Jeff
My old friend Jeff its all a matter of taste and how you were introduced to the game. For me Golf is a challenge or just what is the point. Courses were judged by the challenges they provided for the competent golfer.
For me I see no problem with deep bunkers on the fairway there to trap the long ball from an over enthusiastic player or an errant shot. To consider a retreat out of the rear is acceptable to me if it allows me to stay within my game, but I know there are those who refuse to retreat and restart the fight. They battle on within the deep bunker getting closer to your Chinese or in our case Australian voices.
I do not seek penal, penal, penal but a balanced course should IMHO be testing. You know my feeling, golf is getting softer, our rules and etiquette are watered down because player want to play by their interpretation of the rules, not to mention aids being allowed re carts, & distance, all which should come from within the golfer. OK I get it, many seem to think that the modern guy is not as robust and willing to face challenges for fear of losing. But then I suppose that is one of the differences from the modern game and that which I was introduced to way back in the late 1950’s.
As for bunkers, that may depend on the type of golfer you are, I am a Links Man so bunkers, just bring them on, I am not a great supporter of the inland courses, the conditions are just not the same.
So any hazard installed on the course needs to test the golfer or at least act as a serious deterrent to show the quality of the routing and designer.
Some shallow bunkers I have seen in my time could act as a Tee for the advantage they offer the golfer. But as not a designer I do not have to comply with clients requirements, so am free to voice my unclipped wing and views. Oh to be free to fly over a course designed for playing golf and not for a client.
I will say, shallow bunkers are preferred to Island Greens any day.
Melvyn