DOAK’S AUSSIE PORTFOLIO GROWS

ACCLAIMED course architect Tom Doak is set to spend a lot more time in Australia after recently adding two more clubs to his list of redesign clients.

The head of Renaissance Golf Design is best known here for designing Barnbougle Dunes and St Andrews Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, both in collaboration with Mike Clayton. Worldwide, he has overseen the creation of nearly 40 courses during the past 18 years, with several entrenched among the Top-100 Courses on the planet including New Zealand’s Cape Kidnappers and US courses Pacific Dunes, Ballyneal and Sebonack.

Renaissance Golf Design was recently appointed as the consulting architects for Yarra Yarra Golf Club in the Melbourne Sandbelt (pictured above). The course was originally designed and constructed by Alex Russell, the Australian partner of the legendary Dr. Alister MacKenzie, in 1928.

“The Club’s Committee is very keen to see the course returned to its former glory, so that we can ensure the relevance of Yarra Yarra into the future. It is imperative that we have a challenging golf course of a standard that will attract and retain members,” Club President David Blake said.

Doak says he is pleased to be able to work on another Alex Russell layout, having redesigned his East course design at Royal Melbourne in 2010.

“Yarra Yarra is one of the finest courses designed by the esteemed Alex Russell and stands up extremely well in a neighbourhood noted worldwide for fine and unique golf courses,” Doak said. “Mr. Russell surely made the most of an elegant piece of property. It is with great pleasure that we have been appointed by the Yarra Yarra Golf Club.”

Doak’s Yarra Yarra appointment follows on from his selection to redesign the Ocean Course at The National Golf Club and a commission to upgrade Sydney’s Concord Golf Club (pictured below) .