Brian
Once again a conversation about bunkering is hung up on appearances when we all know these things are a matter of personal preference and a more important aspect is their placement.
I hope the differences (which are almost imperceptible and I think not necessarily the case depending on which Colt course we are talking about) in style aren't part of the reason construction costs have risen so much because it ain't worth it. The biggest problem with those cheesy bunkers is how they look in a group. Which makes me ask if they need to be tightly grouped at all?
People go on about roughing up bunkers, but there is a time and place for it. In the example below, these are some of the most dreadful looking things and not only because of the spinach but because the course looks to have a "clean look" so why dirty bunkers?
Which brings me to my point, for better or worse, courses are much cleaner looking today than in Colt's hey day and hence the style of cleaner bunkers being in vogue. Brian described his ideal for a Colt bunker, but I am ambivalent because I am not keen on looking at heaps of sand on non-sandy sites. I like the rolled over upholstered look BECAUSE it hides the sand. This also makes it easy to tie in foliage around the bunkers to the edges of the course and therefore make the bunkers look like they belong at least to some degree. Colt did this sort of thing very, very well, but we have to remember that when we speak of a Colt course it is often only the case in terms of a routing and green sites. Much of the detail often ascribed to maintenance is very different so it should be no surprise that the look of the bunkers has changed. Just changing bunkers back to a Colt style doesn't magically make these latest versions of Colt courses as Colt would have wanted them. IMO the entire maintenance regime of these courses would have to be altered to regain the look and playing aspects of a Colt course as Colt designed them.
Ciao