A tad hokey, but the nicest course I’ve had the opportunity to play was the monument course at Troon North. Just very well manicured, and some pretty cool holes, especially when you start heading into the mountain on the back 9.
Had the opportunity to play Whistling Straits, Erin Hills (pre US Open), Black Wolf Run and a 4th Kohler course I cant remember off the top of my head, but that opportunity arose when we were pretty broke (young married couple with 2 young kids), so the wife put told me to pound sand on that one.
Also had the opportunity to play Pinehurst #2, but that trip got cancelled.
Played a couple courses in Palm Springs a few years back, with The Classic Club being the better one we played, but it was just “OK”. Coolest part about that course was just how desolate the area was around the course. The course itself was plush. When you’re on the outer holes on the property, you can see just how much work/water/maintenance they have to put into it to make it look that way. Utter desert wasteland surrounding the property.
For those who have had the opportunity to play Augusta, I am truly jealous. That really is a “once in a lifetime” thing.