Robert,
In 1926 when Tilly wrote of his concept for a different type of hole which he named the "Reef" hole, he stated that he had already designed and built one at Newport. He followed that by saying that "other architects had built similar ones."
This is an example of one of those "other ones."
The design aspects that Tilly looked for in a Reef was for it to be either a long par-3 or short par-4 (almost evryone is a 3). The "Reef" is an area of hazard that separates the outward "Ocean" from the inward "safe harbor" and is usually comprised of combination bunker, waste area and rough formed in a half-moon type of curve. There is a hummock or mounding on the left side of teh rough leading into the green complex upon which a carefully struck shot may carrom off it and through the front open neck and onto the putting surface. There is always a genedrously tough bunker guarding the right side.
This allows for 4 types of play depending upon the skill level of the player.
1- The poorer or beginner has a safe short play in front of the Reef or a little more daring carry over it into the "safe harbor."
2- The more skilled player who can't quite carry it all the way to the green may choose to attempt the play off the hummock or mounding to take advantage of the mad form and ground game.
3- The expert may always attempt the dangerous carry over the right side bunker when the hole is cut behind it. If there is a strong wind in the face or simply as another option, he too may attempt the carrom off the mound in a more controlled and planned way to attempt to get his ball close enough to the hole for a birdie.
If you ever check a google aerial shot of this hole, and with the photographs of the left side mounding shown above, all these features and options clearly stand out.
This allows for 4 very