Thanks all for the continued commentary.
Rich, you played on ahead on 18. I haven't gotten there at my measured pace. After I get there, I'd like to hear from you about how many Rhichelin *'s the course got in total and how that total might fit in in your rating system.
Sorry for playing through, Bryan, but my bags were packed, waitin' to go, taxi driver's blowin' his horn.....
As to my overall evaluation of TIGLS, I given it 2**, basically because I don't give 3*** to any course that is still in adolescence and has some fixable flaws, but also because Tom Doak would never speak to me again if I ranked it higher than Pacific Dunes..... I 've given 3*** to only 15 or 20 courses in the world that I have played and I doubt if there are more than another 10 to 15 out there that I haven't played and deserve it, at least to my standards (which are largely, but not completely, summed up by Michelin's "worth the journey" criterion).
So, what exactly does it have and does it not have? Firstly, is it potentially an Open Course? Undoubtedly! In fact, from the tips and with a decent amount of variable wind and a more mature, fast and firm greensward and some fairly minor tweaking it could possibly be THE best course on the Open Rota, IF the main criterion was the Tatumesque "to identify the greatest golfers in the world." It is a more demanding challenge than Carnoustie and requires more thought than Sandwich, and Muirfield and the Old Course combined. Eye Candy wise it makes Turnberry look like Pacific Grove. It has ample space to accommodate 40-50,000+ spectators/day. And yet....
....to fully accommodate all these people it will need to build all the infrastructure on the property that is planned but not yet even started. A major hotel. Further rental accomomodation. A megaclubhouse. Civil Engineering to allow internal open spaces/wetlands to be able to take grandstandands, walkways, toilets and other temporary out on the course facilities. This will take at least 5-10 years to complete, once it has started. Finally, dealing with the people at the site pales with the challenge of dealing with the problem of getting people to the site. As it is today, the ONLY road from Aberdeen to TIGLS is mostly single carriage (i.e. one lane going each way), and the roads from Inverness and the North are even worse. Now there is a "Ring Road" well into the planning stage which will bypass the city of Aberdeen and otherwise improve the traffic from other places such as Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, but it too is probably at leas 5-10 years from completion. I think that TIGLS will hold an Open, but I'm not sure it will be in the Donald's lifetime.
Meanwhile, however, the existence and quality of the course should significantly improve the north side of Aberdeen as a "worth the journey" golfing destination. Added to Royal Aberdeen, Murcar and Cruden Bay I consider it now to be a comparable to Bandon, even without any significant supporting infrastructure. When that comes, watch out!
Rich
PS--I've seen briefly the "debates" regarding the 16th at Tiggles, and it being the poster child for over-bunkering on a short par-3 on a links course. All I can say is the Wardian war cry: "Wake up and smell the coffee, Pilgrims!" I find it hard to remember any seriously good short par-3 (on a links course, Scottish or otherwise, or even on any course, come to think of it) where you can actually land short and run your ball up to the green, without encountering a hazard (including seriously sloped false front for those without fronting bunkers (e.g. Brora #6)) . Yes, Dr. MacK (or any of us) could putt our ball onto the green of the 11th at the Old Course from the (forward) tee, but only eventually and probably leading us to holing out for a 6 or a 7. Those of you who think otherwise, please jog my memory as to on which decent short holes you regularly hit a running shot onto the green.
Thanks
rfg