Mike C:
From the travels I've done in course reviews over the last 20 years I can say you're closer to being accurate than many others regarding the nature of many upscale courses moving towards having higher slopes, course ratings and the like to juice up their "marketability." Not all new courses are following this move but many looking for quick notice do believe this is the way to go. Of course -- six hour golf is right there with it.
As far as a definition for penal mine is quite shot ...
"hit it this way or no way" which is a close companion to the phrase "my way or the highway."
Penal does not favor optional elements it mandates what you must do and if that means long forced carries or other insidious elements so be it.
Mike -- one of the better ones in your "neck of the woods' for penal has to be the back nine slog at Commonwealth National in Horsham. Can't think of the long par-4 but there is one where you tee up through a shoot and are forced to deal with wetlands and all other assorted minefields. I'm sure you know the hole.
