Let me take a shot at criticizing TD. (it's been 4 years, so my memory is a little foggy, which may actually explain a bit about TD)
Often times, the "dunes" frame the fairways to keep opposing holes segregated. They do nothing strategic from a golf point of view other than tending to keep a golfer's ball in the proper area. (due to the famous Jersey daily-fee 5.5 hour round standard, may not be a bad thing
) The green complexes are nothing special either.
The course is constructed out of an old sand mine. This is how the dunes came about.
Perhaps the better comparison is between Twisted Dunes and Tobacco Road. I think they they're constructed on similar soil - sandy - with similar grasses. Tobacco Road is clearly a superior design due to its excitement, drama, and clear emphasis of providing a great game of golf.
I think Sand Barrens is also a much better execution, but I think they had the advantage of better land. To me, Hidden Creek is obviously the cream of the new sandy of South Jersey. And it's obviously, and thankfully, quite a bit different.
On the Doak scale, I think TD would score a 3 - 4.
I also think Empire Golf, the owner, tends to oversell its courses. Just look at their writeup on Pine Barrens GC to see the hype. Granted, I liked Pine Barrens, but it was not "one of my top 10 golf memories".
This review from golfcourse,com may best describe TD: "this is the best course in nj. Bring your cooler"
I was not saying that TD was a favorite - I just don't think it's as horrible a course as was stated earlier. I've played much, much worse. Come on out to Chester County, PA - We have such 'winners' as Kimberton GC, Tattersall, Chisel Creek, Loch Narin, and perhaps the worst course I've ever played - Pickering (designed by the original dairy farmer who asses a 2 shot penalty for trying to cross a dogleg).