Pat:
"If one is adjusting/restoring the internal contours by reworking the subturf soil, with additive soil comprised of plugs from the greens that have existed for 40-50-80 years, how would the drainage properties be destroyed ?
What construction methods could/would lead to destruction of the drainage properties ?"
The thread is focused on rebuilding greens, not just softening, or reworking the subturf soil as you note and my comment therefore is a response to rebuilding. In any case, if one was to rework minor contours in the manner you describe, I can see no reason why the drainage properties would be compromised. Seems you could easily do this with hand tools and or small equipment with limited time on the surface to avoid compaction.
"What would cause root growth to fail to penetrate as needed ?
If the subsoil is the same, the turf the same, the additive soil the same and the club is attempting to restore the green to a former/original configuration with the aid of independent agronomic and architectural consultants, wouldn't a collective calamatous error have to occur in order to produce a failed product ?"
I never said the subsoil would be the same. Again, we are talking about rebuilding push up greens and my comments are related to rebuilding, USGA soil profiles and the potential pitfalls of building with large equipment, less than ideal subsoils, etc. Nevertheless and even if the subsoil was the same, this doesn't necessarilly mean that a good performing green can be built, case in point is building a green to USGA specs...there is more to it than using the 'right' materials. This is another subject for another time.
Your description, though very different than rebuilding, sounds solid and I would agre that with consultants assisting where needed, I suspect you would have the best chance if getting it right.