what freakin difference does it make if was 15,000 or 150,000. Do you realize that 15,000 cubic yards of dirt is less than 1 foot of material spread over 10 acres. That is nothing on a site like DR or SH.
You either like the course or you don't, but don't base your assessment on the amount of dirt moved. As TD says, I doubt very seriously if you know where it was moved and where it wasn't.
What is this obcession with the "ground game"? Are you suggesting that players are purposefully running the ball on the ground from 150 yards out rather than trying to fly it on the green? What does that say about their playing ability?
There are times when conditions demand that shots land short of greens and bounce on, but to suggest that the quality of a course must allow every shot to run on the green on the approach shot is just folly.
Dismal River has plenty of holes that not only allow, but demand the approach shot be played short and bounce on. #2 is a very good example.
If you don't like DR and you like SH better, that is fine, but it isn't necessary to tear down DR to try to make SH better.
SH isn't close to the golf course DR is, in my opinon. Much too easy. But, both are very good golf courses. Everyone doesn't have the same opinion, but that doesn't make one person wrong and the other right. Ballyneal may be better than both, but I haven't seen it yet to make an observation. All the reports seem to be glowing, and no one is counting the dirt quantities on that one. I wonder why?