Bii:
In most cases the fariways on #2 will be 20-30 yards wider than before due to the fact that the rough (grass rough, that is) is being totally eliminated. There is definitely more room to drive it in the fairwary, but if you hit down the edges of the fairway, there will be no rough to keep the ball out of the sand and wire grass. I think most pretty good players will find it easier to play off the sand than from the bermuda rough that was there before. The wire grass, however, is another story.
They have removed hundreds of sprinkler heads. As Steve suggested, the centerline irrigation l is intended to avoid irrigating the sandy waste and to minimize the growth or weeds in the sand (other than the wire grass, which definitly qualifies as a "weed" if you are in it!).
I also celebrate the decision to discontinue overseeding on #2. That is a pretty bold step since almost all resort courses in the South overseed to appeal to guests from the norh, who seem to be turned off by the look of dormant bermuda. Most of us in the South grew up playing on dormant bermuda in the winter and prefer it. The only problem is if it stays wet for long periods, not much of a problem in the NC Sandhills.
Regarding the Pit: It is not clear yet what Mr. Dedmon plans to do with it. I have to believe he bought it for a song. He may have just be concerned about what another buyer would do and how that might effect the value of the hundreds of acres he owns next door. Presumably he will spend some money on it and add it to the Pinehurst Resort portfolio. Who knows, maybe he will plow it under and just combine the property with his neighboring tract to bring his total in that area to 900+ acres. He might just sit on it for a few years and wait for a better opportunity for the total parcel. In any case, he can probably bring the course up to a decent standard a lot cheaper than building a new Rees Jones course, which was the plan a few years ago.
Jim