1. That the individual Par of a hole is irrelevant to its playing strategy. Everything, except the 13th, is a solution of "4," and 4 is a quality result on every hole except that one. Much like the Road Hole, the 4th at Riviera, 8 at Oakmont, these presentations of 3,5,9, 17 and 18 are half-par installations. And their "half-parredness" is balanced by the availability of 3s on 1,7, 8,10,11 and the "2" available at the aforementioned 13th...further balanced on the high side in that #s2 and 4 don't offer the "4s" as a fait accompli.
2. Contour defends more compellingly, more exactingly than hazard. Constant worry about distance control, and where to miss so as to complete the hole in only two more shots, is the thing that makes creme de la creme competition to watch and stimulating golf to play.
3. It makes for hellacious national tournament logistics, but these venerated clubs which are tight and boutique properties just drip with history that much more than sites which don't have that feel.
4. While individual slopes command individual putts, if I was vexed between reads, I would trust the one that goes to the West.
cheers
vk