Tom,
Where did the comparison of Riv #10 come into this? I don't think any of us have tried to portray this in any comparison to one if not the World's Greatest short par 4's. We maybe homers, but please, give us some credit!
So in other words, the natural features and natural maintanence of the course, (as it was designed) where your ball might end up from a semi-poorly executed tee shot don't deserve some challenge?
(Help me here)
Are you saying you have a lot more trouble with a 50 yard shot that went through the fair green (fairway) compared to a 120 yard one in the fairway that has still yet to cross the hazard, and is now faced with the daunting task of holding that green in relation to the "mump" (once again, great word!) at the right front to center of the green?
If so, I think its a shot you do have the talents to make, but maybe not enough attempts at trying--and that isn't a bad thing. I just don't think you should disqualify a hole because because it exposes one of your few weaknesses. It should be a shot that inspires you to at least try--one that makes you a better golfer then you are. And this goes for anyone and anybody of any handicap or talent. Its all about strength and weaknesses and how you chose to take them on during the round. This is why so many have such a score-card and pencil spirit--they want the holes to excentuate their strengths and not challenge them. Even Kye Goalby and myself were talking of this recently about his own father--a former Masters champ mind you; and his cousin Jay Haas. As professionals, they see the game from one standpoint--how good of a score it will give them--and I commend that competitive spirit, but ultimately it leads to a blindness of recognizing GREAT golf. Much in the way you have described. (I'm not trying to be confrontational here, so if you would rather take this off-line I have no problem with that. I was going to call you anyway to see if you wanted to play tomorrow!:))
But continuing, this is what your 50 yard shot from the rough sounds like to me. The only difference is you have been conditioned, or in this case, over-conditioned from perfectly maintained rough grass that doesn't exactly penalize a good player on most of the courses you see today, unless its soaking wet and/or unusually long.
The bottom line is, on that hole, you need to have a draw from the tee to avoid that hitting through the fairgreen to an uneven lie where the sand hazard and the mump come into play, and then find YOUR shot into the green. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to attempt it on certain days if you don't think you can do it and you don't want to risk the gamble. That is why you are presented with the alternative--A seemingly mindless mid to long iron from the tee with little problems to contend other then hitting it too far, and/or getting it behind the old dead tree, then a tough and semi-blinded approach that has even more to contend with.
For a player of your talents, I can't think of a better choice of options that your fully capable of pulling off, yet still can present you with a reward or a penalty for failure to do so.
For a player of your capabilities Tom, I have no doubt you can attack this thing--you just have to find moves on how to do it. Just like chess.