This has been a very enjoyable thread to read.
I don't think that anyone has mentioned Bill Bergin yet. Bill was a tour player for a few years in the mid-80's, then apprenticed with Bob Cupp. He has now done a number of renovations, as well as several new projects, and has three or four courses under construction at this point. Most are in Alabama and Tennessee, but some of the new stuff is in Indiana as well.
I was fortunate enough to play at Bill's first full design, the Auburn University Club in Ala. twice, the second time with Bill. I think the course is just excellent in every way. Its been open now for about three years, and the course is a lot of fun to play. About 7300 from the tips, with a 6700 set of tees that are still an excellent test of golf. If any of you have had the chance to play there, or any of Bill's other projects, I'd love to hear what you think. I think that his work at Auburn is very much in keeping with traditional design; multiple ways to play most holes, good risk/reward shot values, no funky mounding, etc.. The course will be hosting several tournaments in upcoming months (a PGA section event, and a major women's collegiate event) and I hope that exposure will be good for his work.
It has to be tough for a talented individual to break in to this business with the money involved and the pressure on developers to hire a "name." Not to rehash old news, but after seeing what $8.5 million got my alma mater, UNC, from TF, "names" don't carry the weight with me that they once did!