Sean,
I will try to answer your questions in order:
Photo 1 - That's the 5th hole. The first bunkers are at what was the "normal" 265-285 range. After seeing the distances some players were hitting test shots I added a back tee and then that pot bunker (the last two on 14fw were similar) near the end so there would be challenge for long hitters.
Photo 2 - I don't see the flag either, but it can be partially hidden behind the bunker. The green was originally supposed to be up to the left, on top of the bank, but that turned out to be a peat deposit created from trenching to find more sand. I fell in and got stuck several hours well before construction in this area! The bank on the left was left from mining ops and we fit the green to the base of it.
Photo 3 - The small pond to the left had a trestle. It was apparently the clean out pond for the rail cars. There were also fuel tanks. The bank behind the green was an entry road for trucks, which were used after rail service stopped. Other rail remnants (which I wanted to keep more of) were old tracks leading to that trestle across 1 fw. Also, the grass bunker behind 18 green was a rail siding for equipment loading.
The fw contouring was covering, while it doesn't show as well in every photo, most fw have more contouring than average.
Photo 4 - We called this the "site that kept on giving." Those rocks in the waste areas weren't visible at first, having been covered by blowing sand. It was simple matter to uncover them and place the green on top of an old mining ledge. It was inspired somewhat by a Palmer green at Decon's Lodge. At least, I went over there to play once, and recognized that their long reverse r shaped green was similar to what I was noodling on for this site. This actually was one of the last holes in the routing.
Photo 5 - Yeah, I like my bunkers easily spotted. The first grass bunker was an existing bank from sand quarrying. the first sand bunker sits atop what was a sunken road into the middle of the site. Since the valley was blind, I put the bunker on top to kind of mark it, and provide an aiming point for those who play right of the carry grass bunker.
Photo 7 - The small pot was another last minute add, this time for the shorter hitter. Not sure how the exact size came about, but it just seemed right to keep it smaller since it can affect average play. The club pro can easily carry the second one, so it needs to stay to stop most of us from the short cut, or provide challenge. Some people question it naturally, since a decent, but thin tee shot can get bunkered. I predict it will probably be removed someday by someone without asking me......
The lake does provide a nice back drop, doesn't it? I was looking for a way to get it more into play, and at one time, this was routed as a finishing par 3. The owner wasn't buying that idea! Also, that far bank had my original proposed no. 1 and 2 holes. We were originally going to have nine holes each side of the road. However, that area was a locomotive facitlity, with lots of oil cleanup - and under federal law, no limit to potential costs to the Owner, so we abandoned that edge of the property. It worked out well - by making it more compact it turned into a better walking course.
So many questions for a Detroit Red Wings Fan!
Hope the answers aren't too boring. I figure someone might like to hear some thoughts going through a gca mind. (yes, we do have some....)
As to talk, it gets a lot regionally, and some nationally. GD and Golf both have it in their Top 100 public lists. Brad Klien is not a fan, but may be one moreso now that he sees they are burning down the tall fescues around the bunkers!