As several of the players have noted in their press conferences over the past few days, Harding Park is one of those "fair," "it's all there in front of you" courses. Except for a few holes, the course is pretty flat, especially when compared to nearby SFGC, Lake Merced and both courses at Olympic.
The routing of the course is pretty good, as the back nine encircles the front nine (and the 9-hole Fleming course as well). After the first 3 holes, rarely do you play more than a very few holes going in the same direction.
The setting of the course and the tree-lined fairways do give it a sense of grandeur. But, yes, the course is a little on the bland side when compared to its neighbors.