Steve,
I recall an incident where Stonebridge Ranch GC near Dallas (Dye Course) had a lot of natives on the outside, and snakes became a problem, so they mowed a strip of grass near the housing lines to reduce it. Snakes can be a problem in Texas! I live near a lake and in this year's record rains, we have had over a dozen snakes in the house as they come up from low lying areas, including one Copperhead.....
Of course, this is about native/long grasses between tee and fairway. I do think its a growing trend, especially out west. There are a few problems and the details make a difference.
First, if up north in fescue country, the sprinklers in that area bascically need to be turned off. Too much water and those wispy fescues get pretty thick, unplayable, etc.
Second, in other areas, its harder to find a good grass or native mix for it. I have had the best luck just letting common bermuda go un-watered and long. I have seen salt grass and paspalum look pretty nice as southern subs for fescue, watered perhaps once a month. Establishing natives takes at least 3 years in most places, usually looks best in flower, not so good other times, and can get and stay weedy.
Third, I have seen some statistics showing about 20-25% of tee shots are duffed and don't go 100 yards, at least at public courses, so you have to consider pace of play, and maybe the forward two tees ought to not have much or any carry.
Even with all those negatives, the trend towards turf reduction to save water means these type of areas will almost certainly become more common.
Another interesting related point. While the actual tees comprise of 5-7000 SF, or 0.1-0.15 AC, traditional double row sprinklers often water an acre to acre and a half of turf around tees, or about 10X what is really needed. Even before the tee to fairway area, I sense we are going to see a lot of natives tightly around tees as the first cut of turf reduction. Very little sympathy for the pure whiff and shank tee shots finding long grass.....