I am not familiar with the history of the design of the 18th at RCD, but if you were to take away most of the bunkers lining the fairway, many would probably say the hole is boring and needs more going on.
Shane, you could read that sentence as agreeing that 18 is a bit of a let down...
I'm not that fussed about the bunkering on 18 even though it is overkill... I find the hole a slightly weak finisher because of its scale... For me, it feels hemmed in between two smaller dune ridges. It is tight, even claustrophobic which doesn't hold up with the rest of the course... For a finisher on an outstanding old style links, you could also argue that it is a tad disappointing that it doesn't finish with an expansive green just in front of the clubhouse with a great view of everything in front of you from the tee. (That said, the green is pretty great, extremely scary)...
17 I think has a great green complex, green site and approach shot values. Taking the lake out of the equation, the tee shot for me is just a little disappointing, having little to define it in the same way as the rest of the course....
But this is all measuring it against what is a near perfect experience and if these holes were not 17 and 18, you wouldn't hear a word from me...