Hi,
In my 2007 book on the Old Course, I wrote on p168 that I thought the R&A or Links Trust would be 'justified' in adding some new bunkers. I said that because others in charge of TOC had made those decisions during previous periods of dynamic change. The myth that the book fairly cleared disproved was that the Old Course has never changed. The truth is that the very opposite is true. The course has always evolved. We often live in this little bubble and are unaware of the changes because either, A) they happened a long time ago, or B) they happen very slowly. Both of these situations were true in the case of TOC.
In you can accept that premise, then the question is 'what changes are appropriate'? We will all have our different opinions. You could argue that the first green and burn could be better designed to make the hole more Strategic (Joshua Crane made this suggestion many years ago), the nine green could be improved, do we fill in the dip on the 7th landing area, soften the back edge of the 11th or add some bunkers on the 3rd. The R&A and Links Trust would have gone through all these questions and done what they believe is correct.
I understand that people naturally fear change. We can believe that the R&A and Links Trust know the golfing world will be watching and that they are acting with caution. But the beauty of golf course design is that nothing needs to be permanent. If a new bunker doesn't work out, it can be filled in. Of course that is not quite as easy on the greens, but possible.
In regards to the 11th green. I would really like the pin position on the left side of the green to come back into play. It has been lost to us during the Open Championship because the Green often gets up to 10.5 or 11 on the stimp. That is too fast when the slope on the green is about 4.5% where the hole should be cut. There are two ways to get this position back. 1) slow the green speed down so holes can be cut on the slope, or soften the slope. It seems we are getting an idea that the R&A want to bring this great hole position back into play (remember Bobby Jones in 1921??) and I welcome that.
It is impossible to stop TOC course evolving (Grass grows, sand blows, gorse is removed) and I believe, as I wrote 6 or 7 years ago, time had come to reexamine the play strategy's and bunker locations. Some renovation work on TOC is overdue and I welcome this news. Now let's see how it works out.
Scott