Neale,
I, of course, defer to your local knowledge of the course. I have never had the privilege to play any of your fine courses. I am positive the course was challenging. I am just going by what I saw and heard. I "heard" all players commenting on how "fair" the course was and how it "rewarded good play". I "saw" the very fine weather had for the majority of the open. Blue skies and white cumulus clouds are not something I am used to seeing at the open. I also "saw" the multiple rounds of sub-par golf during those 4 days. I am sorry if my observation came off as questioning your local knowledge of the game. Hell Neale: "Single digit handicap"! Just one "redneck word" for that: "Boyhowdy"!
Best, Capt. Chris