Just wanting to get caught up here...
When I see pictures of Whistling Straits, it really reminds me how good the course actually is. I think it can get a bad rap, because each hole does look a bit similar and admittedly, it probably is overdone with the bunkers. But beneath the surface, the course is exceptional and the playing properties are spot on for a championship, public course. The comparison of the 8th holes here and at Erin Hills are a perfect example.
At WS's 8th, it's one of the few, if not only use of blindness off the tee, and it's perfect for the hole. With a straightforward tee ball it would be not much more than hit driver as far as you can go. With the blindness, it puts a bit of doubt into you and makes you struggle to pick the proper line. The green complex is a nice one as well, with one of the few opportunities to bounce the ball into the green, which is good because most will be coming into this with a long iron or even wood.
Erin Hill's 8th on the other hand is a monster. I'm going to say this hole may be too difficult for amateurs and probably won't be a huge deal for most pros unless the wind is howling. The tee shot is completely blind, hitting basically into a cliff of fairway, to a plateau for optimal position. The green is then probably 200 yards straight up another hill with fronting bunkers. The day I played it, it was driver 5wood because of the wind! That being said, as long as you have the distance, it's not too bad, because the entire green has a backstop to stop balls from running over. So, with my post it could be inferred that I don't like it...the opposite is true. For my game, I love it. It's over amazing terrain, the blind tee shot is awesome and the second is all about hitting it long and high.
I think those two holes definitely show the slim margin of trying to challenge the pro while still remaining playable for amateurs. One rides the line perfectly, one has totally disregarded it.
The 8th at BWR-River may be the perfect example of Pete Dye's work. Looks incredibly difficult from the tee, provides plenty of room for the lesser player and punishes the aggressive play that doesn't work. I like pretty much everything about the hole...the tee shot is awesome, second shot is actually very confounding and the green is really good.
WS - 9
EH - 8
BWR - 8