Kevin,
It took 3 years but we gradually converted Hackensack's (Banks) front section to putting surface height. Forsgate (Banks, NJ) has also done the same. Obviously Yale has been green height for many years. I think the Creek Club and a few others also are short.
Having studied this topic for 5 years, I believe that NONE of the original Biarritz's were green height but they ALL should be now, and the pin should almost NEVER be placed on the front section. Here's why:
The originals were built before irrigaton systems, so the fairways played fast and firm. Balls could not fly very far, so the required play was a low running shot between the bunkers, down the swale with enough force to make it up the swale, yet still stay on the green.
No fairway (in the US...) will be as fast and firm as a putting green, right?
The play on our Biarritz is so much fun now. Balls roll up the slope and back down, which never happened when it was fairway. In our club championship qualifying yesterday, the pin was cut close to the swale. My playing partner putted from the swale, watched it roll back down, and almost had the next one do the same, and was thrilled at making double. Another guy putted from beyond the pin, hit it too hard, and ended up down the swale...then barely escaped with his double... The Met Am will be played at Hackensack in 9 days, and I'm bringing a chair to watch the guys on this hole!
Chip, I wonder if you asked if Chicago was considering lowering their front section?