Patrick,
I think it's to thwart those whippersnappers that come to play their course from time to time. Seriously, around where I live, there seems to be a fascination with a courses reputation for being difficult. But, I have seem from time to time courses being softend. I know a few members at The Farms at Rancho Santa Fe, a Pete Dye design, and they brought Fought and Lehman in to make it easier beacuse the original was just too tough for them. Now I know that's an exception to the rule, but it's interesting that that's where Mickelson does most of his playing when he's at home as well as Paulson, John Schroeder and others. But I couldn't agree w/ you more, there seems to be an obsession w/ alot of members of clubs to have this fearsome rep of "toughest course around".