I was there a year ago after the Fazio changes. Hole 6 (or 7?) Par 3 still has a pond. I absolutely loved the course even though indeed it lacks subtle mounding around the greens it still had plenty of chipping areas creating short game interest, maybe it could have been even better. Holes 2,3,4 may not have a lot of elevation, but to me were among the best on the course but then again I do not think Not alot of elevation means a hole is bland.
The course played fast and firm, although not to the degree of nearby Dooks; indeed the grass seems different to that on the old links courses, can anybody in the know shed a light on the difference?
It was clear that not all the changes had fully grown in. Some area's showed recent fescue grass planting, which seems out of place on a links course where plenty of fescue should be growing naturally in the rough anyway. On some holes one would feel like walking an Arizona desert course trying to emulate a links look, but fortunately the temperature was 20 degrees lower, so one couldn't be fooled, this in spite of the flashy white bunker sand that seems out of place also; links courses should have yellow or light brown sand bunkers.
Since the site is pure linksland, I think the natural grasses will probably dominate the course in the near future off and maybe also on the fairways improving the course further, especially if they also get the bunker sand right. Hole 11 and the final four holes are as good as on any links in the British Isles, so the course will soon deserve in my opinion to be mentioned alongside the great classics. Is it worthwhile to visit now already? In my view yes, absolutely!