Tony,
You're too kind.
As I get on in life I'm fortunate enough to have enough time, money, health and an accommodating partner to be able to travel and golf. But, on this site, I'd doubt I'm one of the more traveled.
I'm not sure about open minded, but I do enjoy all kinds of courses both old and modern. What I don't enjoy is expensive courses. When I first started posting here, I started a thread on current times being the second golden age of architecture, and generally got shot down for my troubles. But I still believe it is true, especially for those of us not blessed by access to private American classic gems or classic GBI gems (because of distance). Certainly I love the classic Scottish links courses the most, but I find almost their equal in modern courses such as Sawgrass, the Ocean course, Bandon Dunes, and Barnbougle Dunes. I am mystified by those that need to rank one course as better than another. Modern or Classic, they're all good with me.
As a Canadian, I'm not sure I should be trying to describe American golf culture. I don't know that there is a culture based on geography, so much as defined by where you are on the social pecking order. I have not played any American private courses (classic or not), but I would expect the culture to be quite different there from the culture at CCFAD's or from what the Americans call muni's, and different again for golf retreats like Bandon Dunes. I doubt that I would be comfortable at a private American course. I don't like to feel like an unwelcome interloper. CCFAD's vary. Some are comfortable; some are uncomfortably over the top.
I think too that on our side of the ocean there is probably a greater variety of people who play golf, not to be confused with golfers, than you have on your side of the ocean. I think that affects the culture of the clubs over here.
Compare and contrast to Canada? Hmmmm, sadly, I think in terms of golf culture we have pretty much emulated the American models. We have private clubs (some of which I have played) which make me uncomfortable. We have a plethora of CCFAD's and a lot of pay to play courses, not unlike the US. I certainly prefer the GBI model to either ours or the American model.
Marilyn plays some here in the summer. She says she enjoys playing, but of course doesn't have my obsession. She enjoys playing when we travel, but still is intimidated by playing with other people she sees as real golfers. And, she is still of the mind that the highly rated courses I want to take her to are highly rated because they are really difficult. Maybe I shouldn't have taken her to PGA West early on. She hasn't figured out architectural merit yet.
I think that she often likes courses we play on our travels because they tend to be firm and fast at most places we go. As a high handicapper she really likes the roll out in fast and firm conditions. Links-like courses in many places provide that, and generally along with a lack of forced carries over water, make those kind of courses more enjoyable for her. The course she disliked the most was Dornoch, the time we played with you and Bill Dow. Nothing to do with you or Willie, of course. Just too long, too much gorse and too deep bunkers. She'd be a real poster girl for Melvin, though; she's never met a course that she doesn't want to walk and she never needs to know about yardages.
I've played a couple of courses in Ireland. Missed playing RCD because the cruise we were on neglected to find out that the day we were there was Ladies day and the course wasn't accessible. Ended up at Ardglass instead. A great experience. From my limited experience in Ireland, I preferred Scotland or England. When we were in Ireland it was generally wet and the courses played slow. Obviously, I got to the wrong courses. Now if Buda were to go to Ireland on dates I was available, I might be tempted.