I have played Forest Creek South twice and the older nine of the new North about three times. Last March, I was able to see the entire North course finally finished, so I have played it continually once.
Several differences/similarities between the two:
As already mentioned, the new course has a much rougher look than the old, with more sandy waste areas, large bunkers with rough edges (and some have grass planted in them). I attribute quite a bit of this to the "new" look of the newest nine, as when i played the grass in the fairways and rough wasn't exactly totally grown-in and was obviously young. This is very different compared with the more mature turf on the South and the older (#1-5, #12-14, #18) holes on the North.
The challenges on the South course are always laid out in front of you, whereas on the North, there is more deception. Tee shots on #s 3, 5, 6, 11 are blind, and there are more shots that must be played from the correct sides of the fairway.
The North to me was a definite attempt to make something different. The South was built in the same classic Sandhills style of design, and it compares favorably in strategy and conditioning with almost every course in the area, save perhaps #2 and Pine Needles. The North was meant to be different, even though the "natural" appearance of many of the hazards is toned down from the level of wild shaping found at a place like Tobacco Road.
There are features on both courses that incorporate luck into the design, an important aspect of a facility designed primarily for member play. The blind tee shots on the new course play into this, as does the crazy, three tiered green at the par-5 tenth, at the end of a somewhat bland hole. The biggest example of this on the South is the strategic uphill par-5 third, which has many options of getting the job done.
Highlights/lowlights:
The aformentioned lake at the end of the back nine is not in character with the rest of the property. Water only comes into play in the form of a large body of water one other time (#9 at the original course). To think that the permitting of this lake held up the entire project for five years is ridiculous. Golf holes can be found in mere days in the Sandhills, especially on land like at Forest Creek. The holes in question (#15-17 on the new course) are pretty, but do not present the strategy the rest of the course does.
In my opinion, the best hole on the new course is #6, a par four of about 430, doglegging slightly left to right and downhill. The green is slightly elevated from its surrounds and more wide than deep, and is almost totally fronted by a deep, rough-edged bunker. The question from the tee is whether to lay back to the top of the hill leaving a long-iron from flat ground to a wide but shallow green, or to hit the tee shot as far as possible, leaving a shorter iron from a severe downhill lie over a deep bunker with a steep dropoff behind.
The back nine's highlight comes not around the lake, but at the 330-yd 13th. This hole presents another choice with a downhill slope between the upper fairway and the green. Does the player lay back with an iron or try to make the bottom of the hill, leaving just a short pitch. The green is adaquately false-fronted and smallish, wrapped around a deep pot bunker front and center.
In terms of Fazio's designs, I have played 7 including both at FC. The others are Osprey Ridge (FL), The International-Oaks Course (MA), Wollaston CC (with George, MA), Old North State (NC), and Pinehurst #8. I rate the original course at FC as the best Fazio I've played, and the new course as #2.