Paul...
To me, the neccessity of water came about as the technology regarding golf equipment became so advanced that "normal" hazards that were on links courses turned into nothing like hazards at all. Even a player at my skill level can normally get out of bunkers in one swing and from time to time I can get kind of close to my objective. And the PGA guys have, essentially, no issue with bunkers. Remember the US Open at Pebble? I forget what hole it was, but the play was to aim for the bunker and get up and down from there. That is not the idea of a bunker. A bunker needs to be a hazard, a fearsome obstacle that needs to be avoided. Now, when I play with my hickories...these "normal" hazards are obstacles that need to be avoided. They are treacherous. Getting out in one whack is not a given. And getting close to the hole is most certainly not a given.
But like I said, something changed with the technology of the equipment and bunkers are generally not so scary. And for some reason, if you make the bunkers really deep and nasty...it isn't fair. If you don't rake the bunkers and leave them in a more natural state, well...that isn't fair either. So, we give the modern golfer the high tech equipment to get out of the bunkers with the greatest of ease. We manicure the bunkers to make good lies the norm. So, what do the golf course architects turn to to defend their courses against the PGA guys and modern technology? Water hazards.
Some how water is more "fair" than a bunker with a nasty lie and/or a very deep bunker. Personally, I'd take the 1 in a million chance at recovery vs. the drop in the drop zone shot every day of the week. Why? Because the shot that lands in the pond...is a lost ball 100% of the time (unless you are Bill Haas!!). And at least I've got a chance at getting out of the nasty bunker. But here is the kicker...okay maybe you can't hit forward out of bunkers like this...
But okay, take your medicine and go backwards. If you don't take your medicine, you may post a score bigger than your water ball drop score. But that is your choice...it may not be "fair" to make a 10 on that hole...but at least you had the choice. With hazards like this...
There is no choice. Take your drop and move on.
So, in short. I don't like water because there is no recovery chance. Perhaps this is the only choice the architect has to tone down the risk taking shots of the PGA pro armed with modern technology...but for guys like me...I'd like a chance at recovery. And also with water hazards there are no choices regarding how to recover. You take your drop and that is that. In a nasty bunker, you have the choice of trying to go forward toward the hole or go backwards or out the side or whatever. This seems more like the game was meant to be played. Play your ball as it lies until it is holed out.
But if we have to do water, I prefer creeks to ponds. In fact, I love this hole and others like it...
That is the angled water carry. Feeling froggy? Try to carry this thing out as far as you can and challenge the hole for birdie. But if it is a windy day and/or you are playing like a dog, take the shorter carry angle and play it safe. You have choices.
And again, choices.
Hit this par 3 tee shot over the water and go for the green or play it away from the water and up the side. But I much prefer this hole concept with a bunker (like Kiawah 5) rather than water.
But this...I don't like...
I prefer thing like this...
But that is just my opinion.