Weighing in on behalf of the incompetent and/or stupid, I am currently staying in Dornoch but playing Golspie. In fact, I played Golspie with this thread in mind.
To begin with: using the logic of the NCAA Championship committee, Golspie starts out with a big advantage as they have the extra par three and thus a 25% advantage in data points.
Returning to the real world, I considered that two of Golspie's par three, 2 and 6, have greens that essentially gather the ball on most approaches and recoveries. 10 on the other hand will deflect a shot that either comes in a bit short or carries to a reverse slope. Recovery options on 10 are not as straight forward as on the previous holes, but once on the green it is benign.
The 16th is a specival hole. I have heard the Mackenzie rumor from a member at Golspiebut have no way of confirming or refuting it. I don't think it is an easy hole to deal with on the approach or the recovery, or the next recovery, etc. Given the wind, the elevated nature of the green and the severity of the slopes, I think this hole equals any of those at Dornoch in terms of challenge from the tee and then the options and potential for creativity in recovering. Being left or right and above a hole cut on the first tier demands a thoughtful and deftly executed solution.
Seventeen, though difficult to reach for the shorter hitter (my hand is in the air) into the wind which it usually is, is not a particularly good hole. The option of playing short of the rampart and then pitching onto the green should guarantee a four or even an occasional three as the green is not severe. Described earlier as a long slog, that judgment may be a bit harsh but does seem mostly apt.
So, given that Golspie has the extra hole, of more varying lengths, and that they effectively box the compass, how do we award the best par threes decision to Dornoc?
Probably on the basis of something I read here years ago. The quality of a golf course is best determined by the recovery options for missing greens. If it is too easy then the course is clearly easy and not good. If it is impossible or virtually so then we have a hard course perhaps suitable for championship play but not a great course. Great courses allow you to miss and to recover but they require you to use a variety of means, chips, pitches, putts. The man who said this originally said it better and in a more succinct fashion, but it has stuck with me. I wish he would step forward and identify himself if he still posts on here.
I think Dornoch has a slight edge, and I say this as a several years running overseas member at Golspie, but I do think that Golspie has the advantage in terms of variety and sheer fun.
An interesting topic. It's always good to challenge the sacred coos of golf.