1. Thanks for the correction on the lay-up hole...I never could understand why he would lay up on a sub-200 yard hole. Now it makes sense, with three playing between 220 and 245, depending on your source.
2. I was pleasantly surprised by Seven Oaks this summer. It begins with two killer greens that you can't imagine were designed by RTJ Senior. It has a pleasant openness and a lack of dependence on water not often found on his courses. There are a few holes where the agua comes into play. However, he showed incredible restraint in leaving it parallel to 18, and not forcing it in as a crossing hazard. Excluding the one goofball par five (an apparently common RTJ Senior feature), #7, the course is fair and inspiring. It is a tie in my mind between the two courses. I can't rate one higher than the other, although if pushed, I might bump Taconic through due to the fact that it has no weak holes and even less intrusion by water.