John:
Please don't let rabble-rousing Hammy concern you. Yes, the Sunday afternoon was exhausting. But damn near all of us also played Monday morning, and it was just fine.
The walkability of the course was also widedly discussed, and the very cool cut-throughs from green to tee, and neat paths through the rocky areas, were all duly noted. It was easy to see that Stone Eagle would be a much more walkable course than it would seem given the mountainous site. The bottom line is that Doak et al have to be given major kudos for going to the lengths they did to try and make it walkable, with all those cut-throughs and paths. That to me is very important.
So I don't think walkability muted anyone's opinions. At least such was not the case in the discussions I heard. If anything it was seen as a plus, for the reasons stated above.
Don't sweat it, my friend. This thread took a negative tone because some questioned my take on the severity of the green sites, and we argued the point (and may continue to do so). Just do understand that I truly believe that's one small negative in a sea of other positives - which I've tried to say, but that doesn't seem to get heard. It is a thrilling course. Off the tee, it's freakin' brilliant - the most playable severe site I have ever seen, by far. The tee shots are all very, very fun - something to think about every time, but not too much fear instilled. That's tough to do. I think the greens are brilliant. The views are incredible. And of course you are right on re the elevation changes making judgment tough, which is also a good thing, it keeps one on one's toes and would maintain interest over the long-haul.
Hey, if I think the greensites are too severe for the high handicapper and thus believe he would have a hard time having fun there in the long term - which I do - well... that's just one slice of the golf world, leaving a lot of room for a lot of golfers to find nothing but fun and brilliance always.
That to me makes for a pretty damn good golf course. You sure as heck ought to be very proud, and glad, to be a member.
Cheers, my friend. I know the "reception" here seems somewhat muted so far, but believe me, that's just because we've gotten way too much into arguing minutia. Bear with us, it's the nature of this site.
And please believe also even at the Sunday night gathering after that blast furnace exhausting round, there was plenty of praise flowing. Plenty.
TH