Considering the hole is named "Moat" and that's where the bunker is, I bet Pete would say it needs the front bunker.
Sorry, i meant doesnt need the front bunker...to be a good hole. Not...to be a moat hole.
I have seen Doak use half blind feature half a dozen times without a front bunker and it works fine.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the hole and the course and I am glad you brought it up, but it a course not designed for repeat play or a wide variety of golfers and that makes it hard for it to be truly great architecture.