Tom's reply #39 was wonderful for his (usual) direct response. The quote that caught my eye was "as best we could do with the information we have." That is the catch.
I've been to (not played) Camargo and besides walking the course (after Tom's efforts) I was shown a few drawings on the pro shop wall including one with Raynor's name on it. I don't know what else TD had to work with, but an overall drawing is a great start as it usually shows bunkers, fairway outlines, as well as green and tee locations, and possibly contours, depending on scale. If there are detailed green drawings, identified as Raynor's (or Ross', or Mackenzie's) so much the better.
Our course at Port Huron (MI) is very lucky to have eight detailed drawings by Alison showing nine greens and 3 C&A prints showing three more greens. Twelve total. Unfortunately as a member at the time said " C&A would lay out the PH 18-hole course for an extremely reasonable fee." Because of this "ggod deal" Alison did only the green sketches, not an overall plan. On the positive side he came first in the fall to route the course through the woods and across Bendelow's original nine with stakes and chalk lines. The following spring he spent 3-5 days on site providing the architectural features and the eight gorgeous sketches. The problem today is that the first aerial photos of the PH area are the Detroit Edison Company's 1937 flyover. That was 17 years after the routing and 15 years after the construction, and it also covered the depressions when we know bunkers disappeared and greens were reduced to circles.
These early aerials help more with appreciating tree growth than anything else, and do pick up a couple of the filled in bunkers due to the war that followed. Whether this information can be "sold" to the members as important has been frustrating. However, I'm very envious when I see a Milwaukee or Camargo with an "original" architect's full routing plan, whether or not it was actually carried out at the time.
Thanks again to Tom for his contributions to this site and his straight forward method of communication.
Tony