Mike,
As was mentioned, I don't think the intent was to replicate an existing hole at Sand Hills, but, I agree with you that the topography, the critical element in the hole, is present at Sand Hills.
The Alps hole at NGLA is spectacular, although, hi-tech distance has hurt the hole.
The choice of direction and play on the drive, over the large diagonal bunker, has been somewhat muted by increased distance. It's about a 220 carry up the right side. In the past, with a head or quartering wind, that was a substantive challenge to most good players. Today ?
Years ago, going up the right side, to get a glimpse of the putting surface was a real challenge for most good golfers.
Today, the challenge is greatly diminished.
However, the large, fescue laden hill seperating the bulk of the fairway from the green acts as a deterent to a long ball pulled or hit straight. Drives hit straight away run out of fairway at about 250. At that point the golfer has about 160 left into the green. Hence, straight drives in the 230-240 range are desireable, leaving 150-180 into the green.
One of the beauties of the hole is the upslope in the fairway as you get close to the hill. This allows a ball to gain height quickly, which is necessary if one intends to clear the hill.
What's interesting about the hole is the study of the component pieces.
The putting surface is quite unique with the bowls, ridges and tiers on the left side and the upper, flat tier which steeply falls off into the adjacent bunker on the right side.
The green surrounds are also interesting, from the berm that backs up the green to the falloffs/rolloffs left to the steep bunker right to the fronting bunkers.
The intervening hill, a massive obstacle offering no insight as to where one should play their next shot.
The unique structure of the fairway, allowing two lines of play, one directly at the green and the other running along the right flank of the hole.
One blind, the other visible.
The tee shot, over a large diagonal bunker with the longest carry up the right side.
The fairway bunkers, providing risk no matter how you choose to play the hole.
And, the wind.
What's interesting about the hole is that many, if not most, golfers don't like it the first time they play it.
Three views are striking and informative.
From the tee.
From the top of the hill looking to the tee and looking to the green
From behind the green looking back to the green, fronting fairway and bunkers, to the hill to the tee.
It would take a unique piece of land, or a lot of earthmoving to duplicate that hole. And, the cost to move that much earth is probably why the hole hasn't been duplicated.
It is one of the great holes in golf.
Mike Sweeney,
That was very funny.