Ran: Absolutely. KH is a better design than NSW.
Usually, I'm all for being dragged back to the best place, time after time, but because a comparision between KH and NSW is so close, I can be swayed (in this example) by my heart over head; scenery, location, proximity to coast, rugged excitement of NSW. They really are two entirely different courses, and I would comfortably choose NSW most days.
However, I would never go in for this 'line of thinking' when
comparing Old Head Kinsale, to NSW. The Irish course may have even better scenery than NSW, but because its layout is hardly worth a lick, I choose KH every time over that one.
In a similar vein, I will always choose to play at a great design, in woeful condition, than a poor course in excellent condition. But that will have to wait for another thread.
Regarding KH's green contours, there are some incredible ones - tough but fair! I'm thinking of the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th.