Or to say it more succinctly, "What exactly is 'golf course architecture?'"
What it's NOT, is doing work where after all options are weighed up, all variables considered and all compromises taken in to account, is not an improvement on what was there before.
In this case, the history, standing and influence of the course is one of those variables. And until I know for sure that enough people of sensible mind have debated them ad nauseum and decided that the exact plans on the table are the best option and absolutely necessary to "improve" the course, then I will remain opposed.
Maybe our definition of "enough" might differ but that is of no relevance to my opinion.
EDIT - I just read Balfour's chapter over lunch and although he calls the changes considerable, he nowhere refers to anything other than whins being cleared and bunkers being changed. He does say the 16th green was flattened (and the previous mentioned 18th)... He also states that some new greens were allocated on the Outward holes but that some were just the original green with two holes put in it... To me, it seems like a widened links with new different lines... Not one that had earthmoving done to it in anything but the smallest areas... 90% plus of those contours are nature...
Ally
Take another look at the bottom of page 5, where Balfour says, firstly:
"The changes that have taken place on the course during these 45 years have been very considerable."
And then, regarding the widening of the course he says:
"....thus, the breadth of the course for golfing was gradually increased, till now it is about two-thirds broader than it used to be."
Now using primary school math this tells me that ~40% of the course we now play was manufactured ~ 150 years ago. That is "very considerable" change in anybody's book.
Vis a vis the greens, read Balfour with a detailed overhead map of the course, as I have. What I infer from what he says:
1. the double green now serving 2 and 16 was both flattened and greatly widened
2. the 3/15 green was greatly widened so that playing the 3rd no longer requires hitting your 2nd shot over the now superfluous bunker behind where the 15th pin usually lies
3. same with today's 4/14 green
4. speaking about 5/15, Balfour states boldly that the 5th "is more altered than any other on the links, and sadly destroyed."
5. as to 6/12 he states: "(The 6th) used to be one of the most dangerous on the links, but two or three large and important bunekrs have been filled up to make a double course." Then later, "The putting green too is greatly changed."
6. As to today's 1th, he says that "...the putting-green is much harder and broader."
There is of course, more, and thanks to Donal for finding the free download. I would recommend this wee book to any and all.
Rich