Scott:
Nice job.
I may be able to add some useful information in response to some of the comments and questions that your pictures have prompted.
Regarding the question about which fairway bunkers are strategic, I will tell you that the fairway bunkering on the North course is much more "strategic" than that on the South, or any other Fazio course I can think of. I am among those who thinks that some of Fazio's bunkering serves no strategic purpose. I guess that depends on your definition of "strategic". For me, in order for any hazard or obstacle to be considered strategic it must cause the player to consider it when choosing a club and an intended line. There should be some advantage gained by successfully challenging the hazard and price to pay on the next shot if you play away from it. Of course, there must be a penalty for hitting into the hazard (or waste). I just played the North course in my mind, and it seems to me that all of the fairway bunkers and waste areas on the par 4's and par 5's meet that test to varying degrees depending on the placement of the pin and the wind. In every case I can think of, you are rewarded if you are willing and able to challenge the sand/water and pull it off.
Regarding the amount of sand and the expense of maintaining it, I should point out that all of the sand on the North course plays as waste ("through the green"). All of the sand is natural to the site. The sand is not really “forced” onto the course. In most cases the bunkers/waste areas were created simply by digging just far enough to expose the sand underneath. Some effort is made to maintain the greenside sand, but the fairway sand waste is "as you find it”. In most cases, if you remove the fairway sand, you reduce or eliminate strategy from the tee shot. For the average player there is plenty room to play away from the sand. It really is a factor for the better player who has the talent (or thinks he has) to challenge the sand in order to gain the best angle to the green.
With regard to the question of blind second shots on #6,7,19,11. In all four cases the tee shot is hit into or over a slope in the fairway. Most pretty good players can easily reach the top of the slope and over. I am the shortest hitter on the planet, so I often fail to reach the top of the slope. Even then, I have no trouble seeing the green. However, from there, I usually can’t reach the green. I am just looking for the best spot to lay-up. BTW, #10 is a par 5, and there is a clear view of the target for your second shot.
For those who care, here are the yardages:
Hole Par Championship Long intermediate
1 4 381 370 352 312 276
2 3 209 185 167 143 114
3 5 545 522 482 423 414
4 3 168 159 150 145 99
5 4 429 409 409 385 346
6 4 387 366 352 352 267
7 4 455 415 378 378 311
8 4 469 430 386 386 347
9 5 548 492 466 466 422
OUT 36 3591 3348 3142
10 5 556 532 512 512 480
11 4 442 410 382 382 331
12 4 406 386 366 366 324 Uphill
13 4 396 350 322 299 244
14 3 187 180 159 145 122
15 4 432 403 369 369 248
16 3 185 163 130 130 112
17 4 426 386 353 353 306
18 5 518 493 493 426 407
IN 36 3508 3303 3086
TOTAL 72 7139 6651 6228
Construction is underway to build a longer (about 20 yds) back tee on #16. I presume the other tees will also move back.
I hope some of this is helpful, especially to those who have not played the course.
Jim