I don't want to jump into the Chicago/NY debate, but I would comment on the ridiculous quote from CNN/SI in the first post. While I know nothing about Olympis Fields, what course was this guy looking at when he saw the Black? Bowling alley straight fairways? Yeah, maybe if they're turned at diagonals, but this is one of the more perplexing statements I've ever read about the Black.
AS for the two shotters, I think it's clearly the strong point of the Black and I'm not talking difficulty. Yeah 10 and 12 are tough holes and the tees were a bit too far back for the open, but the Black has some terrific par 4's.
Finally, the Black is one of the more natural looking courses I've ever seen. It clearly follows the terrain of the site and fits superbly on the property and looks very natural, with the exception of a few bunkers.