Jeff,
I believe that most agree that Par 3's are the strictest or purest form of "target golf"
Short Par 3's, those with yardages in the 130's and lower, would seem to have as their primary defense, a small target area/hole location
If the penalty for missing that target area/hole location isn't penal, how challenging can the hole be ?
And, why would you offer and alternate "bail out" area on a hole of such short length (130's and under) ?
It doesn't make sense to me.
It's allowing the golfer to be inaccurate from a short distance without burdening/challenging him on the tee, and without punishing him for begin so inaccurate on a short, relatively benign shot.
I think one of the positive attributes of CBM/SR/CB "shorts", were their elevated nature.
That feature, the elevation, accompanied by steep banks, makes them ferocious for their distance.
While I really like internal contouring on "shorts", I think the truncated volcano like structure, the elevation accompanied by steep slopes leading to bunkering is really THE key feature, more than anything else.
Your thoughts ?