Does the TK rule of "length + 1 + tip" hold for surf rods, set up spinning, with about 2 feet from end of butt to reel seat? I'm assuming NC layout.

If you use the New Guide Concept system, then yes, you'll find that to be about right. Only difference might be on very, very heavy surf sticks where you can space the running guides (those past the intersect guide) a bit farther apart. In which case you may find that the better number is the number of feet, minus one, plus the tiptop. So a 10 foot rod done that way would use 9 guides plus a tiptop. The long, heavy surf rods are really about the only cut and dried exception to the rule of thumb but you can just go one the other way and you'll find yourself just about on the money again.

By the way, you don't need to call it my rule - although it's one that I've found to be about right, more than a few other rod builders have also used this same rule of thumb for an awful lot of years.

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My 1508 Alstar has 6 and a tip,starts with a 40mm. Using a Shimano 6500 Baitrunner