Steve...
You hit on a few things that I loved so much about Scotland.
16 on The Old Course. Like you said, I would imagine on a non-windy day you could blast it right over the Principal's Nose. Those bunkers were about 180 yards out there from the tees I played. However with the wind in my face, I spanked a driver right down the middle (bad idea on this hole) and right into the bunkers. Conversely on the 2nd hole, green 337 yards away, my drive was pin high but off to the right. Obviously, this hole plays down wind. Really neat stuff!!
16 at Askernish, I played it twice...once with modern clubs, once with hickories. First time, with modern clubs I went up and over Old Tom's Pulpit but was a bit long. 2nd time, with hickories, I remember Ralph saying no one can hold the top shelf and that balls simply roll down the the lower tier. So, I hit a niblick to the top shelf and it stuck! Now that makes for an interesting putt!!! FYI, wind the first day was 25 to 30 mph and a tad less the next day.
To me, this stuff is what makes for fun golf.