Well this got out of hand... I was trying to give a little background on the disease while at work and keep getting pulled out to do actual work, lame. Sorry if it got a bit discombobulated. If you want to know a bit more on the disease from a forestry nerd read on, if not, skip.
Gblambert is pretty accurate. The fungus (Ceratocystis fagacearum) is most commonly spread by Carpohilus spp sap feeding beetles (two species specifically). These beetles come out in very early spring (about 60-80 degree-days base 45?) and are attracted to the fungal spore mats created from infested trees (the year after death) and to open wounds on oaks. The fungus is very quick to act and can kill a tree in a matter of weeks by plugging the vascular tissues of the tree, essentially strangling it. I have seen the beetles within 15 minutes of a wound and seen trees 100% leafless in 10 days. Oaks of the red oak group (red, black, pin...) are extremely sensitive and rarely live past the year of infection. The white oak group is much less sensitive and may only have some die back but could survive. Once the fungus is in a tree it can spread though root grafts between trees underground and can result in the death of an entire oak stand, if not treated.
The best way to limit the disease is to reduce the damage to trees during the high risk time of year, April to August (these dates are locally specific). Once a red oak is infected there is no way to save it. There are a couple of treatment methods that help to reduce the spread of the disease and they all involve removing and destroying the infected tree and disrupting the root grafts between this infected tree and the surrounding healthy trees. Disrupting the root grafts can be done by using a vibratory plow, removing the stump, or killing a buffer of oak trees around the infected tree (herbicide). Treatments are very effective if done correctly and can stop the spread of a pocket with the first treatment, however this can be very costly and time consuming.
Oak Wilt is much different than EAB as it needs some sort of disturbance to create an entry point for the beetle/fungus. Oak wilt has been documented in the Midwest since the 1940s and is suspected to have been here for many years prior. Thought to be exotic possibly from central America but not 100% confirmed as far as I know. The interesting part is that oaks are very well adapted to the disease, maybe it is coincidence but I don't really believe in those. Oaks are mid to intolerant and need quite a bit of sun to establish. In the forest Oak Wilt kills a large canopy tree, then the disease spreads underground to the surrounding trees killing a larger and larger ring as the years progress, like a bull's-eye. This expanding bull's-eye can create an optimal environment to regenerate a new stand of oak trees; seed trees ring the ever expanding sunny pocket... that's my forestry nerd take on it. I suspect that the greater prevalence and awareness is coming from the age of our forests and our ability to share information. Many oak stands are reaching 100-120 years old and individual trees are more conspicuous and susceptible to the disease due to natural senescence. EAB is much more aggressive, invasive, and complete loss of a species is pretty inevitable as we are seeing across the eastern half of the country.
As far as closing the course, I can see their concern. Is it the best option? That I cant say, I don't know the area, the park composition, or the situation. Allowing people to utilize a greenspace gives it value which keeps it around, I totally agree. Oak wilt may be something that a designer wants to consider though. If you have only one tree as an obstacle on a hole, what happens if it dies? A lot of parks are very over populated with oaks because they are very aesthetically pleasing to us. I personally would not be overly concerned with smashing a drive into the trunk of a large tree because the chances of splitting the bark is pretty low, but clipping a branch up high or on a small tree, that may be more likely.
BTW, did I tell ya about my 600 foot drive off the tee I parked right next to the basket for my last eagle? 
