JES II, Shane, et al:
The issue I have #17 is that it doesn't add anything to what you've already played. Candidly, the hole belongs more in Florida than it does in Northern Ireland. The pond inclusion is just a contrivance that seems force fed to make something into something more.
I salute the club for the new 16th -- and the comments mentioned earlier about the first few holes as the back nine begins is spot on -- although I don't see the 10th as being an exemplary par-3 -- it's solid but nothing more in my mind.
The 18th at RCD is simply bunker overkill -- again, look at the front nine and the placement of bunkers and the nature of the terrain -- it's more about selectivity rather than bunker bombardment. Is the 18th hole easy? No, not at all. But, it doesn't need to be, in my opinion, a statement of how to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the player when finishing such a wonderful round.
Shane -- you mentioned the 18th at Muirfield and I concur. It's a demanding hole but I don't find it to be architecturally compelling -- when I hold the 18th at Muirfield I can think of other stellar tough par-4's - the ones at Oakmont and WF/W, that offer a good bit more.
Guys, truthfully, when you hold up Dunluce at Portrush to County Down the New Castle layout gets a bit more brownie points because of the proximity of Dundrum Bay and the Mountain of Mourne. I love RCD but I see Portrush as the one layout where a ten is a good bit more possible. Just an opinion that's all.