For golf course plus bird combination, it is the oyster catcher at Machrihanish for me.
My closest to the bird experience were the pheasants at Gleneagles half way house. They walked right into the kitchen looking for sandwich droppings.
At home in the states, I like the great blue heron, the red tail hawk, the pheasant, the pileated woodpecker, the turkey, the sharp shinned and cooper's hawk, osprey, the kingfisher, and the ruby throated hummingbird.
My favorite at the moment is the American goldfinch. I like to see the color change in the male as the seasons change. I can hear their call now.