I like bunkers/hazards behind greens. They square an architectural circle. They tend to catch better players hitting overly aggressive approaches. Their recoveries are more difficult because they are hitting onto down slopes (because most greens tilt from back to front).
So back bunker/hazards tend to make a hole more challenging for better, aggressive players, while having less effect on weaker players.
Bob
Bob,
I agree that has been the general theory in my lifetime. While no clear cut rules, as TD notes, it has varied over time (like Mac doing more than Ross overall). No one has mentioned George Thomas, who, at least on long par 4 holes, placed fw behind greens, reasoning that a shot long is actually a better shot than one that comes up short, and didn't deserve punishment, but an easier recovery.
I do recall discussing this subject with many architects early in my ASGCA membership, and they said similar things. My gut tells me that as very general trends, they declined on all but the top courses/architects in the 60'70's, due to cost constraints, and practicality, i.e., "if few hit in them, why spend money on bunkers THERE?" In the CCFAD days of the 80-90's, the returned because of the emphasis on visuals and making a course "look tougher than it plays" (again, visual, but who hits a bunker back left?) and have been on the decline as budgets get tight.
Agree with architects who have said (generally) its a legit design tool, but no more than half, probably a third of greens should have them, if just for variety, and avoiding the sameness of green appearance throughout the course.
Also, agree they probably work best on shorter approaches and reachable par 5 to increase precision requirement. It does seem as if every course ought to have a few greens cross the line of play, hazards front and back (at least for one Sunday pin) that challenges distance control, rather than lateral accuracy, which most greens do.
My "acid test" for placing them is (more and more) do they serve multiple purposes? Should make sense as hazards, as above, be on holes that otherwise wouldn't have as much definition, and perhaps, save a real long shot from going over the hill to worse trouble, or put someone in danger. Merion 17 has some bunkers in the slope going up to the closely adjacent 18 tee, if I recall.