Which links courses are you referring to that don't look as cool as tree lined courses? Just curious........
Looking at the pictures, it looks beautiful and seems to be a true links course. Problem is, I've read some reviews that say it's no links course and that a lot of the design features feel contrived. It's true, it was an old rock quarry, and they "made" all the topography with machines. But it looks to me like they did a pretty remarkable job, at least from the photography.
Maybe I'll just need to drive on up and play. Hell, it's not that long of a drive from Portland anyway.