Matt,
Certainly we are just going to have to agree to disagree on some cases.
You'll notice I never said a word about the 1st hole because I agree with you as far as it's blandness. It is not a bad hole, per say, but it does nothing to spice up the course. However, just because the USGA changed #2 into a long par-4, well...that has nothing to do with the hole itself except to say that it is not long enough to be a true par-5 for the top players in the world. Like I said, it is more personal preference for me on that hole, but I think it has some wonderful features, including that bunker 60 yards short of the green. Again, this is a case where it is not the best hole on the course, but it is not a weak one.
I agree with you on #'s 3 and 15. The reason I didn't bring them up was because of that.
As sort of a side note, I think 16 is one of the best holes on the courses. I love the cavernous bunker that stretches through the ravine in front of the green. The tee shot is quite challenging, even when played with a long iron, due to the strong fairway cant. The green has tons of slopes and offers lots of recovery shots. I find it to be a superb and one of a kind hole, and that is hard to come by nowadays.
I am not disagreeing with you on all parts of the course. Certainly you have played much more than me and your wealth of knowledge to golf courses is far superior to mine. However, I just question your basis in the determining of #12 as a weak hole. In the midst of all the great holes at Pebble Beach, it is certainly easy to pick out ones not on the ocean and call them weak, because they are not equal to some of the other great holes. However, I really like the 12th and while I have admitted it to not being the best hole on the course by any means, I think it's options off the tee, varied recovery shots around the green, and fine bunkering are all elements that make it a good, original hole.
So, Matt, I fully am aware you have played more courses than I, and thus your opinion to what is a good and bad holes is different then mine, however, I still believe there needs to be a good basis of belief for that opinion. I do not believe backing up an opinion by referring to what other people think, or to tournaments that happened long ago (actually, tournaments in general as they do not define a course at all), is a good basis to personal opinion.
Anyways, I am done with his issue. I know how you feel and I know how I feel, and I respect your opinion for what it is, despite how you conclude it. For me, Pebble Beach is and always will be a 10. It is truely a magical place. To be able to close your eyes on know your are standing where the best players that ever lived were standing and playing from at one point - and you get to hit that same shot...well, that is truely special. The ocean, the aura, not to mention the golf course, it's just perfect to me. Pebble Beach will always be a 10 to me.
Cheers,
Jordan