The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses

by Tom Doak

One of the better young contemporary course designers and a contributing editor to Golf Magazine, Tom Doak has assembled a brash, coffee-table volume of observations and analyses that'll have golfers salivating and pulling their hair out at the same time (when they're not debating his findings over refreshments at the 19th hole). Not only does Doak rate and review hundreds of courses throughout the U.S.--by region and state--and around the world, he offers a "Gourmet Guide" to the 31 layouts he'd personally like to play with Anyone not up for the likes of Pine Valley, Merion, St. Andrews, Riviera, and Ballybunion? (Editorial review)

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

361 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1996

Reviews

[Hrishi Parandakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toms books are a good resource to finding hidden gems. I like his sharp insights into courses and his keen eye. I have all of them and refer to them often

[Jack Varley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this when it first came out, so I don’t know if it’s been updated. If it has, I’ll get the current version. Amazing book, an iconoclast’s views. He got me interested in playing some places I never had and debunks some big names with sound reasoning. His precepts on golf course rating have been used by at least two major golf magazines.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best resource for playing good golf courses you can imagine. I've used this to find out of the way gems all over the Northeast. Do I always agree with Doak? No. But I've never played a highly rated course in this guide that I haven't at least learned a little something from about architecture...

[Steve Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding source of information regarding courses around the world. The tastes of Mr. Doak are seldom out of whack with my own. Look forward to his future editions.