Here is the Doak Scale with a several hopefully different courses of each category. Scotland and UK, Canada, USA, Australia, ROW are all represented in most categories. Many Australia and ROW are from my Catherine Deneuve Wish List.
I personally don't agree with all of the choices I have included, but it's his scale. His opinions and my opinions may differ due to taste variation, attachment and/or experience with said course and dare I say biases. Major disagreements, I've taken the liberty to include my number in bold using his criteria applied strictly fom my standpoint. Hopefully my as well as his biases will appear.
He has also vowed to never re-publish this book as his position in the industry has changed and I have the luxury of time to re-asses some of these which I think he would have done as well. Still, remember that these are strategically chosen for notariety, variety and infamy.
Try it, it's FUN!
0
A course so contrived and unnatural that it may poison your mind, one I cannot recommend under any circumstances. Reserved for courses that wasted ridiculous sums of money in their construction, and probably shouldn’t have been built in the first place.
-Stone Harbor, Karsten ASU 2 ,
1
A very basic golf course, with clear architectural malpractice and/or poor maintenance. Avoid even if you’re desperate for a game.
-Fairfield Wheeler Muni,
2
A mediocre golf course with little or no architectural interest, but nothing really horrible. As my friend Dave Richards summed up: “Play it in a scramble, and drink a lot of beer.”
-Kingussie,
3
About the level of the average golf course in the world. (Since I don’t go out of my way to see average courses, my scale is deliberately skewed to split hairs among the good, the better and the best.)
-Monifieth 5 , Gulf Stream 5, Disney Magnolia 2 , Half Moon Bay (Palmer) 2 , Sandringham, Wellington
4
A modestly interesting course, with a couple of distinctive holes among the 18, or at least some scenic interest and decent golf. Also reserved for some very good courses that are much too short and narrow to provide sufficient challenge for accomplished golfers.
-Kilspindie , The Belfry, Disney Palm,
5
Well above the average golf course, but the middle of my scale. A good course to choose if you’re in the vicinity and looking for a game, but don’t spend another day away from home to see it, unless your home is in Alaska.
-Royal Aberdeen 7 , St. Andrews - New and Jubilee 6, Cavendish, Stoke Poges, Saunton, Worcester 7 , East Lake,
6
A very good course, definitely worth a game if you’re in town, but not necessarily worth a special trip to see. It shouldn’t disappoint you.
-Gullane #1, Moortown, Wentworth, Royal Cinque Ports, Glen Abbey, Toronto 8, Atlantic, Winged Foot East 7, Huntingdon Valley, Philadelphia Cricket Old, Saucon Valley Grace 5, SVCC Weyhill, Jupiter Hills - Hills 7, Old Marsh 4 , Skokie, Castle Pines Golf, Denver CC 4 , Desert Forest, Boulders (either) 4 , Troon North (either) 4 , Royal Sydney, Metropolitan, Yarra Yarra, Titirangi,
7
An excellent course, worth checking out if you get anywhere within 100 miles. You can expect to find soundly designed, interesting holes, good course conditioning and a pretty setting, if not necessarily anything unique to the world of golf.
-Gleneagles King's 8, Machrihanish, Royal Liverpool, Sunningdale New, Hamilton, Kiawah Ocean 8, Myopia Hunt , Bethpage Black, Fisher's Island 8, Lehigh, Plainfield 8, Philadelphia CC, Saucon Valley Old 6, Black Diamond Ranch (Quarry) 6, Medinah #3 6 , Cherry Hills 6 , Troon (private)AZ, Pasatiempo 8 , PGA West Stadium 8 , Spyglass Hill 6 , Naruo, New South Wales, Victoria, Paraparaumu NZ,
8
One of the very best courses in its region (although there are more 8s in some places, and none in others), and worth a special trip to see.
Could have some drawbacks, but these will clearly be spelled out, and it will make up for them with something really special in addition to the generally excellent layout.
-Carnoustie, North Berwick -West, Turnberry Ailsa, Prestwick 9, Royal Troon, Royal Lytham and St. Annes, Woodhall Spa, Sunningdale Old, Portmarnock, Lahinch, Mid-Ocean, St. George's (Canada) 7, Long Cove 6 , Harbour Town 6 , Yale, Garden City 9 , Quaker Ridge 7, World Woods Pine Barrens 6 , Muirfield Village 6 , Chicago Golf, Desert Highlands, Apache Stronghold (mine only), Olympic Lake 6 , Durban CC, Hirono, Kawana, Kingston Heath, Royal Adelaide,
9
An outstanding course—certainly one of the best in the world—with no weaknesses in regard to condition, length or poor holes. You should see this course sometime in your life.
-Royal Worlington and Newmarket, Rye, Royal Portrush, Royal County Down, Teeth of the Dog, Winged Foot West 7, Oakmont, ANGC, Seminole, The Golf Club, Oakland Hills South, Pebble Beach 8 , San Francisco 7 ,
10
Nearly perfect; if you skipped even one hole, you would miss something worth seeing. If you haven’t seen all the courses in this category, you don’t know how good golf architecture can get. Call your travel agent—immediately.
-St. Andrews - Old, HCEG aka Muirfield, NGLA, Shinnecock, Merion East, Pinehurst #2 8 , Crystal Downs 9 , Cypress Point (gets a setting and Mac boost), Royal Melbourne West & East (He has 10 & 6 respectively. We all know it's a composite)