Dutch Elm desease was a buzz kill in Illinois. I miss the trees of my 6000 yd home course. Yes it is too easy now, last year I was under par for the year on that course playing every round in competition. No matter how short, or how straight, or how flat a course may be a number of specimen trees can make a shot maker out of any of us.
I can online assume the course hasn't been allowed to firm up sufficiently. I used to work and play at a course with few trees, green fairways and not much more 5,800 yards of golf course. It was only really enjoyable during a long hot summer with zero irrigation. Blame the sprinkler heads John, although I'm guessing you were in a tiny minor of players who genuinely find it too easy now.