Tim Weiman,
It's not just the aesthetic appeal of the ocean holes at Pebble, those holes also happen to be world class holes.
Old head doesn't have those world class golf holes that make less than world class golf holes seem inferior, so at Pebble Beach, it's the combination of their location on the Pacific, and their architectual greatness than cast their off ocean step-sisters into the shadows.
I've heard golfers comment that they are not overly impressed with some holes at NGLA, # 's 5, 9, 13 and 16 amongst them. The same at PV, #'s 10, 11, and 12.
Great holes always overshadow good holes and good holes always overshadow fair holes. And when the great holes also benefit from having a unique, an incredibly special setting, it only casts bigger and darker shadows over the less special holes.
Call me crazy, but I think #'s 2,3.4, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are all pretty good golf holes, especially their diversity and the way they fit in with the rest of the golf course.
And, the course continues to provide a superior test of golf.
Something other courses fail at.