My understanding was that they originally planned to remove the pond on 18 entirely -- they filled it in at the driving range.
I don't know if that was ever the plan or if it was just a rumor, but it's absolutely what they should have done. The older version of the hole would have been better without the pond, and new version seems even worse with the expanded water, especially for the regular player.
I'm planning to get out there at some point this fall and see it in person, though.