Interesting article. The Best New award will keep play going strong for a few years and pub from the upcoming tournaments will help, too. For most acclaimed courses, the early buzz does wear off and then they are subject to the market conditions just like everyone else. As can be seen from the fact that more rounds were expected at the off season and off peak rates, they are already subject to golfers spending wisely, but at least they still want to play.
As the USGA moves towards more public courses, and naming them 6-7 years in advance, is it possible that someday an Open will have to move because a course goes under before the tournament is played? Or would someone just subsidize it (perhaps written into the Open contract) for those few years?