Wayne,
I didn't think to include Aronimink because it has held the PGA and also the Sr. PGA. However, while the course continues to be a test of golf and could host a major, I don't think I would select it anyway.
My opinion is that the greens at Aronimink are among the very best in the country in terms of interest and influence on shots starting at the tee. However, the routing and hole varieties (including length and the lack of holes turning) aren't nearly up to the quality of the greens. There are excellent holes on the course such as 1,7,10,16 and 18 (maybe 2 and 3 can be added). But the remaining hole designs do not make for greatness--except for their greens.
Ross wanted this course to evidence his skills and to show the clubs that selected Flynn rather than him (Manufacturers, Rolling Green, Philadelphia Country and Huntingdon Valley) that he could design a more difficult course. He certainly designed a difficult course with excellent greens, but it isn't really enjoyable difficulty. Nor is it more difficult than Huntingdon
Valley or Rolling Green. Those two courses have a lot more interest, and I do not feel that way because I wrote a book on Flynn.
I'd have to study the course in far greater detail to think how else to route it; a not so easy taks. He wanted to build a third 9 (its on the clubhouse wall as you know) and I have to study that to see how that would add to the quality of the golf. There is a lot of land at Aronimink, but my gut feeling is that it wasn't used to its best potential and the par 4s especially lack variety.
Now, Bob Crosby, who I respect a great deal, has a very high regard for Aronimink and can't understand why many of us in the area feel the way we do. It can be hard to put into words. Rereading my own here, I don't think I did a very good job in expressing my reasons.