Jason:
There is a heavy double-standard at play here on GCA between those who gush on and on and wax poetic about quirk (many times unfairness) on the other side of the pond but when it happens here in the States scream bloody murder about how unfair holes ABC are from Course X.
The reality is that Wolf Creek combines a wild and truly out-of-this-world site -- it looks more like the surface of some strange planet than earth. The course embodies a wide diversity of holes where the gamble element (how appropriate given the Nevada embrace of risk and reward through modern gambling) is alway a central component. No doubt -- you can get bad bounces but in the six times I have played the course I can truthfully say that if you hit the correct shot the reward / penalty dynamic is quite consistent.
When you say quirk provides for "interesting golf" -- please enlighten me where Wolf Creek doesn't provide for "interesting golf" -- I'd like to know specifics because simply penning general broad brush themes serves no purpose for future discussion. I can name a number of holes at Wolf Creek where quirk is in play and where you have to, to use your words, "trust your swing."
The issue of double standards is at play regarding quirk across the pond and when it happens here in the States. Given what Dennis Rider has done to overcome the obstacles in building in such a hostile environment I believe he has done a yeoman's job in being so successful.
Wolf Creek is akin to an Indiana Jones movie -- there are always a whole slew of challenges and adventures that awit those who play there.
Adam:
With all due respect -- there's more to Wolf Creek than just six holes. I just mentioned the holes that are well done by Dennis Rider given the natural obstacles such a site presented.
Keep in mind another point I mentioned which you simply glossed over -- Wolf Creek is in the vein of a number of courses across the pond that favor the match play element between players rather than the redundant aspect of stroke play. Why is one style course favored over the other? In the case of Wolf Creek it's more to do with its zip code in Mesquite than anything else.
Let me name them since your memory seems to be fading.
The 1st is a wonderful starting hole -- the par-5 gives you a bids-eye view of the site and the elements of danger are present.
The 2nd is an interesting hole because of the options you face. I do have an issue with the turning point because you need to give a bit more room for the ball to stop. However, the walk to the extreme back tees gives you a view only Dante would have had over the infernal abyss.
The 4th is a solid short par-4. You can cut the corner if you dare but the smart play is to opt left. If you go too far left the length and demands of the approach go up considerably.
I also enjoyed the short par-4 7th -- where the player must decide if the green is something they want to gamble on reaching. In addition, the green contours are well done -- especially the far right side.
At the 8th you face, arguably, one of the most demanding long par-3's in the USA. People who don't play the appropriate tee box on this hole will clearly be upset and frankly they are idiots for trying to be something they are not.
I mentioned the downside of the 10th and 11th holes -- plus I can say the obligatory waterfall to the left of the 18th hole is more Vegas theme park than golf hole.
However, you must have forgotten the unique downhill par-5 12th -- the superb dog-leg right short par-4 13th that goes up into the box canyon. What about the special qualities of the par-4 14th? The tiny dot of a green at the par-3 15th. The go-or-no-go gambling aspects of the par-5 17th?
The issue for many at Wolf Creek is that too much attention is centered around the cart paths. I don't deny the hills but clearly I have played far more courses where the travails of riding were more suspect than what you find at Wolf Creek.
You tap danced around my answer to you -- Shadow Creek is more about HOW IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE as opposed to what is actually there. Frankly, is there any hole at Shadow Creek that is memorable?
Adam -- help me stop laughing when you use the word restraint and Shadow Creek together. I mean I'm falling off the table holding my gut from laughing so long and hard -- Steve Wynn and the word restraint don't belong in the same sentence. If you can't see that with Shadow Creek and its existing zip code than frankly you have been in the noon day sun far too long partner.
