My selection is not an exotic or hyped locale, but a course I have great memories of growing up. Hickory Hills in Grove City, Ohio. Anyway, if any of you are looking for a slightly under the radar private course to play in central Ohio, this course is a gem.
http://www.hickoryhills.com/As a kid, I learned how to play on this course. During the summers I would go with my dad every night for a few hours when the course was usually empty. At the time (late 1980s), this part of Columbus was basically the country. For a middle schooler learning to play this course had several impossible tee shots -- #1 and #4 in particular come to mind. The course had also two separate #3 holes -- two wildly different par 3s, so as a kid it was really fun to have an option to play either (or both). But more than anything, it was just a great environment to get introduced to golf in. I was able to learn on my terms, at my own pace, and none of the negatives that are often associated with golf (slow play, crowds, etc.) were a factor.
After my dad switched to Scioto (which was obviously amazing to play as a high schooler), I definitely missed playing Hickory, and still try to go back every few years when I'm home.
At any rate, this is my very nostalgic response -- even though there are plenty of courses on my bucket list that I'm sure are technically better golf courses, it will be tough to beat my memory of Hickory Hills as an overall experience with golf.