Tom:
You make a very good point. In doing the restoration at Charles River we knew the 18th hole had been redesigned from a 370 yard dogleg left, with a pond at the dogleg, to the 435 yard hole we have today.
The redesign was done by Donald Ross within a couple of years of opening the Club.
In doing the restoration consideration (albeit brief) was given to restoring the dogleg left over the pond.
Substantial research by Paul Murphy found that the hole was redesigned because the pond kept flooding out and making the hole unplayable.
Having an understanding of why the change was made initially is a good idea.
In our situation we would not have gone back to the old 18th hole design, in any case, as the hole is currently a very strong, par 4, finishing hole. Among the better in New England. But knowing why the change was made, how it was done and who designed it, etc. was an absolutely worthwhile process.
It also adds a little to the history of the Club.
Best,
Dave