Howard:
You probably got that idea from "Dream Golf", which detailed Mr. Keiser's admiration for C & C when he was building Bandon Dunes. I believe it referenced his thoughts that, based on his love of Sand Hills, he always wanted C & C to design one of his golf courses. However, I don't ever remember reading that he offered the job for any of the 4 courses to anyone other than the people who designed them.
Tom:
I understand your point and I would imagine that you don't write a book like Confidential Guide without having that opinion.
First, I agree that this is all opinion. In fact, I usually don't discount any positive or negative opinions on golf courses - as I have a fairly wide range of appreciation for golf courses - as I said. I just think some opinions are so crazy as to be unreasonable and not worth discussion, especially when the opinion is supposed to be from someone that is used to determine the ratings in a national magazine. When a person with some knowledge about the topic says that Bandon Trails should be "bulldozed", I personally think that is so crazy as to be completely discounted all together. If his opinion was that Bandon Trails is the worst course at Bandon or not worthy of top 100 status or needed some renovations, fine - I disagree, but that is opinion. To say it needs bulldozing is that it has no merit, which I cannot believe that even you will defend.
To your second point that all great golf courses turn off some people, I also agree. My favorite MacKenzie story concerned his reaction to the immediate acclaim for Cypress Point. As MacKenzie wrote in "The Spirit of St. Andrews", after Hunter reported that "Everyone without exception thinks that Cypress Point is the best in the United States. There is not a word of hostile criticism", MacKenzie wrote back and asked him what was wrong with the course and was actually disturbed at the lack of criticism. I know that I am not telling you anything, but I just love that story.
I fully understand opinions contrary to my own. I have a wife and 5 kids - I have no choice. I just believe that there has to be some reason for the opinion so as to have merit and be worthy of consideration. Bulldozing Bandon Trails in my humble opinion has no reason.
As always though, thanks Tom for your thoughts. Your knowledge on the topic and willingness to share your opinions, even at my expense, are what makes this site special.