Sean,
plan is to make the course firm and fast, and I'm sure Rhys (course manager) will get it there. He and I both know Neil Baker of LA very well and are on the same page when it comes to trying to get the course to be fast and firm. One difference between LA and Blackwell is that Blackwell is virtually all on clayish soil, compared to sand at LA, which makes the job of making Blackwell firm a bit harder than at LA, but not impossible (look at Walton Heath which is clay).
on hole 9 nothing will happen in the near future, but maybe in the longer term the club will spend the money to fill part of the pond back in. Raising the green will not happen, that would be even more expensive than filling in part of the pond, plus I am not in favor of further mocking about with original Simpson greens if I can avoid it... in that case I would rather lower the water in the pond, which should be easy since it is higher that fairway 8....
Glad you like the clearing and short grass behind 13. Much more of that type of changes to be coming in the next years.