Oh man...I loved it as you did.
I knew going up that it was a very challenging course and I was really interested to play it as Golfweek had it ranked 4th (I think) of the modern courses and at the time Golf Magazine didn't rank it at all. So I kind of wanted to see it for myself and make up my own mind.
I agree with you assessment that every hole had its own challenge. Hole #2...carry your tee shot over that river with a right to left flow of the hole. Hole #10 had a similiar water carry but left to right. That green on 17 was so much fun to play I can't explain it. Frankly, leading up to it everyone that I had talked to simply complained about it...unfair, two many humps, etc.** I always kind of roll my eyes at comments like that. Unfair? On a golf course? I think things like that are simply a challenge...I am not a great golfer (11.1 index) but I want a challenge, a puzzle, a riddle, whatever, to solve while I am golfing...otherwise after you play a course a few times it is boring. Give me options, challenges, things to think about while I am driving, showering, about to fall asleep...how could I play that hole next time, shot I approach it from the right or left...you know what I am saying?
I could go hole by hole on the course...but I will spare you. But I will say this...I've played two Dye courses so far and I love how he sets up his water carry par 3's. The water has been either running up the middle of the course and to a specific side and it leaves an entire side wide open. Therefore, you don't have to carry the entire water hazard if you don't have the game. You can simply run it up the far side. Neat as it doesn't force anyone to play a shot they don't have. And I think that can be said for all of his holes, if you play the correct tees...as you mentioned.
**I find that a lot of people who complain about a course not being fair or a hole being too quirky are low handicappers who think, as I believe Mackenzie said in "Golf Architecture", the purpose of golf course architecture is to set up a hole to seperate good shots from bad ones. I disagree (as did Dr. Mackenzie) I think a golf course architect should set up a course to challenge and entertain all levels of golfers...no matter how many times they've played a course. this is why I like Dye's courses and love the choices of tees you have on his courses.
Oh yeah...18 on PDGC of WV is another one of my favorites. I call it a double risk reward hole due to the decisons off the tee and on the approach.
I'll shut up now.
later!