I played the first BMW in Munich and the course unimaginative at best. It was funny - after the first practice round everybody thought it was quite hard. Then David Feherty shot 62 in the first round and no one ever since considered it hard again.
We played a lot of good courses in the 80s - Sunningdale,Chantilly, Falstebro, pre-Ernie Wentworth, Gleneagles, Birkdale,Puerto De Hierro, de Pan,Kenner,El Saler, Portmarnock - and some shockers as well.
In the mid-90s there was a clear move to play lesser courses for very good commercial reasons.
Moving the French Open from Chantilly and the Irish from Portmarnock was the beginning probably although the Irish seems to have gone back to better courses after a run on expensive modern 'American' parks - K Club, Mt Juliet, Druids Glen.
Pro golf now the world over is more about good conditioning,'fairness' suitable length (7000plus) than architecture.