Responses:
" I'm certain the R&A will have last members by 2015." Mark, does "last" mean "lost" here?
" People would flock to enter and spectate, and all the more lodging and hospitality industry commerce would ensue." RJ, I think that you're wrong. Who would want to watch an event that is, in essence, an invitational and not a championship of any ruling body? People don't flock to see the Walker nor Curtis Cup competitions, nor the British nor US Amateur championships. Would they do so for an event that is a shill, invented to appease a microscopic population? As far as the lodging and hospitality industry, I doubt that they have any trouble selling out during Open week, given the corporate influence (absent for any other events)
"Also, the USGA does not have a rota." Terry, no publicized rota exists for the USGA, but somehow a number of courses make their way into the conversation each decade. To the USGA's credit/wallet, new sites do make entry to accompany the tried and true venues.
"Why not just hold it on the New?" Mark, worth a shot. I suspect that few television spectators know the holes at the Old Course, so I doubt they sit around the television and say "I cannot wait until the leaders get to Eden or Bobby Jones" nor "Let's see if the testicles claim another victim from the lead group this year." It happens at Augusta National becasue the US Masters is contested there every year, so people know terms like "Amen Corner" albeit not much about holes like 14, 17 and 7. If New is more flexible than Old, especially with adjacent courses offering options, it's worth a shot.