Tim, My orignal post was not Fazio bashing in anyway. I thought I was clarifying that?
What I was simply asking was, and with a bit of candor in tune with the recent Fazio fad of leaving his mark on golf courses built in the 1910-1930's, (I can't say "Classical" since Mr, Fazio has stated there is no such thing.) which courses of his are worthy of the greatness for the USGA to award a modern day US Open.
I do however think that there is a lot of validity to your question here as most "minimilist designs aren't configured to be US Open courses. Maybe that is what makes them so great?
So isn't this greatness what is all about, and if that is the case shouldn't the event be a celebration is some cases? If so, I nominate a golf course I have never been to, but respect the many that have and heep glamourous praise--Dan Proctor and Dave Axland's "Wildhorse
To me this course seems to be one that is not only influxing the community for which it was conceived, it was an addition to this "Nebraska-thing" (That ugly place called the Sandhills) which in 30 years could mean something for the game itself.
The course received undue praise and recommendation from Tom Doak at Archipalooza in March. Everyone I know that has seen it says that not only is challenging, it is a blast to play.
Now this is all a pipe dream coming from me, but I do think that someday, from what I have seen, that Wildhorse could entertain the masses as a celebration to the game and just how simple this whole thing is without all of the gimmicks.
It is that original.