Glad to be back agreeing with Sean, at least occasionally (he has my clubs as hostage).. but he's right here - Timber!
I suspect the architect may have thought - ah, but there's more room around the green than there seems to be from the tee. But when it's trees blocking the view, the only way to hit even the edges of this green is to work the ball..
The hole asks for one shot, a dead straight shot. Penalty for a miss - who knows when you hit a tree?
We have a couple of drives like this at my course, I hate them, and I'm pretty straight. I don't mind being punished, but ball hits tree and outcome unknown = frustration and slow golf.