Bangoman
A common practice not just in the golf industry. Used it up then tossed it away.
That's why most of them make employees sign a release of right to anything came out of their stay to the company and of course a non competitive clause suggested by their corporate attorney.
Come to think of it, these release clause had been and could be challenged if proven the condition of signing was under duress or fear of losing the position.
As Mario said in the video posted above, the CAD had taken over the art form of designing. Perhaps in the future the art form of designing will return simply because the limit of rules of conforming had been pushed and reached in most cases. Unless there is new affordable material introduced into the golf industry, we should not expect earth shuttering innovation soon.