Jason, I have to respectfully disagree, and it's pretty fresh in my mind from 3 rounds there two weeks ago.
There are 18 really good to great holes out there. Yes, #3 and #4 are similar, both with left to right sloping fairways and deep gorse on the left that ask you to play as close to the danger left as possible in order to avoid the deep fairway bunkers right.
However, the greens complexes are different enough that the holes play differently. But you're right, these holes are very similar.
By contrast, #5 is a very different hole, not much slope in the fairway and a full 100 yards shorter. This is a terrific short par 4 with an elevated green where #3 and #4 are on grade.
#7, #8, #11, #14, #15, #16, #17 and #18, the remaining par 4s, are each unique to itself and each is a terrific hole. The contrast between #14 Foxy and the very short hole with the fairway mound and elevated green #15 is very effective.
I loved the fairways (#8 and #17) where a well struck tee ball disappeared over the crest of the hill; you almost wanted to start running to see where the ball ended up.
In some ways the strength of the course is in the par 3s. #2, #6, #10 and #13 are each a handful, with the issue on the first three being a crowned, elevated green with steep falloffs and the prospect of ping pong back and forth always at hand. #6 does give you the option to bounce the tee ball off the left slope, where at #2 and #10 you are either safely on or trying to avoid a double.
I'll agree the par 5s are not the strength. Both run in the same direction, back toward the clubhouse with the beach in play on the left. #12 has a bunker in the perfect position short and right to wreak havoc on a carelessly played lay up, or one forced down that side because of the daunting greenside bunker front left. #9 by contrast didn't have much going on except hitting the second shot in the fairway instead of on the beach.
I thought Royal Dornoch one of the most thought provoking and challenging courses I've ever played. I'd love to get back there some day.......