Ben:
We were on site all four days and fescue was definitely there in 2007. I thought all the tree work had been done back then, but the total clearing of the woods between 10 and 12 greens is new.
The entire course is "artificial" in the sense that it is man made, however the most artificial part to me were the "mountains" created to push back the tees on 4 and 7. Oakland Hills 7th tee stretches the hill about as naturally as possible, but Oakmont's back tees on 4 and 7 definitely look created.
Tony