Does this thread relate back to the "Going to the Precipice" thread? Does 'severe' mean not going over the precipice?
Carl,
Dead on, I think. Looking at a few of the more popular ones on the list; I'd say that they all do a great job of tip-toeing extremism. This is what makes them so great, IMO.
#13 at Kingsley goes a little overboard, especially with a back left pin. But as a collection and in comparison to the greens before and after it I think it fits very well.
#13 at Crystal has a certain element of "precipice crossing" to it, especially on the back right pin. But 12 and 14 balance it out.
Pasatiempo--in general--could certainly get out of hand if they kept it faster than they do. I four putted the 8th green, and nearly four putted on 16 when I landed my ball on the back tier when the pin was middle. But again, as a collection, fun and challenging.
I think in this particular debate, it is beneficial to look and see if any singular element of a collection of 18 greens is way off the charts crazy. Then, if the answer is yes, see what other features that other greens have to offer are. In the case of the 13th at Kingsley; is every green like that? No. Is there a good collection of really severe greens and just "normal contoured" greens? Sort of, yeah. So is it a severe collection? Yes. But fun and challenging as well.
The most extreme contours in all of San Antonio are here on the base at Randolph Oaks. They keep them at about 7 feet--shaggy bermuda. But due to the extreme contour they are fun fun fun. Other than the greens, it's a cow pasture. But it's proof that slightly extreme and almost over the top greens can make any piece of land exciting.