As someone working within the Golf Course Design industry.. I can relate. It used to be that when laying out a course set within a residential envelope, you could get away with a 50-yard protective radius from the center of the fairways and greens. Now, we need a minimum of 65-yards.
Architects are concerned about possible lawsuits from wayward tee shots. I know of a big name famous island builder(hint, hint) who was sued for several million after a girl was struck in her backyard on a course built over 20 years ago. Back then, the design was not an issue... today's technology has turned the course into a liability.