Alright then, the final four holes:
15 - Par 3 - 206m (226y)A subtle green and rewards a shot that stays below the hole, and a nice gentle left-to-right slope on which to run the ball in. Not a brilliant par three, but continues the variety of the one-shotters. Bit of a tight look from the back tee, but quite an open vista from further forward.
16 - Par 4 - 379m (417y)The drive from the back tee is borderline crazy. In itself a pretty thrilling carry for those capable of making it, but for everyone else it's a hiding to nothing - 150m over a gully of thick scrub. And on the back off all the pointless forced carries off the tee to this point, it's just overkill on the overkill. Which is a pity, because the second shot is pretty cool: a blind shot to a downhill target on land that angles hard to the left and back to front and as such favours an approach from that side, which means hugging the bush on the left after flying 150m of it to reach the fairway, where a "bail out" to the right is far safer, but adds length to the second shot and creates a tough angle.
17 - Par 5 - 498m (547y)The drive here will reach the foot of - or perhaps halfway up - a steep ridge where the fairway rises about 15m on a 1.5:1 slope. I can't see a mortal carrying it up the hill, but I haven't watched an elite golfer play the hole, so I can't say it would be impossible. But for us mortals, given a good drive leaves you at the foot of that awkward slope, it's best to lay back of it by some distance so the second is a bit less daunting and you can hit a less lofted club and still carry the hill. Once up on the top level, the fairway tightens towards the raised green, which I think looks great in its site, but doesn't offer much to think about. With the tee moved up enough that flying that hill were an option, I think this could be an awesome hole. As it is it doesn't do all that much for me.
18 - Par 4 - 402m (442y)And of course we finish with another ridiculously unnecessary forced carry. The second shot is actually quite fun, with a natural valley in the fairway playing with your depth perception a bit. A fitting way to end: a forced carry, a tight corridor and a bit of an average green.
St Michael's is a frustrating course because there is so much more that site could have yielded. But even as it stands today there are really enjoyable holes at 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 14. Some just need some clearing, but other holes drag the course kicking and screaming down several notches.
The news that a greens overhaul is planned is exciting, and I hope those overseeing it decide to carry out some tree clearing while they are at it.