Mark,
I was searching for a quote that I thought was applicable to this thread.
“The medium of the artist is paint, and he becomes its master;
but the medium of the golf architect is the surface of the earth over
which the forces of Nature alone are master”.
Max Behr
The reason I brought this up, every artist and golf architect ( builder) as Pete would always say looked at his or her craft a little different.
Pete chose to use paint ( the stick routing ) to create his masterpiece at the TPC Sawgrass. Other builders choose nature to create theirs. One doesn't define mastery any more than the other. We all choose to do it in a different way. Par 5s on a flat site allow you to paint away to your hearts content. Natural contours on wonderful pieces of land don't always allow for creative solutions to a long linear design.
When I first toured the Holyoke property , which would soon become Ballyneal with Rupert O'Neal, we toured for hours as I have said several times on this site. Ironically, one of the first holes I spotted in its virgin landform was a long valley headed to the south. I looked up that valley and said to Rupert, if you build just one hole this valley would be the ideal spot. People wouldn't believe that they are in eastern Colorado. The hole would end up being a par 5 from the point where I stood to a green nestled in the dunes up this gorgeous valley. The features located within this valley were a perfect blend of strategy as it relates to a fun three shot hole.
Bill and Ben chose to use works of nature at the Sand Hills in a little different way then Pete, their 16h hole at SH is a study in nature and the use of it for this wonderful three shot hole. The same could be said for the first hole. But you must know both of these holes at the SH start atop a high dune so that you never lose site of the hole in its entirety. Prairie Dunes 7th hole is another wonderful par 5 hole. Nature at its finest with strategy abundant in this three shot hole for the average member.
Pete knew what he wanted, he simply painted until he achieved the outcome that he desired, he was true artist - builder. he said to me several times over a course project, lets play with it ( the land) awhile" and he certainly did.
Pete was the true master of his time.