Chris B,
Great picture, but just like on super tight tree lined fairways, I'd rather be pitching out from 80 yards from the green, then from 160 yards from the green, so with your picture, I'd rather be going at the green with a wedge, or alternate club, than with a forced 6 iron.
Patrick,
The title of this thread that you started is "Long Drives - Is there no ARCHITECTURAL defense?", and in the opening post your question is: "What can be done to counter LONG drives that doesn't harm the lesser golfer, the higher handicap more?"
The word you use in the title is "defense", not "deterrant". The word you use in the opening question is "counter", not "prevent".
Yes, long hitters are still going to want to bomb it down there, so undulating fairways are not a deterrant, not something that will deter long hitters from bombing it--they'll still choose the wedge over the longer shot.
But undulating fairways are an example of what you asked for, a
defense against long hitters that, unlike "More bunkers, Deeper bunkers, More severe greens, Narrower fairways, Higher rough, cross bunkers, and water features", doesn't harm the lesser (high handicap) golfer.
Open, firm greens with false fronts are another feature that, especially when combined with undulating fairways, provide
defense against the longer hitter while remaining playable for the higher handicap golfer.
So I believed I've answered your question adequately as I read it. Now, if what you meant by your question is "What architecturally can be done to deter/prevent long hitters from hitting driver?", then I'm not as interested in answering that question, because I believe that players should be allowed to have options off the tee, and that includes the option to hit it as far as you can.