Agreed.
"There are features on old courses that are considered iconic and wonderful, which would never be imitated today. The bunker in the center of the green on the sixth at Riviera. The deep little pot bunker at the 10th at Pine Valley. These would be considered madness today, and I guess for good reason, as they'd seem contrived."
As I'm making my way through Evangelist of Golf, I'm struck by how many features (or holes) at The National would be unlikely to be tried today.