Pete B:
Good luck with you move from NC to Orlando!
The differences between World Woods / Pine Barrens and Ocean Hammock is very tough because they are both first rate designs IMHO. If I had to say which is better I would honestly rate them a statistical dead heat.
WW / PB is well done by TF and clearly it isn't as "made up" as many TF designs usually are. The land is quite good -- albeit towards the flat side -- yet there's enough variety to keep you interested. Again, I have not played all of the recent new courses that have opened in the state to say it merits a #3 position but a top ten one is not out of the wood (no pun intended).
Ocean Hammock is simply a first rate Nicklaus design. I mean how many ocean fronting layouts are left to be created in the State? Not many.
Jack didn't create an earlier version of his "my way or highway" design mentality. You have plenty of room to handle different handicap levels and the general pacing of the holes and routing is well done. Jack provides opportunities for people to score but there are no handouts.
I really enjoyed the back nine because the front simply sets the stage for the final 9 holes. The last four are simply stellar stuff -- with the long par-4 15th heading to the ocean with a green that sits up beautifully for your approach. The cap like 16th is also neat stuff -- followed by a soild mid-length par-3 and the tough closer which is made even more special by the way the green is angled from lower right to back left -- the fall-off on the right side of the green for those who push the envelope too hard is also well done.
The best way to highlight the quality of Ocean Hammock is to compare it with nearby The Creek at Hammock Dunes by Rees Jones. At the later you get a layout with plenty of wicked forced carries over wetlands. OH doesn't do that because Nicklaus has clearly moved his design philosophy to a different style -- one I believe is much more complicated and certainly more compelling.
In closing -- I would not say OH merits the 3rd position, but I believe it has the depth to be included as a legitimate top ten contender. Since OH and WW / PB are both public at the very minimum this will allow for to play them when in the state.