If you listened to Zinger and Faxon OH's could hold the open tomorrow. The questions is what kind of course do you want to play.
Ross's staggered bunkering pattern would allow for bunkers out of play in 1918 to be in play today. Its also about using the existing ridges and hills for bunker placement i.e. #11 vs the Jones family moving bunkers per driving yardages and creating "fake" ridges. I still think that much comes down to trees. The group on the hill on 12 that Carlson got behind twice would become bunkers similar to the Ross plan posted above. Standing on the upper tee on 9 you notice how the green side bunkers have slowly become separate and distinct entities as opposed to the green set in a sea of sand as Ross designed. Those forward bunkers might not be in play but they create the illusion from the low back right tee of hitting to a flag set in sand rather than a distinct green with bunkers to avoid. (sorry Phil, but Tillinghast be damned in this case)
For those who speak of spending other people's money, I agree. However a "local" who has attended every tournament since 1961 and played the course as a guest and now as a member of the Michigan Seniors Golf Association, Oakland Hills is "our" course that represents Michigan and midwest golf to the world. For many seeing OH's on the tube every 8-9 years is Detroit golf. The club asks a lot of its membership, but also the community and taxpayers when these events come. So the community has an financial and reputaional stake in the club even if we're not dues paying members. Certainly local clubs and the GAM provide volunteers, but also ask the Bloomfield Hills members about the use of their practice tee for the tournament.
Oakland Hills when hosting "majors" affects, in a positive way, the entire region. We all are a part of the bragging rights of having such a facility in our larger community.
Anthony
Anthony