I'm looking at one of the first golf books I've owned, "Sandy Lyle takes you round Scotland's Championship Courses (St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Muirfield, Gleneagles)," published in 1982. Here's Sandy's take on the 439 yd 2nd at Carnoustie: "The second hole is quite different. There is a pleasant view from the tee up a narrow vally, on the line of the fairway, with ridges along either side. The one on the right is higher and comes down into the fairway quite sharply [a big difference from TSN!]. The first problem is Braid's Bunker, positioned in the centre of the fairway, with a supporting bunker perhaps 50 yards past it on the left. These bunkers look quite close and innocent. They are neither. They are very deep - a sand iron will be your only shot out. Braid's Bunker dominates the hole absolutely. It is 200 yards from the medal tee, and you must decide how to handle it, depending on your ability and the conditions on that day.
"Before you drive the ball anywhere, accept the fact that this hole at any time will demand two very good hits to bring you anywhere near the green, so I would be inclined to play it as a par 5 [!!!]. In the driving zone the left side of the fairway, between these two bunkers, is the better side tactically, but the ground there is rather uneven, almost rutted. The right side is better ground, but the perfect place, I suppose, is past Braid's Bunker, in the centre of the fairway."
Sandy goes on to mention that there is an "evil little trap in the left side of the waist (of the green), cutting boldly into the putting surface." I'm not sure why Sandy wouldn't recommend the right side of the fairway as the optimum driving line because of that "evil little trap." But's it's all irrelevant, as Tom Huckaby points out, because today's equipment has rendered Braid's Bunker not in play. Too bad. Golf was maybe more interesting in 1982.