This is by no means to disrespect Donald Steel; in fact, I have great respect for him. I admire his writing and his golf architecture.
But what I find most interesting about Redtail is that the best holes, in my opinion, resulted from modifications made by the owner, Chris Goodwin -- another interesting guy!
Steel's original layout included an awkwardly placed par 3 on the back nine that was replaced by the present 14th: a heroic par 3 played over a spectacular gorge on a site Goodwin discovered after the course had opened for play, about 1991.
Goodwin also modifed the 3rd by adding a new back tee; what was originally a drive-and-pitch affair is today a monster par 4 requiring a forced carry over a creek to the most boldly contoured green on the course. It's a very difficult hole.
The wonderful short par 5 18th, which plays past the clubhouse (a la NGLA) is also Goodwin's handy work. If I recall correctly, he relocated the tee, and cleared a ton of trees and underbrush from a gorge that cuts into the fairway from the left side. The hole was markedly improved as a result.
It's an architect's worst nightmare! To think about an owner tinkering with a course after the act. But in this case, the owner improved upon it, IMHO. Although I understand Goodwin did consult his friend Steel before his proposed changes were actually carried out.
Redtail was set up almost perfectly by Goodwin and his partner, John Drake. The understated layout, the classic looking clubhouse, the isolation... it's undoubtedly one of those special places in golf.