Tom Mac,
You stated, "No one has challenged the existence of 'amateur' architects, some of the greatest architects of all time were amateurs, including CBM, Colt, Fowler, Alison, Tillinghast and Emmet..."
Am I correct in assuming that you mean he was an amateur player who was a professional architect? Tilly was paid for his very first design at Shawnee and from then on...
Actually that is what the amateur during these years was all about. The USGA chose a stance declaring that amateur players who were PAID for course design or construction work should be considered professional and not amateur golfers.
Yes, they were amateur golfers. All the architects I mentioned were paid with the possible exception of CBM.