Thanks, Sean.
Interesting that you liked the 3s so much. If I had to identify a weakness in the course (and I don't really think there is one) it would be the similarity of the par 3s. That said, I'm surprised you don't think there are any true "all-Scotland" candidates, I'd give all of the three par 5s a run against any other par 5 I have played in Scotland.
Par 5s generally don't register very well with me...very few would make all country status. Maybe Cruden Bay's 6th? There are probably a few others I could think of, but I am not convinced I would include 14 TOC...though I think it is better than Muirfield's 5s. I would take NB's 11th as well, but I don't think it's an All Scotland candidate.
For me where Muirfield excels is in the relentless nature of the bunkers as a test of golf. That is also a weakness if one is seeking something more or different than a relentless test of golf.
Mike B
Muirfield is not completely devoid of visual pleasure. There is something a bit cool about such an open site. But yer right, photos from a drone 20 feet up would showcase what Muirfield is about...bunkers. That is hard to capture on the ground. Plus the button down maintenance style doesn't help. Muirfield strikes me as a bit like Augusta. It's become or tries to be pristine...very divorced from the roots of the design. But nearly all links are regrettably guilty of this to one degree or another.
Ciao