MDugger,
Dick Wilson was very familiar with the wind, having spent some time at Seminole and Shinnicock, and residing in southern Florida by the coast.
TEPaul,
I'm not so sure that Wilson's sentiments, as quoted by you, are that far removed from CBM and others.
For the better players, and even the mediocre player NGLA is a fairly aerial golf course.
# 's 1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,13,14,16,and 17 seem to prefer if not mandate the aerial game.
Over the last 80-90 years or so, I don't believe that well struck shots were intended to trundle along the ground until they came to rest on the putting surface.
I do believe that the aerial game was always the intended objective of a well struck shot, from range, just that the green wasn't necessarily the target or intended landing zone.