no pics, unfortunately, but here goes with a"report"..amde more difficult by starting in ashotgun, thought w did play our own balls from teh 6335 white tees (6934 back).
first the generalities...well maintained (though with this past summer, not f&f), all fairways lined with specimen sized hardwoods (but the fairways are very generous) with some sign of a " tree program" especially on the pondside of the redan hole #12..Matt is correct, needs more deforestation. A large ravine bisects much of the course, with most second shots playing to uphill greens. The bunkering off the tee does not lend itself to strategic thinking, and it seems that EVERY green is bunkered military style, left AND right...way, way too much uniformity of location, if not neccesarily style.
The good news is the holes that have NOT been changed since Banks' time, and which reflect the Banks/McD/Raynor style ARE pretty nifty. The redan 12th falls sharply left and plays slightly downhill. The "short" 6th has a unique horseshoe green, whcih is not as symetrical as the one at St louis, but instead has a very narrow shelf on the back left and right, with the depression more irregular,but with the same trouble forever lurking over. The plateau and double plateau greens ( and quarters) on #5 & 8 are wonderful, and stand in stark contrast to the relative flatness of many of the greens.
Hole #18 is a very good par 4, 441 back tees, dog left with teh 2nd an uphill shot to araised green curving diagonally left,fronted by a yawning bunker..good stuff!
#17 was/is a mid sized par 3 that has had the tee extended rearward to make you play down a 160 yard man made (nicely) pond...it's not to hard to imagine RTJ designing theis hole change, though I have no idea who did.
And #14, one of the holes playing over the ravine has a real nifty large mature tree in the middle of the fairway providing some thought to navigate ( one of the few tee shots you might pause to ponder, unfortunately).
All in all, a very good, mature, well conditioned course,very enjoyable but one that in TD parlance, you wouldn't make a LONG special trip to play. (also Chubb had great food for us, from the HCC kitchen, for those who know how much I love to do that!)
Lucky me, off to play Sanctuary, Prarie Dunes and Cedar Ridge with my 16 yr old son (to end the year in "style") this weekend.