Tom Doak?

More about course designer Tom Doak

Tom Doak was born March 16, 1961 in New York and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut.

Doak went to Cornell University, after a semester at MIT, where he studied Design and Landscape Architecture.

Between 1982 and 1983 he travelled to Great Britain and Ireland to play and study their best golf courses.

He also caddied at St Andrews in the summer of 1982.

Doak spent three years working on construction projects for Pete Dye and his sons, learning how magnificent golf courses are built.

Doak's greatest influence comes from famouse course designer Alister MacKenzie who designed many courses around the world including the acclaimed Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne courses.

According to a list of the top 100 courses in the world, compiled by Golf Magazine, Doak has several ranked amongst them.

• Pacific Dunes in Oregon
• Ballyneal in Colorado
• Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania, Australai
• Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand.

His course design company is Renaissance Golf Design. www.renaissancegolf.com.

Tom has also written four books about Golf Course Design

• The Anatomy of a Golf Course (1992).
• The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses (1996)
• The Life and Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie (2001) by Tom Doak, James S. Scott, Raymund M. Haddock, Ray Haddock, and James Scott
• The Making of Pacific Dunes