I didn't realize that Tuxedo had an early "Alps", but know that Ardsley also had one by 1896.
These concept holes based on great holes overseas were clearly known to many in the early game in America, both because of the early overseas professionals but also because of men like Alex Findlay. Also, many of the early American golfers made pilgrimages overseas, and were familiar with the great courses simply from having played them.
Some would have us believe that only Charles Macdonald had and could dispense that type of knowledge, but that is far from the truth.
Instead, Macdonald's unique and brilliant notion was simply to try and place 18 great holes on a single course. Even the best courses abroad only had a handful of holes universally acknowledged as "great".