I do believe Dunes is the better golf course of the two at MPCC. It's very close, but on the overall I think Dunes is a slightly better test on top of having the more spectacular and fun holes (9, 10,14 as I see it). As for preferring MPCC Shore to Pebble Beach, well... if you played the latter taking six hours and waiting on Mrs. Havecamp all day, having paid $500 for the privilege, well then I can understand it. But try to imagine playing PB a lot cheaper and without waiting on a shot... then compare it golf course for golf course... if you can do this and honestly prefer MPCC Shore, then you are seeing things I sure don't. I do love the Shore - it's a great, great golf course - but even the late Strantz himself wouldn't call it better than Pebble Beach, I think. I know Bob Huntley must be chuckling at this comparison.
As for weaknesses at the Shore, well 18 has been beaten to death. I concur that it is an odd duck, and I too miss the old 18th, which was somewhat of a road hole in that a road (marked OB) came in just a few yards to the right of the green, right up against the clubhouse. It was a difficult and great hole and yes, the new finish requiring a walk/ride in is odd. Beyond that, I also miss the old greens, which were fabulous. I also think that 7, while a great hole for the low capper, is a bit much for the higher marker... there's really no good way for him to play that hole except from the very front tee, which most males won't play.
Interesting I completely disagree with John M. re 17 - that stream makes the golf hole. It's a tough, interesting and memorable hole with the stream - without it, it's just a tight straight par 4. I also have no issues with the rocks - good lord, did you really expect them to remove them all? And they rather make each of the 10th and 11th holes... picture each with no boulders and to me, they lose a lot.
On the whole it's a course with few glaring "weaknesses" I think - although I will be interested to read what Bob says. There just has to be some fondness for aspects of the old Shore....
TH
ps to Tim Bert - playing the worst muni course with Huntley and his cronies is not a fair fight against Pine freakin' Valley - those rounds are that much fun. And as for Spaulding, well he must have been still hungover from his Monday round if he made that statement with a straight face.