Peter,
I'm not playing golf courses any more. I've given up - I've deteriorated so much. I'm still interested in courses, however. My lists are a bit odd because I've some big gaps in my experience. I've not played Royal St George's, for example, or Muirfield, Royal Portrush, Waterville or Portmarnock so they don't get on the list, but Aldeburgh is there because I've so much enjoyed playing there so much. I'm sad not to have included Saunton, St Enodoc, or Hunstanton, but they just got overruled. I've only played one course in Australia (Pacific in Brisbane) and none in Africa or Asia, apart from one hotel course in Bangkok. I haven't played golf in Canada, sadly, and my American courses are thin on the ground. As I no longer fly, I don't think I'll be adding to my list of American courses. I hope, though, to see some more of the Dutch and French classic courses.
You may wonder why I have given up playing. The sad fact is that I can no longer get across two of the holes at Wilmslow, par 3s across ravines with nowhere to drop out safely. It is purgatory. I also can no longer get on any of the par 4s in two shots. It is soul destroying. But I take my camera with me, and though the photos are but average, they give an impression of the course that comes with a bit of experience - you soon learn which photos to throw away! I'm currently engaged in a photographic survey of all the courses in Cheshire, in time for the 2020 Centenary of the Cheshire Union of Golf Courses. There are some great courses such as Royal Liverpool, Delamere Forest, Prestbury and Wallasey, but there are also little gems that need a little boost such as Wirral Ladies' and Knutsford. Knutsford is unusual in being a 10-hole course (separate 9th and 18th holes) but I can still play it (no compulsory carries over ravines) and you can get a 9-hole discounted green fee on weekday afternoons - my wife and I will have a glorious time, no matter what standard the golf.
Late in my playing life, I played Trump Aberdeen and Winston Links in Germany. Neither features in my lists, because they were too difficult for me (I should not have attempted to play such difficult courses). I loved the views from Trump, but that was all. It was monstrously deep rough and huge carries from the tee and cost me something like 20 balls for the round. Winston Links was equally punishing yet was perfectly straightforward if you played to a 12 handicap. I no longer did and my round of well over 120 was simply pathetic. I still had some hopes playing Winston Links, and I enjoyed the experience, but I realise now that I should have given up a few years earlier.
Where would I like to play, were I to come back a rejuvenated man!
1. Pine Valley
2. Augusta National
3. Cypress Point
4. Pacific Dunes, one of the Oregon courses, or all of them!
5. San Francisco
6. Oakmont
7. The Homestead
8. Country Club
9. Falsterbo
10. Royal Hague
11. Royal Melbourne
12. Royal Adelaide
13. New South Wales
14. Paraparaumu Beach
15. Hirono
16. Durban C.C.
17. Barnbougle Dunes
18. Kingston Heath
19. Cape Kidnappers
20. Jockey Club
21. Casa de Campo
22. Banff Springs
23. Mid Ocean
24. Cape Breton Highlands
25. Riviera
Sadly, all of these will be but a dream. I have no chance of visiting any, let alone playing them. Don't grow old!