Well, the experiment is complete.
They never played the full yardage, back tee to a back pin. Final day they played the stock setup from years past: Pin middle of the back section, 12 feet from the left fringe. A 5 iron for most of these players, about a 215 yard shot.
I didn't see anyone make a par, of 8 players. There were some, of course, and at least one birdie. Over half of the players I saw hit right at the pin, "cooked" it a little, found themselves in the bunker left. From there it's next to impossible to get the ball within 10 feet.
I saw one player come up short of the swale; none in the swale. The player short three-putted, but not embarrassingly so.
One player in the right bunker made an 8; bladed it over the green into the hazard, then grounded his club.
The next day we always have "Play it like the Pros" Day, we all go play the course as it was the last day. My favorite day of the club calendar.
My 4some (including me) made three pars, the other made a bogey from the right bunker. I hit it about 20 feet- but none of us aimed at the pin.
I think the problem the Tour guys have with a hole like this is (with credit for the insight to an observant friend), most of them will have to manufacture a shot (as I must). I don't have a "stock" swing that will hit the shot needed to get my golf ball through the swale. I have to hit a "3-finger driver." I can't get my 3 wood over the swale, reliably, but a full driver goes over. So I have to bounce it in from the front. If the pros hit a stock shot, it stops; they have to take something off too much club.
They don't like to have to do that.
Plus, pace of play becomes an issue when the hole gets too difficult.
But it is just not that hard. I've made par on it every time I've played it back-to-back. But I like to hit shots. That's what makes it fun for me.
I don't think the pros will ever play the full length of the hole.
But that's OK by me; we didn't build it for them anyway!