Actually, with all those damn traffic circles causing numerous accidents in Paris and DC, I am not sure many would argue that L'Enfant's plans were as practical as they are beautiful.
Whenever I drive through a modern traffic circle, I think of how a new generation of designers has forgotten the hard lessons of the past in favoring art over function.
I had the same feeling the other day, while touring one of my own courses in a bunker reduction mode for the Owner. In the 90's, we let bunkering for aesthetics sake, and little details - like letting water drain in bunkers - go in the name of aesthetics. The 1950's guys this site thinks were dull designers certainly were more practical and they paid more attention to those kind of details. That attention is returning again.
BTW, I do believe in functional beauty. I find grain elevators, railroad coaling towers, and many buildings in small towns built for function are still very aesthetic and charming. Even the quonset hut has a certain charm. On golf courses, that translates to some of the old, very functional square or round fill pads doing just enough to fulfill their function.
BTW II, I always find golf courses at sunrise and sunset to be the most beautiful places on earth, even if just walking. I tend to believe that the need to open the forest and create intimate spaces (I think par 4 openings replicate nature pretty well at 400 yards long and 90 yards wide) artifically but effectively creates spaces we just feel comfortable in. Old English Landscape Architects like Capability Brown wrote about the human need to "see around the next corner" and golf course clearing (or artifically planted courses) tend to create that feeling and its soul satisfying.
Other than that, I don't analyze too much, I just try to enjoy.
BTWII, as requested, I typed that without reading all the posts, although obviously, I did read the one above.