What if WH was sited where the Bayberry property is, or where MPCC or Spanish Bay? WH, same exact holes, SH remains where it is, same holes. Does your opinon of WH in the universe of great courses on the planet change vis a vis SH? Which one would you play day in and day out then? Assume both to be very private.
Interesting question. Of course I'm having a very hard time imagining how the golf holes would remain exactly the same if they were transported to lake-side land, not to mention one of the world's nicest coasts. But let's say that magically can be done.
Sorry, WH still loses. As much as I do value views/scenery/feel - and suffer Muccian vilification for it - that is not what this turns on, not for me. I will say I do prefer such at SH to WH - but not even close to enough to making these the determining factor either.
For me it's what I tried to tell Mucci all along - the assessment goes about 95% golf course as played, 5% scenery/views/feel. My beef - pun intended - with him was that he couldn't even give the 5%. And he remains wrong.
So sorry Dick - even if we turn things around and make WH the winner in that 5% - and I'm not prepared to say moving it to Bayberry or MPCC area would make that happen -well that's not gonna change the overall assessment.
I'd still say SH is #1, the one I'd love to play every day quite happily. Remember, I have played Cypress Point a few times, and put SH above even that one. I dare say WH moved to a similar area is not going to surpass Cypress as it is now.
TH