Jud...
sorry for doing that...but I hope it makes sort of a point.
Sam basically asks, "what if the changes are good?"
With all due respect to Sam, how can anyone even ask that question? And if they do, they are not living in the same world as I am, hence the Matthew quote.
The Old Course has been the most mystifying golf course on the planet for 600 years. The greatest of all-time loved the course because of its big and bold strategies, but also it subtle, and at times, hidden nuances. These greatest of all-time include Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones. In fact, the perfect example of these subtle and hidden aspects of The Old Course might have best be seen through the eyes of Bobby Jones. He actually ripped up his scorecard in 1921 and walked off the course. He was so frustrated and infuriated with it. (Maybe he didn't get why the bunkers on 2 weren't near the green, like Peter Dawson). But then he grew to love it. So much in fact, he hired Mackenzie to build him a course in the spirit of The Old Course.
And for those 600 years, well at least as long as ratings/rankings have been in vogue, The Old Course has been rated near the tipity-top. But the powers that be want to "improve" it. Improve it?!?!? It is already world-renowned, the subject of over 76 books, the inspiration for many golf course designs, and architects study it to this day. In fact, it may have the greatest stretch of golf holes in the world with its back nine. But yet, those are some of the holes that are going to be "improved."
Improved for what? Tournament play for the PGA Tour pros. The guys who espouse fair and equitable golf. That is the whole point...and where the magic and subtle nuances lie...in the areas that are not fair or equitable. Rub of the green. Road Hole Bunker, 11th green, AARGH!!!! I can't believe they are changing it, in this way, for these purposes.
What if the changes are "better", Sam? Better for who? Better in what way? For a higher ranking? That is next to impossible. I guess it could over take Pine Valley, Cyrpess Point, or RCD. But, I doubt it. Better for tournament play. What did Rory do at TOC last time? That is the magic of that course. Better for study of architecture? Tom Doak, Brad Klein, and many others including the spirits of Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones just might not think that is possible.
But, alas, 'dozers are on site and bunkers on 2 have been "improved", 17th bunker is being tweaked, and the Eden green is being flattened.