Last year I spent a week in England with a buddy and fellow GCAer. As we played the courses it became clear that we preferred to evaluat the course we played a little differently. As we would stand on the tee and look at the course, my friend would comment on the shape of the hole, the bunkering and how the hole fit into the land. I would look at the hole notice pretty much the same thing but only to help me determine how I would attack the hole.
For him the joy was seeing what the architect did with the land. For me the joy was trying to figure out a way to beat the hole as designed and then do it.
Which way do you prefer to look at the course?