Hyzer Creek is a delightful wander mostly through mature pines, using the creek as the defining feature. I'm a picky reviewer about course design and the course held my interest throughout. I really like that the designer used the creek in a variety of ways and wasn't afraid to set baskets uniquely to test your placement ability from the tee or fairway and your nerves on the putting green.
I felt like the course was appropriate for a wide variety of player skill levels and strengths. Although having a big arm was beneficial on some uphill or longer holes, technicality, shot-shaping, and selecting a landing zone was far more critical.
The holes ranged from seriously open (12) to tightening throughout (8, 15) to pretty claustrophobic (11, 16). Although there are similarities in a few holes (e.g. downhill putter shots) the distances and obstacles played differently enough that I didn't feel like I was duplicating efforts.
I will always love the aesthetic of short woods par 4s and 5s that are designed to sucker players into trying to attack too much. I absolutely spent several shots scrambling, said I regretted my decisions, and went right back to attacking the next holes.
The "flavor" I got from the course was very similar to what I got playing Harmon Hills for the first time. The courses are very different in challenge, length, and terrain, but Hyzer Creek seemed to share the same commitment to finding the best unique features and building holes and the course around them, from a designer who had a vision and knew the land well.
Any course willing to devote a page on its website to this much sass about poison ivy:
http://www.hyzercreek.com/poison_ivy.htm is a winner in my book.