Tom Doak, Jim Urbina, Scott Szabo,
I've never heard another golfer tout a golf course by saying, you've got to go play X, it's course rating is Y and its slope is Z.
Most of the comments refering/touting another course that I've heard are based on the experience, not the statistical analysis.
I went to Bandon, Oregon, completely in the dark as to the course rating and slope, had a great time, have touted the courses since, and don't have a clue as to what the course rating and slope are.
I have no idea as to what the course rating and slope are at Seminole, NGLA, GCGC, Shinnecock, Sand Hills, Sebonack, Friar's Head, Westhampton, Mountain Lake, Mountain Ridge, Hidden Creek or Pine Tree.
Nor do I have any idea as to what they are at any other course I play more than occassionally.
Those numbers are completely irrelevant to me, and probably to 99+ % of the golfing world.
If someone quizzed me on the course ratings or slopes, I'd get a ZERO.
But, if someone quizzed me on the playing experience, routing, holes, features and the overall design, I think I'd do pretty well, and, that the prospective golfer would get an a pretty thorough description of the course I was touting.
Word of mouth on the course, not two numbers, course rating and slope, are the best indicators of the playing experience.