Besides the fact that trees are coming down, news of McBroom's work at Mt. Bruno concerns me as well.
McBroom has a reputation of putting his own mark on existing courses.
He's very, very convincing (to some) in paying lip-service to the master architects of yesteryear, but his own work, particularly on aged layouts, doesn't reflect the admiration he claims to hold for guys like Park and Stanley Thompson.
See the green that he rebuilt at Kitchener, Ontario's Westmount -- a fantastic Thompson layout. And also Ottawa Hunt, an old Park, Jr. layout that McBroom completely remodeled, but labelled as a restoration. Ottawa Hunt looks like a brand new McBroom course.
I heard a funny story from Vernon Macan's biographer, Mike Riste: a few years ago, McBroom came to Vancouver to remodel the Langara municipal golf course, a 1925 layout that Macan considered to be one of his very best.
During two community meetings about the proposed work, McBroom was trying to praise Macan and his work, but continually pronounced his name "McCain".
For the record, it's Ma-Can.
Granted the course lost a significant amount of land just prior to the remodeling, nonetheless Langara looks like Tom McBroom today. There's nothing left to suggest Macan had anything to do with it.
These days, the old world charm that courses like Langara and, even moreso, Mt. Bruno possess is invaluable. I wish all such older clubs had the gumption to do what's right; to restore and preserve their original designs.
Oh well...
I suspect Mt. Bruno will have Tom McBroom "written all over it" when the work is complete.
But Ran's correct in asking what McBroom's "marching orders" from the club were. If they wanted a remodeling, all the power to them. (I just can't believe they would!) If not, I'll feel bad for them if indeed Mt. Bruno loses it's old world charm.