Clint,
I think your leaving out one very important part in this. Great courses, in this case PRIVATE clubs--these rounds 90% of the time are going to be with a caddie who is going to be doing much of the cleaning; maintenance. Now, I'll admit that I have been fortunate to go around a course without a caddie more times then with, because I'm not really a caddie-type of guy. I find it out of my comfort zone more because I figure I would have a more likely chance to be in these club's as a caddie then actually using one!
Also, I think its partially my job to at least do the brush thing with the two clubs, cleaning up the heavy disruptance (is that a word?); and you would be surprised how good it works, leaving the surface sand more natural looking then cleanly raked with man's artificialness!
But thats me!
This isn't some sort of gimmick either. Rakes were never a part of maintenance until the 40's. (I think I read that somewhere!)
Meanwhile, gotta leave this conversation for the night. I have to go take my (a Irish fanatic) drubbing from Tim Weiman--(an USC fanatic) whose in town--down at Legends-Long Beach tonight!! Anyone whose in town and would like to join us, feel free!