Fried Egg Golf Podcast: Yolk with Doak
All 46 episodes of the recurring series with golf course architect Tom Doak
Over the years, Andy Johnson and golf course architect Tom Doak have recorded dozens of conversations as part of the Fried Egg Golf Podcast’s Yolk with Doak series.
Below you’ll find the full archive of those 46 episodes, with topics ranging from mailbag Q&As to Tom’s work on various projects around the world, as well as in-depth discussions on the state of the industry as a whole.
Make sure to subscribe to the Fried Egg Golf Podcast and YouTube channel for future episodes and videos you’ll enjoy.
Yolk with Doak 46: Social Media & Golf Course Architecture, New Zealand, and Listener Questions
The Yolk with Doak is back! Andy Johnson kicks off 2026 alongside Tom Doak for a three-hour conversation. The two discuss Tom's social media hiatus and how Instagram has impacted his career as a golf course architect before discussing some of his recent work at Wild Spring Dunes, Childress Hall, and much more. The two wrap things up in the last hour with some listener questions from Fried Egg Golf Club members, submitted via the new discussion forums.
Yolk with Doak 45: Listener Questions and Building on Rocky Land
Golf architect Tom Doak sits down with Andy Johnson for another mailbag-focused episode of "Yolk with Doak." Thanks to questions from Fried Egg Golf Club members, Tom discusses what motivates him to continue in his career, how he helps develop the careers of his associates, and learning to appreciate his own work. Andy and Tom go back and forth about what a Doak-designed major championship course would look like and why modern golf courses may not be the best hosts for majors. To end this episode, the two take a deep dive into Tom's experience building Stone Eagle in Palm Desert, California. Tom details the initial routing for the course, the struggles of building on rocky land, and how the elevation changes impact building a golf course.
Yolk with Doak 44: Links Travel, Analytics in Golf, and Short Par 4s
Andy Johnson sits down with Tom Doak for the first of two October 2024 Yolk with Doak episodes. To start, Tom shares travel tips for golfers headed to Australia, New Zealand, and links courses throughout Ireland and the U.K. Andy and Tom then talk through Tom's first round at Sedge Valley and his experiences playing his own design for the first time. They then discuss the strategy around designing and playing short par 4s and debate whether longer hitters should resist temptations to reach the green in one. This leads into a conversation about the prevalence of analytics in golf, as younger golfers now have access to more data and information about their own games and swings than prior generations. This episode wraps with Tom talking through the pros and cons of working on private or resort courses and more accessible public courses, and how the feedback he'll receive is different based on how often golfers play a course.
Yolk with Doak 43: Tom Answers Listener Questions
Andy Johnson is joined by golf course architect Tom Doak as Tom answers listener-submitted questions coming from Fried Egg Golf Club members. The two cover topics such as the golf architecture book that Tom keeps going back to, how he handles restoring courses he designed, his work at Bandon, why amateurs should prioritize playing match play, and more.
Yolk with Doak 42: Cabot Highlands, Childress Hall, and Sandglass
Tom Doak returns to take us through his recent projects at Sandglass, Childress Hall, and Cabot Highlands before discussing his favorite parts of working in Scotland. He shares stories of working with Padraig Harrington at the Renaissance Club and what he would take back to America from his most recent trip to Scotland. To wrap things up, Tom discusses his long history with North Berwick and why the course’s reputation has changed so much over the last 40 years.
Yolk with Doak 41: Sedge Valley, Pinehurst No. 10, Difficulty vs. "Fun," and Blind Shots
For the second of our two Thanksgiving-week Yolk with Doak installments, Andy Johnson and golf course architect Tom Doak tackle some more listener questions. Among other topics, they discuss Doak's recent Sedge Valley and Pinehurst No. 10 projects, designing short par 4s and shot courses that challenge elite players, difficult vs. "fun" courses, a wild idea for an Olympic course, and the pros and cons of blind shots.
Yolk with Doak 40: High Pointe, Lido, and Playing His Own Designs
Tom Doak addresses a variety of listener questions. He talks about the revival of his original High Pointe design outside of Traverse City, Michigan, and how it has been a unique project for Renaissance Golf Design. Andy and Tom then discuss the takeaways Tom has from Lido after a few days on site in October.
Yolk with Doak 39: Ballyneal and Listener Questions
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak devote a portion of this episode to discussing Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club, Tom's acclaimed 2006 design in the Chop Hills of Colorado. They talk about Ballyneal's conception, how the owners influenced the final product, comparisons to Coore & Crenshaw's Sand Hills, and the holes that required the most earthmoving. In the second part of the episode, Tom fields listener questions about Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes, whether par 3s can be strategic, holes with two greens, and the notion of playing a hole down another hole's fairway.
Yolk with Doak 38: Pinehurst
Pinehurst announced that Tom Doak will design the resort's 10th 18-hole course on a dramatic property in Aberdeen, North Carolina. Tom joins Andy to talk about the factors that will make No. 10 unique, including its elevation changes and the fast timeline for the project (his crew has already broken ground). They also discuss Pinehurst more generally, touching on the strengths of Donald Ross's No. 2 course and the importance of Coore & Crenshaw's 2010 restoration of it. In non-Pinehurst talk, they chat about how busy Tom is right now, when he says no to opportunities, and how he makes the most of his time on site.
Yolk with Doak 37: Scotland Travels, Restorations, and Listener Questions
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak begin by reminiscing about their visits to Scotland earlier this year. A discussion of restorations, including Tom's own work at the Lido, takes up the middle part of the episode, and they finish with Tom answering listener questions about balancing client demands, handling criticism, choosing his favorite bunkers, and more.
Yolk with Doak 36: Tom’s New Projects (ft. the Return of High Pointe)
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak start by talking about the revival of High Pointe, the first course Tom designed. He shares details about the routing, timeline, and whether he'll once again be the one shaping the greens. Next, some updates on the other ongoing projects, including Sedge Valley, Punta Brava in Mexico, and Cabot Highlands in Scotland. Look for part two of this conversation with Tom, which digs into listener questions, next week.
Yolk with Doak 35: All Things St. Andrews
With the 150th edition of the Open at the Old Course, Tom Doak and Andy Johnson devote an entire episode to St. Andrews. Tom has gotten to know the course deeply over multiple decades, so he has a lot of thoughts on what first-time visitors should do and what makes the Old Course one of a kind. The bunkers, the reverse routing, and the evolution of the course are all discussed in depth.
Yolk with Doak 34: Saudi Golf Issues, Cabot Highlands, and Listener Questions
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak spend some time examining Saudi Arabia's role in golf outside of LIV Golf, namely the kingdom's massive investment in golf course construction. Tom also provides updates on his current activities, which include the recently announced second course at Cabot Highlands, formerly known as Castle Stuart. Finally, Tom and Andy run through listener questions about the playability trend in design, changes to Tom's early projects, and the delicate balance that's required when imitating another architect's work.
Yolk with Doak 33: Listener Questions and the State of the Industry
Tom Doak answers more listener questions, including ones about the upcoming Sedge Valley project at Sand Valley and the non-golf literature that has influenced him. Tom and Andy also discuss how golf course architecture finds itself at a crossroads, with established architects approaching retirement just as construction has started to boom. Finally, Tom answers the hardest question in Yolk with Doak history.
Yolk with Doak 32: New Year’s Resolutions and Unconventional Course Concepts
In the latest edition of our interview series with golf course architect Tom Doak, Tom answers listener questions about New Year's resolutions, forward-tee placement, and accounting for climate change in his designs. He also shares with Andy a number of new concepts and projects he'd like to explore, including a modern replica of Pine Valley, a course specifically for women, and a fresh take on residential golf.
Yolk with Doak 31: Municipal Golf, the Renaissance Cup, and Apache Stronghold
Our series with golf architect Tom Doak continues as he and Andy Johnson catch up in Washington, D.C., where they attended the National Links Trust Symposium on Municipal Golf. In addition to discussing sustainability and course maintenance in the municipal golf world, they talk about the few golf course restorations left that would interest Tom, how his design style has evolved over the years, and the origins of the Renaissance Cup. Lastly, Apache Stronghold Golf Club, a course of Tom’s that hasn't been mentioned much in the Yolk with Doak series, gets some overdue attention.
Yolk with Doak 30: What’s Happening at the Lido and Dornick Hills
Tom Doak gives an update on the progress at the Lido, the Keiser family’s latest course near Sand Valley. He and Andy discuss the pros and cons of the technology used to build the course, and they speculate on how it might be used in future restoration projects and in golf course architecture in general. They also chat about Tom’s ongoing work at Perry Maxwell's Dornick Hills Golf and Country Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Yolk with Doak 29: The Opening of St. Patrick’s and the Making of Pacific Dunes
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak cover the recent grand opening of St. Patrick's Links at the Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort in Ireland. Tom and Andy chat about where the course would land on the Doak Scale and the unique challenge of finishing the project during a global pandemic. They also discuss Tom's new book, “The Making of Pacific Dunes,” which is available for purchase here.
Yolk with Doak 28: The Lido Club
Tom Doak joins to discuss his latest project, rebuilding the Lido near the Sand Valley Golf Resort. Andy and Tom discuss the history of C.B. Macdonald's lost Lido, the challenges of rebuilding it, and how Tom and his crew are planning to recreate the historic course.
Yolk with Doak 27: Tom’s 2020 American Road Trip
Tom Doak returns to delve more into his recent road trip across the United States. During his travels, Tom visited two upcoming projects, Dornick Hills in Oklahoma and Sandpiper in California. He and Andy also discuss how beauty affects a hole's reputation, memorable superintendents, and much more.
Yolk with Doak 26: Houston Open Redux
In the latest installment of our series with the golf course architect Tom Doak, he talks about his month-long road trip across America. One of his most prominent stops came at the PGA Tour's 2020 Houston Open at Memorial Park, a municipal course he recently redesigned. Tom reflects on what he learned from watching some of the world's best players tackle his work.
Yolk with Doak 25: Is Donald Ross Overrated? and Other Questions
In our latest talk with golf architect Tom Doak, we dive into a number of listener questions. Tom addresses whether Donald Ross is overrated, the ideas behind some of his greens at Lost Dunes, and which par 3, 4, and 5 from Scotland he would put in his backyard.
Yolk with Doak 24: St. Andrews Beach, Covid-19, and East Potomac
In the second part of his recent conversation with Andy, Tom Doak explains why St. Andrews Beach—a design of his outside of Melbourne, Australia—is one of his favorite courses in the world. Later, he and Andy discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the design business and the golf world in general, and how this moment compares to 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008. The episode wraps with a discussion of the potential of East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., which Tom is set to restore.
Yolk with Doak 23: Getting to 18, Pacific Dunes, and the Original Sheep Ranch
Tom Doak is back! The lead architect at Renaissance Golf Design joins Andy to talk about his latest book project, Getting to 18. They discuss the writing process, a few excerpts from the book, the story of how Tom met Bill Coore, and the secrets behind the routings of Pacific Dunes and the original Sheep Ranch.
Yolk with Doak 22: Designed Randomness and the Maha Project
Tom Doak discusses the principles behind his Confidential Guide series, the value of randomness in design, and a unique new project of his near Napa Valley.
Yolk with Doak 21: Linksland, Mike Strantz, and Environmentalism
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak discuss the challenges of building on linskland, Mike Strantz, Woking Golf Club, stymies, and how golf might mesh with environmentalism.
Yolk with Doak 20: Sedge Valley, Drivable Par 4s, and the State of Restoration
Tom Doak returns to discuss a variety of topics with Andy Johnson, including topographical maps, green books, drivable par 4s, and the evolution of restoration projects in recent times. Tom also gives a quick update on his work at his new project at Sand Valley and answers some listener questions.
Yolk with Doak 19: Pete Dye and Bandon vs. Scotland
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak begin with a series of listener questions on green-to-tee transitions, golf culture in Africa, the pros and cons of Bandon Dunes and Scotland as golf destinations, Tom’s ongoing links project in Ireland, his growing interest in the business side of golf development, and the importance of not pretending every new thing is the best thing ever. A discussion of common misinterpretations of well-known golf architects leads to an extended reflection on Pete Dye. They talk about how Tom would split 10 rounds at Dye-designed courses, the Dye family’s willingness to share knowledge and help Tom jump-start his career, and Pete Dye’s influential insistence on studying a variety of far-flung courses.
Yolk with Doak 18: Templates, His Routing Book, and Modern Green Speeds
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak talk about how Tom uses (or resists over-using) template concepts in his work, how his book project on routing has led him to reassess some of his past courses, whether we should look to state golf associations as potential champions of affordable and interesting courses, and how modern green speeds have changed the way we design greens and play the game.
Yolk with Doak 17: Stonewall, the Consulting Business, and the Growing Distance Gap
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak dive into his work at Stonewall in Elverson, Pennsylvania. The conversation then turns to Tom's future in the business of consulting at golf courses and what interests he might pursue in the final stage of his design career. Tom and Andy also discuss the increasing distance gap between professional and amateur golfers, and Tom compares Ben Crenshaw's playing style to Brooks Koepka's.
Yolk with Doak 16: St. Patrick’s and Building from Scratch vs. Renovating
Tom Doak talks with Andy Johnson about what is more difficult: building a new course or renovating an existing one. Tom touches on his experience renovating the Gunnamatta Course at the National in Australia. Then he and Andy get to the big news: Tom has been hired to build a seaside links course in Ireland. They discuss his partnership with the Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort and his plans for the new St. Patrick's Links.
Yolk with Doak 15: A New Course at Tara Iti and an Update on Memorial Park
Tom Doak talks with Andy Johnson about several of his past, present, and future projects. They discuss his planned public course at Tara Iti in New Zealand, his work at the Renaissance Club in Scotland, the progress of his renovation of Memorial Park in Houston, and the state of his collaboration with Brooks Koepka.
Yolk with Doak 14: The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses
Andy Johnson and Tom Doak discuss his latest book, the fifth volume of his Confidential Guide to Golf Courses. They also touch on Tom's travels through India and his memories of the distinctive courses and cultures there. Finally, Tom talks about a future book project of his, which will be all about golf course routing.
Yolk with Doak 13: Memorial Park and the PGA Tour
Tom Doak joins Andy Johnson to discuss his upcoming redesign of Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, a popular municipal course set to host the 2020 Houston Open. Tom talks about his plans for the site, working with Brooks Koepka, and his strategy for testing the skills of PGA Tour pros.
Yolk with Doak 12: Sand Valley, Golf in England, and Listener Questions
Tom Doak talks with Andy Johnson about his new project at Sand Valley. The two go on to discuss Tom's desire to do different types of projects and his affinity for golf in England. They finish up with some listener questions.
Yolk with Doak 11: Michigan Golf
Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design associate Don Placek join Andy to talk about their favorite courses in the golf-rich state of Michigan.
Yolk with Doak 10: The Loop
In the latest installment of our interview series with golf architect Tom Doak, Andy and Tom are joined by Renaissance Golf Design associate Don Placek to discuss the Loop, the unique reversible golf course in Michigan.
Yolk with Doak 9: Routing – Part 2
This is part two of our discussion with Tom Doak and Don Placek about routing, one of the most difficult and important tasks in designing a golf course.
Yolk with Doak 8: Routing – Part 1
Tom Doak and Andy Johnson are joined by Renaissance Golf Design associate Don Placek, who, aside from aiding in every aspect of projects, is also responsible for Renaissance's artwork. In the first installment of a two-part series, Don, Tom, and Andy dig into the topic of golf course routing.
Yolk with Doak 7: Bel-Air CC
This is the third and final part of our conversation with Tom Doak and his Renaissance Golf Design associates Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Blake Conant, and Kye Goalby. In this episode, we continue our discussion of George Thomas, Bel-Air CC, and golf course architecture as a whole.
Yolk with Doak 6: George Thomas
In part two of our discussion with the Renaissance Golf Design crew, Tom Doak and his associates Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Blake Conant, and Kye Goalby talk about the career of George Thomas and his design at Bel-Air Country Club.
Yolk with Doak 5: Renaissance Golf
In the latest edition of the Yolk with Doak, Andy Johnson talks with Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design associates Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Kye Goalby, and Blake Conant. In part one of what will be a three-part podcast, they cover how Renaissance Golf approaches golf course design and construction.
Yolk with Doak 4: Streamsong
Andy sits down with Tom Doak to discuss his contribution to the new Florida golf mecca, Streamsong Resort. They dig into the unique collaborative process behind the building of Tom's Blue course and Coore & Crenshaw's Red course.
Yolk with Doak 3: Waialae CC, the Sony Open, and Seth Raynor
In the latest episode of our interview series with Tom Doak, we discuss Tom's consulting work at Seth Raynor-designed Waialae Country Club, host course of the Sony Open. We talk about the changes to Waialae over the years, what Tom learns from PGA Tour players, his thoughts about Raynor, and much more.
Yolk with Doak 2: Golf Course Architecture 101 – Part 2
Tom Doak discusses what makes a great green complex and what he thinks about front-to-back sloping greens. He also recommends a few of the best golf course architecture books for beginners and responds to some overrated/underrateds.
Yolk with Doak 1: Golf Course Architecture 101 – Part 1
Renowned golf architect Tom Doak sits down with Andy to talk through the basics of golf course architecture. In the first of a two-part episode, Tom elaborates on what golf course architecture is, the different schools of design, routing, and much more.
Leave a comment or start a discussion
Engage in our content with thousands of other Fried Egg Golf Club Members
Engage in our content with thousands of other Fried Egg Golf Members
Defining Golf Courses of the Past 15 Years
First Reaction: Wild Spring Dunes
Residential Golf Course Architecture Can Be Great
So You Want to Build a Golf Hole
FEGC Hole Design Contest Review & Poll
The Original Tom Doak Course, Lost Then Reborn
Get full access to exclusive benefits from Fried Egg Golf
- Member-only content
- Community discussions forums
- Member-only experiences and early access to events
Leave a comment or start a discussion
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.