As much as I prefer a treeless canvas, I fear many don't realize that many of these holes/courses being discussed actually used these trees as a Motiff, a theme. Therefore they are integral to their designs.
@ BWR The original River config used them sparingly, then the Meadow nine started to use them more. (The goal posts on #5) Then the final nine holes added (5-13 on the current river) used them almost exclusively to all sorts of affect. The look on #9 sets-up the look for the 13th. The par 5 #11 uses them on both sides to frame and dictae both vertical and horizontial strategies.
In a way, looking at the old photos of Pebble Beach, the framing was there, and it was the trees that caused most of it.
Shiv said;
I still can't get over those goalpost trees, though. Just silly.
That may be true, but the old 18th had trees just on the coast, really framing the tee shot.
I liked the new green. It played quite nastily from the left bunker, which is where I pulled my second shot into. I had a surprisingly devilish time getting my 3rd close from there to a right/middle pin.
I particularly liked the new green on 15, which had just opened up the day before. It played very nicely.
Dave- The left bunker was always a nasty up and down, on #2. The difference I see from photos is the extention of both side bunkers, to intrude, in the front, on the apron. Removing the option for a run-up, and making the approach decision less tempting. Before, the perfect shot hit right where that left isde bunker now wraps into the front. Especially with my fade, and the raised backside of the left side bunker, allowed the ball to feed to the right and onto the green.
Shiv-could you please describe both the second and fifteenth new greens, a little more vividly, please? The old second was peanut shaped, with the backside of the rightside bunker causing the dominant hump, that through your ball to the left, up the hill. While the elongated leftside bubker threw the ball right. The green was up hill to the rear, but only slightly.
The old 15th was more T shaped with the front narrower than the back and the front bunkers backsides, effected the ball counter intuiitively. The old green had a subtley severe slope to the ocean, and from back to front. The rear bunkers were real genius, did they remain?