I played it recently in the open and thourghly enjoyed my round. I think the holes that stood out for me were; 2,3, 7(will not forget that hole), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 ,17.
I will start with seven, this was not a positive reason to remember a hole and no doubt on a second play my problem could not happen. But in a medal round it is harsh for your round to be over after finding yourself in a burn you did not know existed. Ok not so bad but it's not very linksy to have a water hazard in front of the green. It adds veriety I suppose but NB is not really lacking that.
I layed up well short of the right hand side bunker and then tried to run up an iron onto the green, I was puzzled when I did not see it roll onto the green. I walked about 15 yards forward and all was clear.
9 - I liked nine because it was good to have the option up the left of the bunkers to shorten your approach to the green. No sure the angle was any better but you could get about a 15 yard advantage if you really hugged the left.
11 – What a brute into the wind from the back tee. Just great fun to be really challenged on all three shots of a par 5. From the tee you have to keep as far left as possible and stay away from the bunkers on the right, not to mention a solid strike into a tough wind.
Then a lay up that had to avoid falling in the dip to the font left of the green or if going shorter having to miss the bunkers. Depending on where your second finishes you have either got a semi blind/blind shot to the green. Try not to leave a 30 yard putt or miss left.
12 – What a green you have to try and pick a really good spot to land the ball and avoid some of the more extreme slopes. Not to mention the narrow gap between the bunkers. Off the tee the day I played it the bunkers on the inside were almost unreachable in the wind. But still you need to toss up going right for a shot at the gap or go close to the bunkers for a shorter approach.
13 – Was I just happy to play the hole I had seen on so many pictures?
14 – Not sure you want it on every tee shot but hitting to an area that does not look like it could even have a fairway is a nerve racking experience I liked. In reality it is quite safe up their but I liked the feeling of hitting into the unknown.
15 – It's 'the' redan come on you gotta love it.
16 – In the wind I played it the burn was well in range for a poorly struck shot. Is the green fair, well yes play it how you want to. Golf is all about unique challenges brought about by different characteristics. Maybe it's just me but I love overcoming something totally different.
17 – I hear people rave about option from the tee, well this hole has about a million. Oh and also I got a birdie after holing a bunker shot form the left of the green.
I don't think I played the same shot twice form the 9th through to the 17th, how many times can you say that about a stretch of holes that long?