Bradley -
yup, I think so too.
And I think that aspect of golf course design at least as important as any other.
The "shot testing" aspect is over-rated: every shot you play on a golf course is a test, in one way or another.
If you're not getting beauty on a golf course, and natural beauty at that, you might as well be playing inside.
A long, narrow, low-ceilinged building should do the trick, shot-testing wise.
Peter