Steve Smyers is one of those architects who often flies "under the visibility radar." He often takes drab sites and can make some interesting things come about.
I was equally impressed with his successes in Florida -- namely, Old Memorial in Tampa and Southern Dunes in Haines City. Givenmy love
for Florida golf I was wonderfully surprised by what he achieved there.
In NJ I have played Royce Brook and Blue Heron Pines / East a number of times and both of them are solid top five public layouts in the Garden State IMHO. Although it must be said that RB / West is now no longer public. On both sites Smyers took DEAD-FLAT land and made a number of holes that raise the blood pressure a good bit.
I have always been a fan of Four Streams and part of the issue with the course is that it is soooooooooooo low-key and private that few people really have played the course.
I know some people take issue with the plethora of bunkers that Smyers creates but I find his work quite refreshing for a host of reasons -- one of them being that Steve is a fine player and has good insight on what constitutues quality shot values throughout a round.
Give Smyers a sight with real gusto and he can certainly demonstrate his unique talents IMHO.
P.S. I have not played it but a number of people I deeply respect have also passed on high compliments to his work in MI with Lochenheath.