Garden City Golf Club was a revelation for me, in no small part because I had no preconceptions beforehand about what to expect. I'm not sure that anyone's descriptions would have adequately set the stage for me anyway...
It was almost as if I entered a time machine when passing through the gate from the surrounding suburbia, to a more serene, less frenetic pace. Although my execution of shots wasn't up to snuff, I at least found myself thinking about playing shots in different ways than I might otherwise, which was very stimulating--the whole walk around was invigorating in a way I hadn't anticipated from a "landlocked" course...
If you want specifics, make sure to spend a fair amount of time in the clubhouse area ahead of time, if possible, as I really felt it set the tenor for the whole day. Watch for some optical illusions, such as the sandy area in view on the 3rd hole tee shot, or how the scale of some of the fairway-blending into green areas, such as the 7th, and how they mess with your normal perceptions...
Also, if your host happens to time your round for completion so that the post-round drinks are on the veranda over looking #18 in the sunset, then you too may experience nirvana...
It will be tremendous!
Peter