Lou, I do like facts. It is fairly well known from many studies that human beings are compelled to return favors when they are given one. Human minds are very well in tune with building harmonious society, and this is just one of those traits that we have evolved over millenia.
I am sure Mr. Rich did not ask for any pro-quid-pro, but he didn't have to. He knew that by bestowing such attention and generosity, those favors would come back to him. He may not even be conscientiously doing it, it may be just something he learned over many years of business dealings. Marketers are well aware of this phenomena, which is why you see those free samples at Costco and loss leader pricing for special items.
Do you believe Rich Harvest is a top 50 course?
And you should know that I have a very strong love/hate relationship with that hole 
I am THRILLED that I actually parred that hole for once. But I came right back with an X, which is more of my norm.
Rich,
In a prior life, I was one of the undergraduates who did much of the grunt work for highly-regarded PhDs in the social psych dept of a major research institution. Next to working for a large bible church and being paid for talking about Jesus all day long, I can't think of a more satisfying job than concocting research findings so that other smart people can source them and feel good about what they know. But perhaps I am a just a contrarian who believes that human beings are way too complicated to be pigeon-holed so easily.
As a business planner early in my career with a world-class consumer products company, I also came to realize very quickly that much of what I learned in B-school was only marginally useful. To understand the hugely multi-variate motivations driving human behavior, one had to go well beyond linear programming, multiple regression analysis, Nielsen summaries, or coupon redemption rates. Unfortunately, these complicated factors are seldom within easy reach of those who synthesize the data for the popular press or even the academic journals. I did get a kick once, awhile ago, when one of my old research profs wrote to the Wall Street Journal noting that recognition studies (of television commercials) did not inform on actual "pull off the shelves" (buying) behavior- a kind of an "A Ha" moment, no doubt, in his otherwise Pavlovian world-view. But I digress (and I do need to get started on my favorite thing- my income tax return- prior to leaving for some more golf and R & R next week).
Jerry Rich allowing me to play his course for "free" had no more of an impact on my estimation of Rich Harvest than paying $180 each to play 36 holes at Pac Dunes and Old Mac did a couple of weeks ago. In fact, when considering flights, room, food, and time, the social psychology literature might suggest the opposite- we tend to esteem the things we pay more for higher than those free or of lower cost (a reason we tend to appreciate things we earn or work hard for as opposed to gifts, common goods, or easy accomplishments). Not being a national rater currently, I'd have to go back an look at my files, but I don't know if I had Rich Harvest in my top 50. Top 100 that I've played? For sure.
Re: Pac Dunes #16, I made an easy par on my last round there. I still have not parred 17 (bogie out of the front bunker), and barely finished on 18 with an 8, again! That is a most difficult finish for a golf course I never considered particularly hard.