I'm not driving several hours to see one outstanding hole in a sea of mediocrity. I want something that challenges me, makes me think, provides me multiple options so I'm not really sure if I'm playing it the best way for my game or not. Something where next time I visit if conditions are different whatever I've learned may be out the window on some holes because its a whole new ballgame.
Having a nice clubhouse, a historic locker room, great shower heads, or indeed any clubhouse larger than a lean to built out of discarded 2x4s, having some college freshman there to take my bag when I arrive, having a paved parking lot with lines drawn in it, handicap spots and lanes painted for carts to drive through, or having carts at all, those really don't do anything for me. I'm there to play golf, not to hang out, network, drink a pint of Guinness or be pampered. My ideal course has a world class course but makes due with an honor box and a gravel parking lot. If you can't carry your own bag you better bring a pullcart, if you want to take a shower after you are done you better live close, have a hotel room or like Bill Murray be fine with a pond. If you want a beer afterwards you better have a well insulated cooler in your car to last 3-4 hours under the hot sun or know where the good bar is down the road!