While walking down hole 1's fairway at Crystal Downs, I came across an angle on which bunkers from 1, 2, behind 6 green, and 4 appeared to be draped in a straight line, tying in nicely with each other.
I took the photo since I thought it was beautiful, but now I'm more curious as to what function--if any--that "line" has. Clearly for me it had instinctual aesthetic value, but is there more going on? Did the subtle roll in that line make for a good divider between holes for MacKenzie and Maxwell, one that they demarcated more clearly by manufacturing hazards along it? It doesn't appear to be an example of prototypical MacKenzie forced perspective; any optical illusions of distance or size are besides the point, since this isn't a line on which a shot would be played.
On 17 tee is another example. Framed beyond the right green side bunker is the fairway carry bunker of the iconic 5th. Beautifully tied in yet again, but is there any other purpose? Does there even need to be? Not all elements need be strategic, right?
Bunkers (or hazards in general) tied across holes aren't something I go out of my way to notice. The only other example that comes to mind, though I think it's a very effective one, is at Oakland Hills South. From 10 tee, as the eye tries to sort out where a drive ought to be placed, the forced perspective of the bunkering on hole 17 makes it seem as if those sandy areas are all in play on the 10th. They appear close, possibly in range even, despite the fact that they're 450+ yards away! Yet their visual presence can distract you from the thickest area of fairway along the center and left, and instead lead you into playing a ball further to the right, which can result in a partially blind approach.
Tying in bunkers between fairways and green sides on the same holes is a characteristic of many architects past and present. But achieving that across different holes may warrant more discussion.
What are some good examples that come to mind for you?
And what rationale would you give for their being tied in?