Jim;
Ron is a flatlands golfer who, like many here, does not usually like courses he cannot walk. ER, and to a lesser extent Hidden Cove, are not very walkable [to say the least!]. He has admitted that he will like it better after learning some of the ideal target areas. ER is almost the quintessential target golf course. No one can deny it is fun though.
Charlie;
#13 is a GREAT hole, strategically speaking; though I admit I speak for myself in this opinion. I am not a long hitter, so must lay it out in the fairway. The temeptation of long hitter to 'go for it' is almost irresistable from up there. Yet: Left is DEAD! Long put you into that lovely catching area beyond the falloff back. Right is right! If you hit the rocks above the right side, about 90% of the time it will bounce nicely back into the fairway. So, for me, I aim for left middle and count on my natural 'banana' to bounce of the rocks. This is so much fun that if I succeed, I try again anyway. Hit, put my club up, get a sip, come back to watch it land!!
Another hole I love are #2, where I hit a medium iron over as close to the chasm as I dare. Good lies over there and just a 9-iron across that chasm to a green with a bit of backstop from that direction. Unfortunately, my occasional mishits love to occur when hitting across ER's chasms ...... I keep them well stocked with salable used balls.
Holes #6. #15, and #18 are great too. And all those tough par-3's. Simply, to me, the most fun course I have played.
You are right, Twisted Gun is a gem WAY in the 'rough'. But since we were there for a multi-day trip, we had plenty of time. And the course is in a breathtaking mountain vista. Also quite well designed and enjoyable.
The Oaks is a tradgedy! There are few courses with as much potential. Hurdzan & Associates wrough mightily. They thought too it was gonna be a private course for the Execs at Ashland Oil. But then Ashland moved their headquarters and the course is not a tax writeoff for the owner ..... thus the sad conditions. The good news? This is the last year it can be written off. The palns apparently ARE for massive upgrade, selling adjacent property for housing [already well underway], and being a development course. Hope so, this course has unlimited potential.
Doug