Neil,
Very cool! Just imagine what those guys were talking about over some Scotch whiskey! Were they concerned about how the "long ball" was going to influence course architecture in the future? How to deal with drainage issues? Did they talk about bunker styles, bunker placement, etc.? I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall.
I have recently been re-reading "The Toronto Terror" by James A. Barclay on the Life and Times of Stanley Thompson. In that book, there are references to Harry Colt and his concept that:
" . . penal holes, if not entirely abandoned, should at least make up the minority of the holes on a golf course".
He elaborated and took up a quote from Colt in support of this proposition at page 108.
Going further, and considering the possible collaboration of Thompson and Dr. Mackenzie, Barclay said at p. 111"
""A footnote: While Thompson may not have met Alister McKenzie when Thompson was in Britain during and just after the First World War, the two met when MacKenzie made several visits to Canada, usually with the British Senior's team playing in the triangular team matches against the US and Canada."
It then went on to speak of the architects setting up the International Association of Golf Architects.
From the MacKenzie and Thompson courses I have seen, there are similarities. The bunker styles are similar as are the greens. The latter are not severe but have subtle undulations.
Just think about what those two discussed when they were over a beer!