
Tom Doak is one of the leading figures in golf design, renowned for his minimalist style.

The American has four courses in Golf Magazine's world's top 100 ranking.

One of these is Pacific Dunes in Oregon. The U.S. course disturbs as little of the natural landscape as possible -- Doak uses it to his advantage to shape the holes.

"The environmental aspect of designing golf courses is certainly a growing part of it," Doak tells CNN's Living Golf show. Pictured is Pacific Dunes' 148-yard, par three 11th hole at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Doak says he has unintentionally found himself at the heart of the most popular style of design. This is Pacific Dunes' 444-yard, par-four 13th hole.

Along with Pacific Dunes -- whose 208-yard par-three 17th hole is pictured -- Doak's top-100 entries also include Ballyneal in Colorado and Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania, Australia.

Doak's other top-100 course is Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand, set on the rugged Hawke's Bay coast. Here American golfer Anthony Kim plays out of a bunker during a 2009 tournament.

Doak's latest project is his first in Europe. He is putting the finishes touches to a course in Saint-Emilion -- a small French commune surrounded by vineyards, located 45 km outside Bordeaux.