I'm trying to do my part to keep this term "maintenance meld" up front in our lexicon, because it really does bring to mind a concept of style and design married in a harmony that creates enjoyable golf experiences. No place says "maintenace meld" more to me than the presentation of the classic courses we get to see in Australia. Unfortunately, I haven't seen or played them personally, so I have to go by the photos and TV. But, would anyone argue that the manner of course maintenance and conditioning at places like Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria and the like are not instantly recognizable? I know that many of our Aussie contributors have lamented that there is the trend in their country (as there is worldwide) to lean towards more green and lush course presentation at the old venues and new construction efforts. But still, what we see on TV this time of year are clearly courses that are maintained firm, fast, and less fertilized, with those distinctive bunkers edged with 8"-1' spaded lips - sharp as a razor, often cut up to putting surfaces or inside fairways mowed right up to them, while maintanined native-scruffy on the outward rough facing edges. The raking flat of flashed faces and tine raked bottoms are also somewhat unique. I do think that the "look" is due obviously to the design style to place the bunkers and surrounds hollow where they are, but also to then maintain them in a sort of traditional method that seems to be passed down by superintendents there.
So my questions are: what modern era courses in the US and Europe have the design features that could be presented by changes in maintenance practices to emulate the maintenance meld that we enjoy in traditional Australian golf courses? Which architects tend to provide the placement and grading surrounds of their bunkers and greens and fairway rolls and bunker sites to "meld" with that style of maintenance? Would more presentations like that be accepted in US and/or Europe?