Winds are random in WGT AFAIS.
It ain't realistic if you know the directions of sequential holes. In STA, holes 2 - 6 are lined up in the same direction with holes 13 - 16 forming the "opposite lane", classic links style, with common greens between them. 17 continues in the same direction. 1 and 18 are about 120° off this general direction.
Lately I had a 25 mph crosswind left to right on #17, coming from the 18th green. At 18, no headwind as you would expect but a 25 mph tailwind. That's not "swirling winds" but random occurrence IMO. OTOH I'm pleased by the fact that we don't have the wind in the face for six holes in a row.
High winds are well possible on these links courses but calm days, too. I remember Padraig Harrington saying (in the year he won the Open) that it was very unusual to aim the shots far off the greens (60 yds?) to compensate for the high winds. These are "Legend" conditions, us mortals have less brutal winds usually. From playing Jubilee (parallel to the Old Course) in 2009 I remember a comfortable breeze.