So BR asked me in the wings how sure I was that Tull did changes, why its not a true Tillie, etc... so I went looking.
Honestly, when I made the statement, I relied primarily on Bill Quirin's fine Golf Clubs of the MGA book (1997) which put Tull changes in the 50s (1952?) + my own light poking more than 15 years ago + anecdotal exchanges over the years... Quirin doesn't scratch the surface...
The short story is that the course now gone was/is absolutely no Tillie...the holes of the 2017 last version that can truly be said to be Tillie (routed-similar) holes are the current 1 (always 1), 7, 8, 9 (his 16, 17, 18 mostly)10 (always), 11, 12 (barely his 14th, 15th) 13, (his 11th), 14 (his 4th), 17 (his 2nd - sorta) 18 (his 3rd)...that's 11 holes of routing/general size...and two are a real stretch; none have but a bunker "area" that's the same, not to mention fine details, a near complete absence of trees, and much easier green-tee walks...
The long story is that this golf property was first called Pelhamhurst (ca.?...at least pre-25) and it was a really antiquey 18 (not 9 as Quirin intones)...there's a great 1926 shot of it available through the Westchester County archives, which might be catching it the moment before Tillinghast is brought in.
Then organized as Elmwood and Tillie makes his course...knowing the property as I do and matching it with the aerial perspective, you find a signatory gem...replete with the connected fairways...dramatic bunkering...and varied green margins...sensible routing detail (tees to greens)...the 1940 and 1954 aerials are a great capture of this Tillie course...which would be a crying shame if this were the course now lost to____fill in your word_____________.
Somewhere between 1954 - 1960 (when Quirin says a new clubhouse was built) Tull (or somebody) changed the course forever...new property was bought in the eastern end, Tillinghast's short par 4 8th and par 3 9th were lost to the driving range and clubhouse facility expansion...an entirely new (current) 2nd, 4th, 5th, 16th, holes were created, while the current 6th, 11th, 12th and 15th holes were lifted from, effectively killing, Tillie's 12 and 13 and most of his 14th and 15th... and his 6th (the area of #3) and 7th (gone,and whose green was left of the current 2nd tee) holes are played in the opposite direction....
Then the power lines came through that eastern section of the course...
I'd love to put up the 1926, 1940, 1954, and 1960 aerials, but right now I have not the competence.
But that's the poop and the whole poop and nothing but the poop...
cheers vk