Regarding the severe contouring, lets not forget that Pete Dye came back and softened them all, with some several times.
My understanding, straight from the pros mouths, of what they don't like is the severe ridges in the middle of the greens, which kick shots in all directions. As one pro told me, the middle of the green is traditionally the safe shot.
As another said, the ridge would be okay one hole, but "Pete liked it so well, he repeated it 17 more times."