I said I further post in response to Anthony - and since I'm home sick from work today - I now have the chance. The first four (or few) holes are not the same with only differing lengths. Also, differing lengths are part of what makes holes unique. I'm having trouble recalling a course I've played where every hole was the same length - since length makes no difference in making holes different. So here's a description of the first four holes (I typically play the blue tees, but have played the white some and the Open tees about five times).
Hole #1
Just under 400 yards it is a relatively short par 4 and a gentle start to the round. Typically it is anywhere from a driver-8 iron to driver-wedge for me depending on the tees and the wind. Green angles from front right to back left - slightly. Green is not nearly as raised up as much as others although there is a deep and steep drop off on the front left and the left greenside bunker is pretty deep. Once on the green it is relatively flat except when you near the front edge. For many it would seem that the place to miss the green is right - since you avoid the deep greenside bunker left. However, this is the hardest spot from which to get up and down, especially with the pin on the right, because there is a subtle tilt from right to left on the green. By missing it in the bunker you playing uphill to the green - which is always a key to getting up and down #2. From the fairway, playing from the left side allows you to hit into the slope of the green to hold it more easily but this eliminates any chance at getting close to left hand pin placements. The ideal spot is guarded by a single fairway bunker. Therefore, to open those hole locations you must play down the right.
Hole #2
After an easy opener you jump right into a quite difficult hole. Depending on tees and wind this is anymore from a driver-hybrid to driver-6 iron for me. The green angles significantly from front left to back right and is dominated by a large mound on the middle right of the green. The mound is actually half on and half off the green. There really aren't any greenside bunkers that come into play. The green is raised up significantly on all sides. Missing the green to the right is a no-no. Front left is my preferred spot to miss the green because I have the length of the green to chip with. Also, long left can be a good spot to miss if the pin is tucked behind the mound. The mound influences the break on the green as well as the putts tending to break away from the clubhouse. In trying to attack the green the ideal line of play is from the farthest left part of the hole - however this is protected by a string of three fairway bunkers. Playing to this side far left side takes the mound on the green out of play. However, the green sits almost straight down the right side tree line. This, in addition to the hole being shorter on this line, sucks almost everyone to driving down the right side of the hole. While it is a club or two shorter the approach shot is much more difficult because of the large fronting mound. This hole doesn't sound anything like #1 to me.
Hole #3
This is a short par 4. Typically I lay up with a hybrid and have a wedge or sand wedge to the green. The green sits at fairway level in the front. On the left is a deep green side bunker. On the right is a shallower bunker. Over the green is a steep drop off. The green tilts significantly from back to front and left to right. The left to right tilt is missed by almost everyone since you can't see it from even a distance, but it plays an important role in the hole's play. Very few people miss to the right of the green. I think this is because they can't see what is over there and typically at #2 that scares you off. So people often miss in the deeper greenside bunker on the left and then have to play downhill rather than missing in the shallower greenside bunker on the right and playing uphill. The green has the most internal movement of any of the first four greens. It took me hundreds of rounds over many years to finally figure it out. Prior to figuring it out I rarely made birdie on the hole, but now I have a much better chance. This is a true skyline green, which was improved dramatically before the first U.S. Open as several tall pine trees behind the green were removed. This made back pin placements very scary to hit to. Off the tee there a couple of fairway bunkers left as well as out of bounds and to the right is a waste area. The ideal angle into the green is from as close to the waste area as possible. This doesn't sound anything like holes 1 or 2 to me.
Hole #4
Par 5 of around 500 yards. While the tee shot is slightly downhill, the landing area is an up slope. From the white tees it is easily reachable, perhaps with an iron for me. From the blue tees I have reached it but it is typically with a 3-wood. Drive down the left and you layup can be blind, but this shortens the hole. The green flows down the hillside from the right and meshes in seamlessly. It is raised up in the front and back left. There is bunker short right as well as a bunker running the full left side of the green. The green tilts from back right to front left but it is not angle to any degree. The left side of the green is relatively flat. Anywhere short or left of the middle of the green is the best spot to miss. Again, this doesn't sound anything like the first 3 holes.
I'll leave my hole descriptions here, but #5 is an all-world par 4. An absolutely tremendous whole that must be feared even though no water comes into play (and the OB really doesn't either unless you can shank your driver).
I think many of us are guilty of playing a course once and drawing conclusions. I've learned a lot from this sight regarding a course I've played maybe once or twice by reading the thoughts of people who have played the course many, many times. Any well designed course has intricacies that must be learned over time.
Now Pinehurst certainly has its problems. It's expensive, but not much more so than Pebble, Kohler, or Bandon (comparable resorts). Plus you can be a member at Pinehurst, which is very, very cheap to do. Also, the fairways, playing angles and rough lines (and consequently the strategy) were destroyed by the first two U.S. Opens. Hopefully Coore and Crenshaw bring that back and the resort doesn't lose them again. Just as importantly the course has generally been in poor condition the last 5-10 years. The entire course is kept way too soft. The greens have been somewhat overrun by poa. And, overseeding I think has generally resulted in poorer playing conditions. Given these problems I would certainly be underwhelmed if I played the course just once. But if the playing angles are restored and firm and fast conditions brought back then there is no doubt in my mind that Pinehurst is one of the truly greatest course I've ever played. It is full of strategy, tests virtually every iron in my bag each round, requires a deft touch around the green, and makes sure you are comfortable making 6-8 footers for par (it's rare to leave a tap-in once you've missed the green).