It's not that I have a problem with water if it's already there but when the design creates them for ambiance, hazard, beauty or a place to put the fountain, it irks me. It seems to me if they want to use the full extent of the land then the designer would want to use as much land as possible to get the job done instead of scattering about little ponds of hard luck. When I hit a ball into the rough or trees I keep my eye on it because of some innate hopeless hope. When I know it's going into water, well, I get that sinking feeling. (sorry) The flight of the ball is magical. Even when it goes into hostile territory where a miracle recovery is imminent, I still have hope. To know it is doomed to the soup is dispiriting and then to think I'll have to drop a ball and go over that same aquapuke that just kicked my ass, well, I'd rather have a tough lie in the buffalo grass. Miracles happen.
Water forces the pro game of dart tossing and I'd rather play the amateur game of mystery.