No, Campbell did not do anything to the course. West Newton and Brookline are rather close, with similar membership at that time. It is very plausible he came to simply, play an exhibition match. Wasn't he a working pro?
There was only one 9 hole lay out, used from 1897, untill 1902/03.
The original six hole course, used approx. 1893-1895, played across Commonwealth Ave, on two occasions, with the other holes lying beside it. Yes the carriages would be going by with golf balls sailing over. The grounds used were their own properties. John Pushee, Henry B. Day's, are two that are named.
In 1895, a year after the formation of the USGA, these gentleman began organizing what would become known as Brae Burn. In April of 1897, the club began constructing, "a very simple nine-hole "links" on part of the land we now own adjacent to Fuller Street" (Brae Burn 50 year anniversary, and Brae Burn Centennial book), which was ready in May of that year. I imagine this would be the Phelps lay out.
The plot of land referred to above, is the Bacon land, originally owned by William F. Bacon. This land provided just about all of the land needed for the 9 hole course. It was leased by the club from Mr. Bacon in 1897, and purchased the land outright in 1911, with some additional land that the club had been using at that time. Mr. Bacon's son, William H., is listed as a full member in the 1936 Directory.
I would guess that the news article says "permanent links", due to the fact that only two years prior, had Brae Burn changed from a loose organization of sporting gentleman playing a lawn game, to a fully organized and established club, now with a permanent home for theirs and their futures enjoyment