Tom Doak

Tom Doak, born in 1961 in New York and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, has quickly risen to become one of the most influential golf course architects of the modern era. Inspired early on by visits to iconic courses like Harbour Town, Pinehurst No. 2, and Pebble Beach, he developed a deep passion for golf architecture from childhood. After studying Landscape Architecture at Cornell University, he won the Frederick Dreer Award, which he used to spend eight months traveling around the British Isles, immersing himself in the study of classic links courses.

Doak’s first solo design, High Pointe Golf Club in Michigan, opened in 1989 and marked a shift toward minimalist, naturalistic course design. He founded Renaissance Golf Design in 1987, from which he has created world-renowned courses such as Pacific Dunes, Barnbougle Dunes, Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club, and Tara Iti. His designs emphasize blending seamlessly with the natural terrain while offering strategic and challenging play.

Doak is also a respected author, having written influential books including The Anatomy of a Golf Course and The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses. Known for his candid and sometimes controversial critiques, he has helped shape the discourse on golf course architecture worldwide.