This encompasses most of what I feel about golf courses.
It's why I like Brora so much.
And it's what I was trying to get at with my comment about test of skill vs. test of character. I thought people would understand what I meant, but most didn't.
I think now it should have been: Good American golfers mostly see golf as a test of skill, hence the narrow fairways, forced carries, target golf, the demand for perfect conditions and proportional punishment, etc. Others, including most of the Scots I've met are more likely to see golf as a test of the ability to overcome misfortune.
In the latter example, wide fairways, invisible but punitive bunkers, no real expectation of perfect conditions, acceptance of crazy bounces, etc.,etc, all point to a game where the goal isn't just to see if you can hit a given shot, but one where your ability to carry on after one of those things happens.
Because I have a limited amount of skill, but I can play out of a bad lie, and my game gets better the closer I get to the hole, I prefer the latter over the former.
Freedom vs. restriction
Liberating vs. confining
I think those are going to be a part of my course rating system....
K