I won't soon forget the honesty box I used for depositing green fees when nobody was on duty at Strathpeffer Spa ... I think they had it at Musselburgh the first time I was there, too. I've seen it since at a couple of courses in rural Nebraska and in New Zealand.
Westward Ho! is also an experience like none other I've encountered.
On the low maintenance side,
We played Mulrany, a nine hole, au natural course in County Mayo Ireland.
Sheep fences, spectacular views, hard on the ocean.
Not only was there an honor box, but an honor bar!
the tiny clubhouse was open and the tap was flowing. almost a bit creepy.
We never saw another person, and made up several tees/holes high in the dunes and on the edge of the ocean where the sheep had clipped the turf tight.
Another honor box story.
At Carradale, another 9 holer, we paid our money for our prearranged round in the box, waited and looked around and couldn't find a soul-so we teed off.
No sooner had the first 2 balls been hit when a man ran out of the pub about 75 yards away, leapt in his car and sped up to us, blue lights going, and screaming curse words with the Blessed Mother and Jesus mixed in.
We had inadvertantly teed off from the white tees-which were exactly one yard behind the yellow visitor tees.
Two rounds and many pints later we were fast friends and he actually sent me an invitation to play in their big guest event the following July.
As a PGA professional, most overseas rounds are comped, but I would never tee off without paying....fortunately most honor boxes have nominal fees.
On the high maintenance side (well sort've as actual high maintenance gives me the chills)
My staff and I played Maidstone with our chef who happened to be a member. Having played there many times through the back door of professional courtesy, it was weird/great to enjoy a few drinks in very cool low key locker room after we played-then go out on a whim and play the 9 hole short course .