Adam,
Do you really think that's a surprising quote from Jack?
I've been playing a number of his courses in recent years (expecting to play a few more shortly), and although I think his design philosophy has improved considerably in recent years, I would still say that he is very much a fellow who lays it out quite clearly in front of you.
In other words, what you see is what you get and I can't think of a single Nicklaus hole I've ever played where visual trickery played a part.