Mark:
The very first consulting job I interviewed for was at a great, historic course, and I learned a valuable lesson.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect in the way of suggestions from the committee, but as we were walking the course, the green chairman told me about the architect they had interviewed the week before, who had asked him what changes they most wanted to make so he could agree with those, hoping to win the job by being the most agreeable candidate. The green chairman told me succinctly that was the end of that candidate, and that the club was looking for someone who could tell them the right thing to do, not the other way around.
Of course, the members of a club know their course better over time than any architect will ever know it, and it's very important to listen to them about how the present course works in play -- filtering out, of course, their own personal prejudices over certain features which cause them the most trouble. Personally, though, I would prefer if they waited to offer their ideas of design solutions to these issues until I had a chance to think about it for myself for a while. My value as a consultant is partly because I'm an outsider with a fresh perspective on the situation, who isn't stuck in the same rut they are.
I don't disagree with Paul and with Kelly that members sometimes make great suggestions, and it's important to keep an open mind to good ideas no matter where they come from: I learned that from Pete Dye a long time ago. But, we architects sometimes make great suggestions too, and I've been to more than one club where they were unwelcome because they differed from the green chairman's idea.