Tim,
Most of the sandbelt clubs are subject to the same pressures as any organisation. There are issues which arise over time which lead to good and bad decisions.
I don't entirely agree with Chris that the sandbelt courses were significantly better 50 years ago. For instance, the quality of playing conditions is vastly superior on all courses to that even 20 years ago. I suppose it's open to debate whether this makes a course better. Personally, I think that most courses are better for the fact that you have top quality putting surfaces and you don't hit off a bare lie from the middle of the fairway or a tuft of weed. Courses are generally better presented these days. At the same time, you don't want courses manicured and watered to an extent that they don't reflect the natural feel that sandbelt courses exude or which removes the hard, fast conditions for which sandbelt courses are renowned.
On the flip side, some courses have made alterations which have detracted from the standard of those layouts.
I think you have to look at the history of many of the clubs to see why many are now in their current predicament.
1. Most sandbelt clubs did not have truckloads of money when they formed and most still don't. Many rose to prominence on the back of their membership base, which still remains the key to their survival. Golf is still relatively cheap in Australia. However, the traditional clubs in the last 20 years have faced competition from corporate-driven golf developments, mostly on the Mornington Peninsula. The developments can throw huge amounts of money into top quality courses and slick marketing which attracted members away from the traditional clubs. The layouts are necessarily any better but the playing conditions, the 19th hole facilities and the "grass is always greener over the fence" mentality posed and is still posing a threat to the extistence of traditional sandbelt clubs. As a result, committees make decisions which might be in the clubs' or the members' interests (or just due to financial pressures) which aren't always in the best interests of their course from an architectural viewpoint.
To give you an idea, in the last 15 years around Melbourne there have been at least 10 courses opened or about to open (eg, 72 holes at The National/Cape Schanck, 36 holes at Moonah Links, The Dunes, 13th Beach, 36 holes at The Heritage) which have the quality to pose a direct threat to the membership bases of the 12 sandbelt clubs and also the corporate/trade dollar which many now rely upon to stay financially viable. These new courses are usually prospectus membership courses (where membership is tradeable) or pay for play. For the local golfer the plethora of golf courses is fantastic. The increased competition has forced up membership fees dramatically at the second tier and non-sandbelt clubs. Many member golfers are now saying, "Why am I paying ever-increasing subscriptions to play one club when I have such a choice of courses?". Clubs are now being threatened with extinction if they don't act. The question is, how to act?.
In 2000 in Golf Australia's list of the top 25 courses, Mike Clayton said, "Within five years, I expect this list will look considerably different and many of our established courses will have to truly exploit their potential if they wish to remain amongst our best". True. The problem is how to exploit that potential. Many clubs just don't have the financial resources to do it without jacking up fees and thus losing members - a vicious cycle. Rich exclusive clubs like RM, KH and Victoria which have good layouts, great reputation and 20 year waiting lists don't have many worries. They maintain the standard of their courses and remain at the top of the rankings. The next level down have big concerns as they continue to slide down the rankings.
2. Most of the sandbelt clubs were born 50-75 years ago on wide open land. Today those courses are feeling the pressure of the urban sprawl in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs, which has forced course changes. Yarra Yarra, Spring Valley and Kingswood spring to mind. Huntingdale has had flooding issues which forced some of its changes (the fact that it is the only Australian course being exposed annually to tournament golf has also led to changes). I'd envisage that some clubs may have water storage issues in years to come.
3. Just like every other course, the advancement is equipment and ball technology has placed pressure on committees to maintain the challenge their course presents to today's players.
I think those are just a few of the issues facing the sandbelt clubs. However, don't get the wrong idea. Most of the problems can be fixed because the base is still there (sort like a priceless painting which can be restored). Even with the problems at some clubs, the standard of Melbourne's courses is almost unrivalled anywhere. The beauty of the sandbelt is that there are 10-12 top golf courses within 20 minutes of each other. Golfing heaven!