Mark -
I got a grand tour of the place from Tom Ferrell last fall and he's a terrific guy. Supposed to be a really good player too, at least according to him (Kidding Tom). This looks to be quite a place and definately looks hard, and I think that's just how they want it. Could see this as a USGA site for any number of their championships.
The previously mentioned 14th looks to be a strategic beaut
with the hole having many options to be approached with. The big hitter can get it close to the green and leave himself a tricky flip sand wedge, the smart player might lay back and have full spin control over the approach, and the high handicapper can reach in 2 and find a par. But the big fun is definately on the putting green and it is all about finding the proper position to putt or chip from.
Another great piece of design is the alternate fairways 16th. This looks like Thomas' original design of the 8th at Riviera only as a par 5. There is a barranca running down the middle of the hole. The left fairway is safer and a probable 3-shot route, whereas the right fairway is a gambler's paradise. A very tiny target that if reached offers an iron go at the green with a forced carry, but from a better angle. Miss the target fairway or the carry on your second and you've made 7. A great move hole in determining the outcome of a match. One of the best split-fairway holes I've ever seen.
One other "unusual" hole is the terrific short 3rd. A semi-blind tee shot that requires some knowledge of that day's pin, 'cause if the pin is back
you likely want to hit less club and play for position to properly negotiate the barranca and great greenside bunker. If the pin is in the front, then a Driver to the flat at the end of the fairway looks to give the best angle, but pulls in some more fairway bunkers. Seems like a reverse of traditional thinking in that one should try to gain distance off of the tee to reach a back pin, and one can play it a little more cautiously off the tee when faced with a front pin. The quotes around "unusual"
are from part of Mr. Crenshaw's comment that is something like "This is a very unusual hole."