Carl,
This is a great set of questions to ask about Ballyhack. I agree with you on most of these points.
I said it before, but I think the really special thing about Ballyhack is the way that Lester George was able to utilize the unique features of the land to build memorable, challenging, and strategic holes. Almost every hole presents the player with a shot where a lost ball is a serious risk, but really only the first tee shot is do-or-die if you're playing from the appropriate tees. So many of the holes involve diagonal carries across the hazards that I really do think the course is as playable as most others, while remaining visually intimidating at all times. (Someone (Wade?) tossed out Mike Strantz's name in connection with visual intimidation at my dinner table. I haven't played a Strantz course, so I can't say much else.)
In the same way, there's open space in front of 16 of the greens that would allow a run-up shot for a low-trajectory player and allow others a safe target line for the approach that avoids bunkers, long grass, and ravines. The exceptions are the short par 4 eighth and the Short 17th.
I am a big fan of walking and walkable golf courses, but I am able to overlook the difficulty of walking Ballyhack because it really is a unique and terrific golf experience. Jonathan, I appreciate your comments about the unfeasibility of building bridges in a couple of spots. I can see how, for someone who keeps the ball in the fairway, walking Ballyhack is, in fact, feasible. But as one of the guys I played with said, "It's a workout, even if you're riding a cart [for those of us who have to traverse the hillsides looking for balls]."
A few other highlights of the course I would like to mention, even though they don't address your questions:
The approach to the fifth, where one simply cannot underestimate the change in elevation and expect to make par. The 11th, with its wild, slanted fairway where a few flat spots do exist that (I suspect) members must learn to play to. The 17th green, with three distinct bowls that demand precision with a short iron.
Regarding the "short porch" on the 15th: how many players don't try to utilize it? From the blue tees, playing the tee shot straight downwind, I was able to hit 4-iron, 4-iron about 20 yards short of the front edge. (Should have been 4-iron, 5-wood.) I'm just not sure I see the point of the left-hand fairway.
Here are just a few photos of mine. I didn't take many that weekend, knowing the rest of you probably had it covered.
Looking back on the fourth:
Looking back on the fifth, with the second and ninth at either edge of the image:
The 15th, from the entrance to the fairways:
