Regarding 'short' par 4's I for one in my course design notes explained that during normal day-to-day play that a golfer can decide for themselves which tee to use.
This wasn't a point I was able to make when submitting my course overhead as I believed that this was to be as basic (tees / fairways / greens / bunkers) as possible. Whereas a hole may read 420 yards from the rear tees and only 290 yards from the front the decision of the golfer provides the flexibility for playing the hole as a stiff two shotter or as a drivable par 4 option depending on how they felt on the day or what the prevailing wind / weather conditions were.
My own design - and that of many others - have a number of holes that can be approached in a variety of ways if we can take it upon ourselves to not be strictly held by the yardages provided.
I have looked at nearly half of the courses in detail and am trying to look at how the holes relate to the topography and where a basic hole diagram is provided see what strategy the designer is trying to achieve using both the topography and bunkering etc when rating the routing.
As an aside - the work that has gone into all of the entries is to be applauded - well done to all.
Neil.