As a club member and regular at Rustic, let me introduce myself by saying that there is absolutely zero that needs to be changed with Rustic, except perhaps a second 18 and a putting course. I appreciate Ran giving me the opportunity to chime in here as I play there regularly. With the 10th anniversary approaching, there are certainly some "refinements", as some would describe it, that could be made to ensure the design is played as intended.
I'll defend a couple of holes that have been attacked although I wonder if some of these issues mentioned above have been cured by the time.
#3 one of the better risk reward holes. Aside from the obvious drive, the layup is demanding. Go left and tempt the hazards and you are rewarded with a straight shot downhill. Lay up to the right and there are mounds right of the green to challenge the approach. The green also breaks uphill, which is a phenomenon you see at a couple of holes at rustic.
#7 looks much different as the wash has been cleared. Yardage has been added from Hanse original (they mark all the original Hanse tee yardages on the card). played as green tip red hazards (ie natural land that you cannot play from or enter and thus played like a water hazard). Here, amongst other places at the course, is a refinement that could be made. Many playable balls are deemed dead because of the "red-tip" hazards. I think this is a county issue....
#13 No changes need to be made aside from lengthening the tee shot by 20 yards or so. One of the more interesting approach shots. Here again is where we see the phenomenon of breaking uphill, as the course is severely slanted towards the entrance. Were the hole to be lengthened it would play truer to the concept of the pitch and run approach, as this fairway really runs out and the hole plays shorter than its distance.
#15 From the pictures I've seen of Pine Valley (haven't had the pleasure of playing) this green looks to me like an homage to #2, with its rolling multi tiered green. It provides a nice break as the previous hole and the coming holes are a bear, and it is a unique distance from the other par 3's. This is the only dramatic uphill approach with a blind green, thus bringing more variety to the course.
#18 Playing really fast on the approach these days. Interesting the complaints about the soft conditions but I have never played TOC. Very hard to stop in front of the green during the club championship. Softer these days with the rain, but I think this is bordering on playing too fast at times.
It's interesting the phenomenon of rustic getting harder as one plays more rounds and could certainly be a new thread in itself. Aside from the variables of wind and pin position, I think RC has a certain ignorance is bliss component to it. It all looks so open and easy....until you find yourself on the wrong side of 5 or 14 or 16 for that matter. Every hole gives you a chance at birdie and also double bogey with countless line of play on the way. You do not truly understand a hole at RC until you look back from the green to the tee.
The course is an homage to the Golden Age of golf, with holes that do not deliberately plagerizing the originals. It is to a certain extent, perfect as it is.
Oh, and I might throw in a redan somewhere for good measure