Dan,
Interesting about the par 5s at Rolling Green. They are among the weaker holes on the course and probably keep it from being on many people's top 50 lists. The mighty 9th is an excellent long par 5 (uphill 614 yards, same yardage as in 1926). I think it is very difficult to design a great long par 5, but Flynn managed to do so with its rolling and canted fairway. The other par 5s (7,17 and 18) were rumored to be designed to alternate one hole being a par 4 at a given time. I like the 7th as an interesting risk/reward short par 5 with a tremendous green. The 17th hole is flat out weak with a terrible back tee (popping some 12' or so above grade, it would have been better on grade but a lot of trees would have to come out--not a bad thing at all). The 18th is a classic example of lengthening gone wrong with a strategic disconnect since the corner of the dogleg cannot be reached by 90% of golfers playing the back tee. Thus it is a driver, 7 iron, 7iron hole. Boring, especially for the last hole!
Yet the par 4s and par 3s are all superb. The 14th is reminiscent of the 5th at Pine Valley and is just as strong. The 10th is a wonderful design using the natural grade to create a hole that was intended to be a 260-yard par 3 in 1926 because of the shot test integrating with the terrain...that is a low running draw. The 3rd is a deceptive hole that runs front to back while it appears strongly sloped back to front. The 6th is a solid par 3 set on a ridge. While longer than the 11th at Shinnecock Hills and not the same in design details, it is of a similar concept. And finally 16 is a marvelous short par 3 in a beautiful setting. That is if you can disregard that horrible cart path that was recently put in. It should have gone in the woods to the left.
The club has promised me a foursome for allowing them to use my material on their website (I suppose it is still there). If you'd like to join me, that would be great. I've got to remind them one of these days.
Regards,
Wayne
By the way, I cannot see how Casa de Campo's Teeth of the Dog course gets so much praise.