Our Process

Finding the Best Golf in the Land

Our associates bring different skills and perspectives to Renaissance Golf Design, shaped by years of travel, fieldwork, and hands-on experience. From living and working in golf's great homes, Scotland, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, to restoring classic American courses, our team has learned to find great golf wherever it is.

Each is a complete architect: capable of leading a project from start to finish, yet stronger working together. Collaboration enables our work to be thoughtful, refined, and consistent across every site.

Most of all, our associates are professionals, trusted to represent our firm, our process, and our values anywhere in the world.

Listening First

Every project begins with understanding people as much as land. We take the time to learn your goals, walk through your site, and build the trust required to deliver meaningful work.

Often, we'll visit courses together (ours or others) to align expectations and help you visualize what your land can become. This collaborative foundation shapes everything that follows.

The goal: Ensure we share a vision before any design begins.

Routing the Land

Routing is the foundation of great golf. Most routing work begins in the office using topographic maps, followed by repeated site walks to test ideas against the actual terrain.

We may explore a dozen different routings before settling on the one that best reveals the site's character. We don't commit until we're certain the land is being used to its full potential, because the routing defines the course.

The commitment: We won't finalize a plan until it's right, not just workable.

Building in the Field

Once the routing is set, we prepare construction documents for bidding, typically within 60 days. Greens and bunkers remain intentionally flexible, as these are sculptural features best shaped on site rather than drawn on paper.

Our lead associate is on site for 100+ days per project, guiding construction, shaping features, and preserving the land's natural character. Other associates join throughout the process, each contributing to the collaborative approach that defines our work.

The presence: We're in the field, solving problems as they arise, not waiting for calls from the office.

Refinement & Collaboration

The early weeks of construction are the most creative. This is when Tom Doak spends the most time on site, establishing the course's personality and character.
As construction progresses, he returns every 3-6 weeks to refine completed holes, discuss upcoming work, and ensure every detail aligns with the original vision. Between visits, our lead associate and team continue the shaping work, making thousands of small decisions that give each course its distinctive feel.
The standard: Ongoing collaboration is what makes our courses feel cohesive, natural, and lasting.

Where We Work

We work worldwide, drawn to sites that offer the chance to build something special. Great land matters, but great clients matter just as much. Creative trust is the most important resource any project can provide.

Our hands-on approach is especially valuable in remote or international locations where experienced golf contractors may be limited. We bring the expertise, guide local teams, and ensure quality regardless of location.

Recent work spans: Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, across the United States, and beyond.

Restoration & Consulting

The early weeks of construction are the most creative. This is when Tom Doak spends the most time on site, establishing the course's personality and character.

As construction progresses, he returns every 3-6 weeks to refine completed holes, discuss upcoming work, and ensure every detail aligns with the original vision. Between visits, our lead associate and team continue the shaping work, making thousands of small decisions that give each course its distinctive feel.

The standard: Ongoing collaboration is what makes our courses feel cohesive, natural, and lasting.

Alternative Courses

One of the most important lessons from the great links of Scotland is that golf comes in many forms. It doesn't need to be 7,000 yards or par 72, it just needs to be interesting.

We've embraced that philosophy throughout our work, designing shorter courses, par-3 layouts, reversible designs, and other creative alternatives. Many of these projects, The Loop, The Mulligan, The Punchbowl, are among our most beloved.

The principle: Great golf comes in all shapes and sizes.

Our Process

Finding the Best Golf in the Land

Listening First

Routing the Land

Building in the Field

Refinement & Collaboration

Where We Work

Restoration & Consulting

Alternative Courses

Our Mission

Find the best golf possible on every site we are given, and have fun doing it.

Renaissance Golf

OUR OFFICE LOCATION

This Is a Test

Our Process

Finding the Best Golf in the Land

Listening First

Routing the Land

Building in the Field

Refinement & Collaboration

Where We Work

Restoration & Consulting

Alternative Courses

Our Mission

Find the best golf possible on every site we are given, and have fun doing it.

Renaissance Golf

OUR OFFICE LOCATION