Tom, Your saving yourself.....But, I think you owe it to yourself, and everyone here to really say what you mean without fear of being attacked or belittled.
It's only discussion group, and its about discussing golf architecture, and even I will admit a bit of sensitivity of taking things a bit too serious, but some time away always helps clear things a bit. No matter if it is four days or forty.
It helps clear all of your perspective.
Like David M. and Tim Weiman, I think that this discussion is good for all, because it makes you analyze the topic of discussion even more.
Long ago, I came to conclusions of the 12th, and that it's going to continue to make any golfer that plays it, humble time after time he plays it. The simple The more you play it the more you come to respect it sentence applies to this hole. The hole was designed to be subtle. It is more different then anything anyone has seen in all of Golf, not just in California, and until you really get into it and study it a bit more then one round and drive-by, you will still maintain that it isn't really that hard of a golf hole.
It is however painfully obvious you didn't play the very back tees--where most "SKILLED" golfers play
I can't begin to tell you how many times I have hit huge drives to the right, and then was "forced" to see my favorite shot--the bump & running 8 iron; end-up turning hard right and roll of the side of the green, continuing running until it was in the very back of the close-cropped approach area. I have even hit the same flopped wedges and nine-irons and have witnessed the same result. I have chanced it from the tee to the left, and have had every form of shot fro that side too, and while I think it is a much better angle to come in at in relation to the green, it is, for me, a much harder shot to any placment on the green. Depending on how I feel that day, I'll decide on the tee which way I'm going, because I'm always searching for the best possible attack. I have seen more shots from every caliber of player, just off of the green, or in the middle of the close-cropped approach laying directly with-in reach of Eagle Two, and the player has walked off the green with a four or even a five. I have seen easy par's become even easier double bogies. The hole doesn't let-up one ounce, because it succeeds in making seemingly easy shots hard, and the hard shots even harder, and this is on a hole that is a mere 310 yards in length--downhill, with all the subtle contours, but into the prevailing wind. (What a refreshing thought that all of this "skilled golfer" talk ends-up with Nature's Elements being the ultimate aid in defense! It's as some of you have no humility to the game what-so-ever.)
The 12th hole defends itself beautifully in the truest sense of the word "GOLF", simply because of the mystery and the controversy that goes with it, and until you get more round under your belt on that hole, or at least make an honest effort to give the hole some study by taking more then the time to play it--this should only add interest into what your NOT seeing, considering how your opinion has changed since you last played it. (In October)
Another thing is that for an honest, really eye-opening view of the 12th, I can only suggest a trip up to the top of the hill, looking down upon the entire hole, and seeing people of all calibers of skill and handicap play the hole. Dick Daley has been up there, so has Tony Ristola. It will not only completely awaken you to the mysteries of the 12th by allowing you to see all of the subtle contour and live 3-D/High Definition/Orthagraphic view of why the hole is subtle genius.
So Tom, that is my honest take. And trust me, it isn't picking on you or your character. Tell us what you really think. No patronizing for the sake of harmony is needed. Let er' rip! I promise you that you won't be altering or affecting any internet friendship.