Although some of Dye's humps and mounds and bunkers may be over the top, if you focus on the contouring of his fairways, greensites and putting surfaces that direct play are pure genius. Living in the Hilton Head area, I have spent a lot of time at Long Cove and Colleton River's Dye Course -- which is greatly under-rated, probably because not enough knowledgeable writer, raters etc. haven't played it. Sometime soon I'll post photos.
As Tom Doak well knows, the shaping at Long Cove is its greatest virtue. If you read the shapes and then execute the shots they direct you to play you have won at least half the battle. Much of the time, you should not play directly at the middle of the fairway or flag stick, as you will end up somewhere else.
The shaping around the greens is intriguing, but the movement of the fairways is equally, or more, impressive. The variety of holes is also incredible as he takes you from one environment to another in a seamless manner -- from authentic Lowcountry to shades of Scottish links holes that meld gracefully into the landscape. I think the only that has held it back a bit are somewhat uninspired nature of the 16th and 17th holes, which aren't bad, but not quite up to the standard of the other 16.
Photos of Colleton River to come.