Carl,
I had a debate with a fellow, who claimed, that on a 180-190 par 3 that it was critical for him to know if the hole was cut in the front, back or middle of the green, on a green that was slightly uphill but completely visible from the tee.
He wanted colored flags on the flag sticks and I was against that practice
I asked him why ? What difference would it make ?
He replied that it affected his club selection.
As a mid to high single digit handicapper I asked him why he wouldn't aim for the middle of the green every time and leave himself a 20 foot putt at the very most.
But, that's a separate issue from impeding the golfers ability to "sight in" on the hole location.
I've seen some neat techniques, including a fronting bunker in a raised footpad and mounds well short of the green.
No matter how much information golfers obtain from devices, they're still prone to being influenced by their eye, and that's where the architect can deceive them.