I just spent a few days playing Deal and I can say that Peter Dawson recently visited the course and from what I was told, he came away very impressed. He believes there is enough space to host a major event at the club (some members think there is not enough space) and whether an Open will be forecoming remains to be seen.. It would be at least 2011 before that happens but I do think the club is being considered.. As Hoylake did with holding an British Amateur I think Deal will likely get a Walker Cup or Ladies/Senior Open as a test to see if the Open Championship should return. Of course, another Amateur could be in the cards as well.
Working with Donald Steel, the course currently is 7,000 yards but can be stretched to 7380 yards or so.. I think this is what got the R&A excited--.. Deal will undergo a fair amount of change this winter..
#2 will have a new tee pushed back to the property line. This may add about 50 yards.
#3 tee will be pushed back I would guess about 40-50 yards and closer to the first tee on a slight dogleg left angle. The bunker on the left side of the fairway will be removed and two pots added on the right. #3 was a great par 4.5 downwind and I will bemoan this if it is pushed back far enough so it is unreachable but we shall see.
#4-- 2 options for the future (not this year), I hope the 1st happens.. #1 is to move the tee back 20 yards and the hole will play 172 yards to a crowned green.. The other option which I think is horrible is to add some green at the back for another 7 pin placements.. The green has not been touched since Morrison in the late 30s
#5-- new tee to push it to 600 yards!.. and perhaps the restoration of the old cross bunkers over the carry ridge.. This will essentially bring the hole similar to how it used to play back in the day if the bunkers are restored.
#7- new seawall tee.. will add about 15-20 yards..
#9 new seawall tee.. adds 15-20 yards
#12-- the famous U shaped green.. This used to be a par 5, the old tee is back over the road adjacent to the course (which the club owns).. So the old tee will be put back adding about 80-100 yards... This allows the great 16th hole to be a 470-500 yard par 4... Instead of a short par 5 which many at the club don't agree with.
There is room to thus stretch the course a great deal.. #1 could also see a new tee to stretch it another 40-50 yards..
Deal played very firm and fast and uncharacteristically in a strong northerly when I was there (the back was very short instead of the tough beatback it usually is).. The southeast corner of Kent is undergoing a severe drought (Deal only gets 22 inches or rain a year, a lot less than many places in the UK or US!).. I will have to wait until next year obviously to see the changes but I do worry about member tee drift.. The course is plenty challenging at 6500 yards from the medal tees and I reckon it will be near 6700/6899 yards with the tee changes.. The front 9 always gave you a chance to score at Deal, now it won't be so easy...