Wayne,
Shinnecock has been in a constant state of renovation since Mark Michaud came over from Pebble and Chas. Stevenson took over the Green Committee. The enlargement of the greens that you mention has been accompanied by the shaving of large greenside chipping areas. Tree removal and/or thinning has been constant and is nearly complete (except for the copse left of the 4th and 6th fairways , which is wetlands). New mowing equipment was procured, and a state-of-the art sprinkler system was installed in the autumn of '05 (with the same folks installing the same system at The National in the autumn of '06). The bunkers have been renovated without redesign.
The end result is that what I've always considered the hardest FAIR test of golf is now also one of the best conditioned. The Sunday morning tragedy during the '04 Open (a USGA blunder witnessed firsthand) did nothing to diminish my feeling that the 18 holes test every club in the bag from every wind direction every time Shinny is played in a breeze. Having played CP and PV, the two above Shinny in the GW ranking, each on a number of occasions, I attest to their greatness. It's just that, for me, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is as close to a perfect design as I can imagine.
Tom Huckaby states in the post below yours, "I'd concur it (Shinnecock) is likely the best, truest test of golf in America. I just don't think that equals "best". This is an opinion that I respect absolutely. It goes to the age old question of the role of golfing ground in determining the greatness of a course vs. the course architecture and routing. The conflict exists right in Southampton. Crenshaw told me once that he considered The National to be the greatest golfing ground in the world. I agree with that and also find Shinnecock to be the greatest golf course in America. So there we have it, the conundrum of golf.
jkinney,
It sounds like you have a good idea of what's been going on at Shinnecock Hills. As the green chairman for 20 something years, Charles Stevenson continues to restore and recapture that which was lost either by neglect or by redesign and the course is regaining its full interest and challenge. As for the tree removal, I know there is still an interest in removing the trees that prevent the 11th green from being a skyline green again. Lowering the 11th tee back to its original elevation will help a great deal. Some trees are to be removed along the right side of the 6th hole to open up the view more. The same should happen along the right side of the 15th between the tee and the bottom of the steep slope. This should completely open up the view to the green and reveal the right side.
Those short grass chipping areas that are being developed are original to the golf course. You can see them on the Flynn plans. These areas are varied around greens. Now that the greens are being expanded as far as possible to their original dimensions, newly restored pin positions will be closer to fall-offs and chipping areas and tucked behind bunkers. These locations will impact decision making all the way back to the tee. Missing the green will result in far more difficult recoveries. So far the members are very pleased with the restoration work. As the course gets firmer and faster through over time, the architecture and maintenance practices will meld perfectly. One of the great courses in the world will be at its absolute best.