The Old gets "ridiculously" better as it goes and possesses a stretch that architecturally could arguable be the best the game has to offer.
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Ian, Just curious since this is a very strong statement--What holes are you referring to?
The 11th may be the most (conceptually) copied hole in golf and makes my list for best threes on the planet - green contours, bunkering
The 12th is as good a short four as I have seen - unbelievable green, narrowing the aggressive line
14th may be the most admired five in the game - Hell bunker, the front of green, etc. etc.
16th is so good that Mackenzie spent a lot of time breaking down the strategies in his book - principal's nose, green contours
17th was copied by Raynor, Emmet and CBM (along with others more recently) - green angle, dominant bunker, front feeding slopes of green
That's a list of some of the most brilliant architecture in history.
I think the 13th and 15th are just as god as the other holes personally.
And frankly how can you criticize the 18th with that awesome green and fronting swale.
In my narrow little mind, this might be the best stretch coming home in the game...
Hope that explains it.