Doak has designed numerous courses that feature on many Top 100 course rankings. His best known work includes, but is not limited to:

UNITED STATES & CANADA:
Apache Stronghold, AZ (1999) / Atlantic City CC, NJ (1999, modifications) / Ballyneal, CO (2006) / Bandon Dunes, OR (2001, Pacific Dunes course; 2010, Old MacDonald course with Jim Urbina) / Black Forest, MI (1992) / Cherry Hills, CO (2009, modifications) / CommonGround, CO (2009) / Dismal River, NE (2013, Red course) / Essex County, MA (2008, modifications) / Forest Dunes, MI (2016, The Loop course) / Garden City CC (2015, modifications) / Legends, SC (1990, Heathland course) / Lost Dunes, MI (1999) / Milwaukee CC, WI (2015, modifications) / Pasatiempo, CA (1998-2006, modifications) / Rawls course, TX (2003) / Riverfront, VA (1999) / Rock Creek Cattle Co., MT (2008) / Sebonack, NY (2005, with Jack Nicklaus) / Somerset Hills, NJ (2018, modifications) / St George's G&CC, Ont. (2014, modifications) / Stone Eagle, CA (2002) / Suncadia, WA (2005, Tumble Creek course) / Streamsong, FL (2012, Blue course) / Valley Club of Montecito, CA (2018, modifications) / Yeamans Hall, SC (1998, modifications).

BEYOND NORTH AMERICA:
Barnbougle Dunes, Tasmania (2004, with Michael Clayton) / Cape Kidnappers, NZ (2004) / Concord GC, Aus (2018, renovation) / Grand Saint-Emilionaise, Fra (2015) / Renaissance Club, Scot (2008) / St Andrews Beach, Aus (2005, Gunnammatta course with Michael Clayton) / Tara Iti, NZ (2015).

Doak studied landscape architecture at Cornell University before developing his knowledge of golf course design with an extended visit to Britain & Ireland in 1982/83. The visit included a spell of caddying at St Andrews. He also worked with the legendary course architect Pete Dye while at graduate school. Doak has been labelled a "minimalist" designer, allowing the natural contours of the land (rather than earthmovers) to create a natural flow to the routing of the golf course and creation of the holes.

Amongst many excellent books written by golf architect and architectural scholar Doak, his Confidentail Guide to Golf Courses, is much applauded. Produced in five volumes, the Guides provide a wonderful compendium of Doak's ideas about golf architecture around the world, and a superb reference work for travelling golfers who are serious about where they play.