It is actually not a bad hole, and not as narrow as the drawing indicates; there is 50 yards between the pond and the fairway bunkers. Additionally, they must have swapped the nines at some point because for all of my golfing life this was the ninth hole (I haven't played there in at least six years, though, maybe longer). That being said, I agree, the course (and this hole) is over bunkered.
Gary,
I don't think that the course has been changed that much over the years, but I will also say that there is probably more Rocky Roquemore in the course than Joe Lee. Tracking the design styles of the series of original Canongate courses shows the ups and downs and general de-evolution of this branch of the Dick Wilson architecture family tree.
Keith.