Dale and Tony,
As I recall, criticism of a number of Macan's greens at Shaughnessy started from the very beginning; and, of course, Macan was quick to react to that criticism. I don't have access to my files (or Mike's book) at the moment, but Macan was quoted defending many of those fall-away greens at Shaughnessy shortly after the course opened for play. Tony's right, too, that certain PGA Tour pros were quite critical of a number of greens there during the 1966 Canadian Open. Four years later greens reconstruction started.
This reminds me of Macan's old 12th green at Victoria, which also pitched away from the fairway. In conversations there, I've learned that the problem was, basically, the approach area. The Pacific Northwest receives quite a bit of rain, as we know. This makes it difficult to consistently maintain firm approach areas without significant drainage in place. Installation of wall-to-wall watering systems complicates the matter. I hear the approach at Victoria's old 12th green was nearly always much softer than the putting surface. Balls landing short of the putting surface - where, I'm sure, Macan wanted properly played approach shots to pitch - rarely jumped onto the green; and, if a ball hit the green it would almost always roll over the back.
Seems to be a maintenance issue rather than an architectural one, perhaps. If the approach is firm, this is a very interesting shot to play. If the approach is too often too soft, it sucks. Hence, the old 12th green at Victoria was wiped out during the mid-1980s.