RJ,
I got to thinking about what it might take to make this practical. IF RTJ redid it in 1962, it seems that was the start of the machine mowing era for greens, and those couldn't possibly mow those steep slopes. Plus, irrigation was still pretty primitive back then.
Perhaps modern technology would actually help restore this type of concept. I tried it, and the super rightfully knew it wouldn't work under his equipment and budget regimen. As TEPauls says, we do defer to the better judgment of supers. If I were to do it again, I would pre-plan it a little better, and here's what I think it might need to be close to practical:
1. Probably best in new Bermudas, althogh heat tolerant bents may work, although I would probably put mounds in collar, as bents damage more, especially at lower cuts.
2. Use USGA greens construction, but make humps shallower in mix to keep wet, knowing the pin should never be set there. I just saw some new research that confirms greens can be of varying mix depth to suit contours. Shallow mix doesn't drain as fast - if you don't beleive, wet a sponge, and turn it on shallow, medium and long ends and watch the water continue to pour out.
3. Add Hydro Zone, or similar polymers to mounds to help them hold water.
4. Add small lawn type heads to spray just the mounds in addition to regular green irrigation heads.
5. Make sure the outside 6-10 feet of the green is flat, as in the old photo. I think the clean up pass would do less mowing damage on flat ground than on those hills.
6. Those hills looks like 45% slopes. They would have to be softened to about 25% maximum, and commit the super to hand mowing. They would probably have to be lowered, too, but with modern green speeds, it would proabably replicate the thrill of the recovery fairly closely. Actually, Tommys ground level version looks on the verge of practical mowing.
7. Be sure to leave at least one opening in the punchbowl to cofnform to ADA rules.
That is about all a "cwazy" architect could do.....and even then, I would attempt it only in an "easier" climate, like northern MN (wait a second, I have one green left to build!) Would any of the supers out there in GCA land agree to try to maintain that if all the above were provided?
Thinking about the original as a short four, I think we should be sure to build that green similary, or on a reachable par 5, which I guess these days, is anything under 640 yards! Watching good players try to drive or reach the green, and then possibly be foiled by the mounds and the subsequent revovery putt would be fun, but proabably frustrating for them.
Architecturally speaking, do you think the cross bunker is as strong conept as angling the green and providing an opening from one side or the other?