Sean Arble,
The land in those photos doesn't look like it's flat to me.
But, then again, my eyesight isn't what it used to be.
Patrick
I would say the ridge is a gentle 3 foot rise down the fairway and maybe a bit less through the green. Its not enough movement to effectively create an awkward stance which has always been my criteria for flat.
GBoring
I wouldn't describe Yeamans as flat. It has several holes and greens which are downright rambunctious.
Speaking of Peter's idea of angles, the 1st at New Zealand does this very well. The further right one heads off the tee the more he must contend with the greenside bunkering.
Not only does the bunkering come into play, but the hole also plays longer from this angle.
New Zealand is full of cool flat holes in which the bunkering and shaping of fairways sets the agenda. Now for a few GREAT par 3 examples.
#7
#16: The flatness in conjunction with the natural grasses is used to obscure the green and its surrounding hazards. I love this sort of design which finds ways create interest on seemingly mundane land.
A closer look.
Yet another.
Of course, on can always get more extreme with fairway shaping by creating severe doglegs which may require laying up to the correct spot on the turn. In the case of New Zealand's 17th it pays to keep it close to the tree line to avoid an awkward angle over a bunker and to a green which gently tilts away from the right of the fairway. Approach to #17.
From here one can see how the target narrows and pushes left from a left approach.
Ian, if you are looking to see how fairway shaping, bunkering and grass can make a nearly dead flat site interesting you must visit New Zealand. Its a very cunning course that plays so much more difficult than it should seem to. I admit that the course isn't really one of the very top London courses, but that is through no fault of the design.
Ciao
Ciao