BCrosby - I understand your comment that True Blue is all "funked" up (I've heard it before), but I don't feel that way. I really enjoy playing the course. My brother-in-law, on the other hand, would not step foot on the place if you paid him. He hates it. But, he plays it from the incorrect tees for his ability and he is a terrible chipper and putter. He would fair no better on NB and would probably hate it, too. No, let me change that... he would probably be enthrawled with NB because it is in Scotland and he has been told that he
should like it. If you picked it up and moved it to the USA he would turn his nose up at it.
Mike_Cirba - Thank you for the mentioning Hawk Point. I hope I get a chance to play it some day. I'm pleased to learn that it received positive press. Unfortunately, my experience on this site and elsewhere is that unorthodox doesn't sell... except overseas.
Dan Kelly - I think we might be dealing in symantics here. What you are calling "stupid" I might be calling "unfair." I have read numerous threads on this site where unorthodox design choices have been discussed about a course. You call a feature you don't like "stupid" - I might call the same thing "unplayable," whereas someone else might use the term "goofy" or "quirky." And, as far as the membership not being keen judges of their course I would argue that, in the case of NB, they have had sufficient time to determine what works for them and what doesn't.
Thanks to all for your comments. You've given me a lot to consider... which may spin off another thread soon. I'm particularly interested in the discussion of "fair vs. unfair" and whether, as Dan Kelly says, that is a silly concept.
In any case, I guess it just comes down to what my little old Grandmother used to say, "That's why they make chocolate and vanilla."