Lads,
The conclusion is, of course, that both nines at Deal are world class.
2-7 is a spectacular run of holes and so is 12-17. Hard to split those two six-hole stretches. So the question is 1, 8, 9 vs 10, 11, 18. For me, Those three on the back nine lift it a tad above the front.
Suffice to say much of my time reading "True Links" was spent looking at the pages on RCP and trying to formulate a plan to return ASAP.
I have no problem with #1 as a starter at all. I like the tee shot past the clubhouse, and the approach over the burn requires a solidly struck iron right out of the box. And isn't it normally into the wind?