Arbs,
You are correct in your views, it is more open to the left and that is what Behr is saying TO YOU, but a carry over the bunkers is doable--IF the skillful player is willing to accept the challenge. The Line of Skill, which in this case is begging you to try it. You know, like when your drawn to that side by what you see.
If your playing a match against Tiger Woods or Robert Duruntz, Jamie or Sully, how are they going to play it, and are you going to play your game or theirs?
If you look at the image with the crosshair, and then look back at the image without it, you'll see where your eyes take you at first glance. What Behr is saying is, "Hey! Look at me!" But the statement, Sight is rarely so. On a penal course we see what to avoid. A good shot is the mere evasion of evil. But on a strategic course we must study what to conquer. This is where the hole talks back at you, "hey, who do you think your looking at?" It's a scrapper of a golf hole. It wants to fight you, but to do that, it has to entice you.
That imaginary line to the hole is saying to a good or skillful player Go ahead, I dare you, and it welcomes the challenge.
How its great match play hole is that it equals both the Tiger and the Rabbit. (so-to-speak) You can go for the left side and either make the green when you pull off a really good shot--if you can't carry the bunkers, or you can rely on a good chipping game to get it close with a chance at par.
Simply put, a great/interesting par 3 for match play is one that equals players of variable skills and deficiencies.
Both players are capable of par or better or bogie or worse. A lot of mid to high handicappers rely on a short game to keep them in it. They can skillfully put the ball near the pin should they miss the green, and still achieve par, whereas a skillful player who can get it on the green, should he miss or err in judgment when sizing his opponent, will be forced to get par or better to win or half the hole. Such is the case with half-par holes. Which this is a perfect example of par 3 1/2. It may say three on the scorecard, but that 3 is going to be a well-earned 3. You know, one of those types of holes that has you pissed-off, walking off the green that you pared the hole or happy you bogied it.