Some idol thoughts from driving to Iowa:
I see three general types of golf courses and their characteristics:
Public (old)
Modest maintenance
Incomplete cart path (some dirt)
Minimalist design
Grumpy pro
Very short green to tee walks
8 minute tee times
One tee, maybe two for each hole
Very tight golf holes, sometimes dangerous
Dirt
Public (new)
Tries too hard to be a resort
Wall to wall cart paths
Some over-design
Lots of new golf shoes
Long green to tee walks (better to sell carts)
8 minute tee times
5 sets of tees minimum
signs and rope
Private (old)
Short green to tee walks
Golf in its purest form (see the list on this web site)
No tee times
Caddies
Money
No pool
3 sets of tees max
No remodeling or change of golf course in 50 years
Few woman and kids
no ropes, no flowers
Private (new)
Pool, gym, banquet hall
Expensive metal in paring lot
Boring golf course (playable formula type)
5 sets of tee
Woman and kids
Clean
Cart paths with curbs, benches, ball washers, etc.
Resort (typical)
8 minute tee times
Wide cart paths with curbs
Bag tags
Very, very friendly
Very strange golf holes
Twenty five sets of tees on every hole
Ropes and flowers
Signs (stay out environmental contamination!)
Resort (new)
Golf focused
Mimics private (old)
12 Minute tee times