Steve,
I think you need to take a closer look at Pebble. I've been fortunate to play it all my life and those who trash the golf course are frankly . . . . . well, aesthetically challenged.
The opener is puke. No doubt. A complete zero. However, there is something architecturally interesting on nearly every hole that follows.
#2. The crossing "pit" bunker is a fine feature. The trick to appreciating it lies in playing from the correct tees. If you are playing a super-short par-5, of course it is not going to wiggle your giggle!
#3. Excellent risk-reward tee shot (from the correct tees) with a landing area where players skilled enough to work the ball can take advantage of the contours of the fairway to kick the pellet towards the hole. Ever try to hit that green from the upper part of the fairway? Tough angle. Cut the corner and get your ball onto the lower part of the fairway, and the green opens up beautifully.
#4. If you don't like the fairway bunkering or putting surface hanging on the edge of that precipice, then don't read any further. It is pointless to cast pearls to the . . . . .
#5. Jack did a great job. I would have liked the putting surface to present a little softer angle from the tee - to make it more of a *true* reverse-Redan; still a wonderful job.
#11. I agree this is a bit of a mutt. The green complex is very good. The hole could be drastically improved with some strategic geometry off the tee to challenge players to place their ball at an optimum angle. I might jigger around the bunkering at greensite to make the angles match,
#12. Complete puke. No excuse. A bad hole. I've been told what was there before it was redone years ago. So, I'll agree. Blow up and start over.
#13. This hole does not deserve the bad rap it gets. The new bunkers on the right work well, allthough the rough line is not very good. Like #11, it could use a little jazzing up off the tee, allthough the waste bunker is effective for short hitters (like me).
#15. A good breather hole. Every course needs a spot that is more beautiful than challenging. This is a sexy hole that gets diss'd because it gives up a few birdies.
#16. If you don't see the beauty of this hole, with the putting surface nudged into a shady hollow, then you don't get it. A perfect prelude of the last two. That anticipation-filled walk from the 16th green to the 17th tee is a bit like the walk from #14 to #15 or #15 to #16 at Cypress.
If I were king, the 16th green at Pebble would be expanded a bit. I suspect is has been mowed into a circle over the years. Love the bunkering of the hole both from the tee and approach.
#17. They need to do something about that stupid green. Either expand the back or do some recontouring. I watched Jimenez have to hit a sand wedge from one tier to the other in the Open and frankly, the whole thing is silly. You cannot stop the ball on the left side unless you can hit a sky-ball. So, I am criticizing this hole where everyone else fawns over it.
Garden City? Except for #12, a joyous stroll. An essay in classic architecture. It would be nice to see the fairway on #7 reexpanded, but you can't have everything. #12 is absolutely unacceptable.
To compare these two courses is frankly, ridiculous. Apples and Oranges. You may as well compare Olympic Lake and Royal County Down.
Kate Hepburn or Catherine Zeta Jones? Bardot or Kidman?
Pointless.