It's not clear that AWT made those statements about Macdonald in 1913 - unless "Hazard" and "Far and Sure" are the same writer. In the Jan 1913 issue of American Golfer, it's the columnist "Far and Sure" that makes comments about the new course at Merion. It's interesting that for several months the column on E. PA golf is written by F&S, not Hazard. Maybe someone knows why this is so - or maybe AWT used different pseudonms so his views couldn't be tracked so easily.
As early as Dec, 1910, Hazard wote that Merion purchased the land for the course and that R.E. Griscom from Merion hosted C.B. Macdonald and H.J. Whigham who both viewed "the new land to be admirably suited to the requirements of the game."
In May, 1911, Hazard gives an update:
"The new course of the Merion Cricket Club is nearing completion in the planning. During the month Mr. Chas. B. Macdonald and Mr. H. J. Whigham, who have been aiding the committee, visited the course and expressed themselves as being greatly pleased over the prospects. Mr. Macdonald said that in his opinion, seven of the holes equaled any in his country, and as our first national champion has played over most of the links, this statement from him should cause much satisfaction."
Hazard stopped writing for a few months and in Oct 1912, just after Merion opened, F&S made a report after opening day.
He said the course was "constructed under the direction of Hugh I. Wilson, H. G. Lloyd, R. E. Griscom, R. S. Francis, and H. Toulmin."
and
"Some of the famous holes abroad have been reproduced and the course abounds in water and road hazards, although many of the pits and traps remain to be built."
Hazard returned to AG in Dec, 1912, but said nothing about Merion.
Then, in Jan, 1913, F&S reported that he played a couple of rounds with Howard Perrin and Hugh Willoughby and reported
"Two years ago, Mr. Chas. B. Macdonald, who had been of great assistance in an advisory way, told me that Merion would have one of the best inland courses he had ever seen..."
"To my way of thinking, some of the greens would be better if they were more undulating, but on the whole, they are very satisfactory... It is too early to attempt an analytical criticism of the various holes for many of them are but rough drafts of the problems conceived by the construction committee headed by Mr. Hugh I. Wilson . Mr. Wilson visited many prominent British courses last summer, searching for ideas, many of which he used. For example, an attempt to reproduce the Eden green at St. Andrews has been made on the 15th and in my opinion, it has resulted in one of the few failures. The hole in question is a two-shotter and the sloping green is so keen and barren of undulations that the player is forced to 'skittle' his approach in fear of getting above the hole. Many of the imported ideas of hazard formation are good, and the grassy hollows of Mid Surrey have been well introduced. On some of the sand mounds I noticed the growing of something which looked suspiciously like the bents of Touquet. However, I think the very best holes at Merion are those which are original, without any attempt to closely follow anything obvious. The 7th, 12th, and 16th are gems. The 7th naturally demands an accurately placed drive or the pitch from the left can be very trying. I am told that there have been some objections to the 12th and this should immediately stamp it as a good one.... Other holes, even in their present condition are good. The 3rd is a fine drive, the 9th is another; the 10th is very interesting and likewise the 13th, although the green for the latter may possibly be a trifle large for the length. The 14th offers a corking dog-leg drive of the road. But the 16th! - it is the 16th which especially appeals and lasts longest in the memory."
The critique sounds like it could have come from AWT.
This material from AG is all very interesting but pretty inconclusive as far as CBM's role in the design. My reading of it suggests that the AG writer(s) felt that Wilson and his committee were primarily responsible for the design. CBM's visit in May, 1911, during the planning stage, seems to have been to validate the plan that Wilson had developed.