Mike:
I give out my own awards of the best things I've seen in my Xmas letter every year ... no jacket required.
Why don't you use this thread to do the same? What are the best pieces of work you've seen this year, politics aside?
Most of mine this year were outside the USA. The one newish course I saw which will get an 8 in The Confidential Guide was South Cape in Korea, by Kyle Phillips. And the best renovation I saw was Eric Iverson's work on Whistling Rock, also in Korea.
Best unknown course and best course under 5000 yards were one and the same: Shek O CC in Hong Kong.
Best minimalist design in Asia/Pacific: Kingfisher GC in Saipan, by Graham Matsh.
Most fun set of greens: royal Sart-Tillman, Belgium, by Tom Simpson. Before this course and Morfontaine, I never realized how severe his greens could be! I'm envious!