I walked William Flynn's Cascades Course twice last week i.e. the entire length from tee-to-green-to-tee........
Some impressions (apologies to those who've not played it and don't know the holes):
First, any good routing on and around a mountain deserves applause as I think that's the most challenging terrain to build multiple good golf holes. On flat ground you can move as much earth as the budget allows (e.g. Shadow Creek). It's kind of tough to flatten an annoying mountain. Flynn has certainly built some really good holes on some mighty challenging topography.
Second, because it's a resort course, it just can't be as challenging in terms of bunkering as the green complexes would otherwise invite. I was somewhat reminded of the Old White course at the nearby Greenbrier - which is real dumbed-down Macdonald for commercial purposes. The Cascades' greens are more challenging than that but very few of the bunkers are really deep enough to be called penal. The exceptions are those built into a hillside green - of which there are several excellent examples. If Flynn had built the Cascades for a private club - now THAT would have been something!
Third, perhaps because of the above, I was not at all reminded of Rolling Green, Lancaster CC or Philadelphia CC and would never have made the connection if I hadn't known it in advance. Even Indian Creek has 2 green complexes that are similar to something at Shinnecock - I couldn't find anything like that at The Cascades.
Fourth, I was expecting all kinds of grain away from the mountain (think Baltusrol) with lightening fast putts going that way. The pro said it doesn't happen because there are mountains all the way around the course and they seem to cancel out.
Fifth, the Cascades is one tough mother course to walk! They haven't built many steps on the steep parts to make any easier, either. I don't normally prefer a cart to walking but I sure do there. Even the flat bellies carrying their own bags in the NCAA Championship there must have gotten worn out.
Sixth, as a demonstration of how I haven't paid enough attention to GCA posts on the subject, imagine my surprise when I discovered that the 18th hole is a par 3 - and a pretty good one at that.
The 2 holes that caught my attention were #'s 4 and 12 (the signature hole) #4 is such an obviously strategic par 3 where long/left = reload but short/right is a bailout spot with a chance at an up & down par. It's sort of Redan-ish in it's strategy but looks nothing like any of them. I learned afterwards that #12 is the "signature hole" - probably because of the quasi-Principal's Nose bunker complex about 100 yards short of the green that appears more photogenic than strategically important. My favorite stretch of holes was 11-13. #5 is a good par 5 that reminded me of an inland version of #6 at Pebble Beach with it's blind uphill second shot that is essential for setting up the approach.
For a mountain resort course, I was mightily impressed although I think The Broadmoor is at least an equal.
I don't know if the Cascades is (or was) the best course in Virginia, but I can see why the USGA likes to go there. The Homestead is building a permanent practice facility next to the 17th hole in order to get another "amateur major".