I have played Brora at least 50 times over 25+ years and its appeal never dims. It is pure “soul” golf, unique in my experience though I think Pennard is quite a similar experience.
I completely recognise the comments about some holes being hard to remember, and while I am definitely someone who places a high value on memorability, Brora for me is somehow more than the sum of the parts. Ian does a nice job in his post of capturing some of what is unique about Brora and if some of these feature not architectural, that is not a problem! Every year I drive into the dip on the 4th hole making the next shot blind, but I don’t think less of the course for this! It is just the way the land falls.
Like David I am also a fan of Golspie, but it does not speak to my soul like Brora does and I would reverse his split. He is right about the blindness - I guess just a matter of taste.
In a discussion like this, maybe especially with Brora, i am reminded of the phrase (allegedly attributed to Einstein!) that “not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted”. I don’t think the essence of Brora is about the quality of the one shotters, repeat shapes, direction etc. it is about the unique natural feel of the course and the atmosphere that surrounds it.