Pat, they were as expert as they could be with a field of GCA only 10 years or so old, here! By 1910 or so, Bende had about 150 golf courses under his belt. He, and a very few other Scots, had old world experience. They were the only ones a neophyte like HIW could turn to for expert advise.
While playing as capt. of the golf team in about 1900, don't you think those fresh young American college boys were in awe of the old Scots that seemed to belong to the game, brought it here from the old country, and taught it to them? Don't you think a fellow like HIW had 'plenty' of conversations with Bende and others about the origins of the game, and how to bring it to more places in America, during his playing competitive as early as 1900? I'm only guessing, but I would think that the primary subject of conversations with the old Scots from the likes of HIW were about the ways to hit shots, then legend and lore of knowing old Tom and playing with him on TOC, and the old legend in their yout, before they came across the great water. These conversations were probably lubricated with plenty of Scotch. Don't you think that once they got around to discussing how to build more courses here, the young American Ams were all in the dark, so they could only ask the old Scots, who could only tell them about problems and techniques they recently developed on the very few efforts to build courses here that they had in America. They could warn them of the pitfalls, but would probably tell them that the best way to understand much of this was to go to the old country and have a look. And, make sure you have "experts" to help you translate your ideas!