Jason, We did not partake in SH. After our day at DR we turned back onto hwy 97 and I was struck with this notion that Jay deserved to at least see it. So I called and asked if we could tour. We were allowed to go to Ben's porch but no farther. We sat, soaked up the sights and dropped a bundle in the pro-shop, We had an epic time which climaxed at Wild Horse, today.
To give an example using the 6th hole at WH as the base. The width of the corridor, and the way that hole snakes through the dunes is the epitome of how snaking through those windswept type of dunes should. Jack snaking was either done to quickly or the corridor was too narrow. But for whatever reason, the results were that marginal shots were disproportionally penalized. Errant shots had almost zero chance of recovery.
One othe major factor was green speed. Much too fast for the undulations found. As an i.e. I had my best chance for birdie on the par 5 18th. Three fine shots to four feet and it was almost impossible to replace my ball. After several attempts, I got one to stay, only to have but a slight gust move the ball before I could even take a stance. Then it moved again and again and again. Finally, without setting the club down, I took a half ass atempt to breath on the ball and settled for a frustrating par. Other examples of the excessive speed were on putts that needed to rise before a fall. Any pace on the ball post apex, was doomed to twenty feet passed the hole. I suppose since comebackers are easier it wasn't that bad, but still made for frustration after frustration.
Jason, At Prairie dunes the corridors weren't too narrow, the fairways were. Errant balls are not the archies responsibility, but allowing for normal shot pattern divergences should be.