Man do I need to get Down Under!!!

Tim:

I won't put a number to it, but it wasn't much earthmoving.  

Other than digging bunkers and contouring greens (plus or minus 2 feet from existing grades), the only earthwork we did was a bit of softening at the crest of the 13th fairway, and pushing down the crest of the 15th fairway back toward the landing area so you might have a chance to see the top of the flag for your approach shot.

That's in the same ballpark as Sand Hills.  In fact, the site always reminded me a bit of Sand Hills -- not as rugged, just because when we mowed it down you could "play" the whole course prior to construction.

Aaron:

Both courses are cool in their own right.  I have never heard of anyone spending the day at Cape Kidnappers who was wishing they were somewhere else ... being up atop the cliffs is always special.  The golf course doesn't fight with the scenery at all -- it works with it, otherwise the scenery would win hands down.

Don't fall into the silly convention of DOWNGRADING a course because it has awesome views.  Lately some people have been rating Ballyneal ahead of Pacific Dunes as if the use of the coastline was meaningless ... but again, I've never heard of anyone standing there and wanting to be anywhere else.

but also some pithy bits to ignore.

Just a little timely warning.

The pithy bits to ignore are the demented rantings of one JJJ.

Matthew,
   Thanks for the link to iseekgolf. I'm enjoying the photos immensely. I'll be pulling them up frequently once the rains begin in a few months.

Mark,
   You sure know how to make an impatient golfer suffer. In the meantime its off to one last golf trip before I start saving up my pennies for next year.