Here's another thought: if I see photos and descriptions of a course like Canterbury, and my mind and heart tell me that it would be a joy to play and a wholly satisfying experience, why would/should I ever concern myself with how it 'ranks'? And if I should allow myself to become concerned, and if on my one trip to England I didn't play it because I decided to play a number of courses all "ranked" above it, wouldn't that amount to a kind of self-betrayal, a sacrifice of self on the alter of public opinion? Call me nuts, but part of me believes it would be exactly and precisely that kind of betrayal. I know, I know - it's only golf. But I have a suspicion that at the deepest levels, we don't tend to compartmentalize all that much, i.e. if we lose ourselves here, we lose ourselves there. we lose ourselves everywhere.
Peter
PS - great quote Dan from Helen Keller. Damn straight, sister, damn straight!