Doak is the author of "The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses" which is a guide to famous and obscure golf courses around the world. The original version of the book was intended for a select group of friends and golf course architects. The sanitized version became a coffee table book which also included Doak's photography. Despite being toned down, the book includes several extremely critical reviews of golf courses and alienated several well-regarded golf course architects. For example, Doak's critique of Talamore Golf Club, in Pinehurst, designed by Rees Jones, made him "want to spit."