I write this with sadness, as a week ago today I lost my 5 year golden to Lyme Nephritis. I've had 3 Goldens. All varied in their hunting ability, but that was more due to me than the dog. They are eager learners and love to please.
Very much agree that you want to select carefully your pup if you want a hunter. Generally the "white coats" or "English" Goldens are the show dogs. I love Goldens but dont' have much use for the whites. Field Goldens will generally have the much darker to almost red coat.
I was at a buddy of mines shortly after Sage passed last week. He told me Sage was one of the very, very few dogs that he would let his 2 year old son be around unwatched - she was a Golden typical personality, everyone was her friend. As gentle and harmless as they come, but was relentless on chasing down and grabbing up a wounded rooster.
In all honesty, I've seen some labs that definately out hunted any Golden I've had, but there were very few days in the field that we got outdone by another flusher. Usually the rock star hunter labs I saw were "robot dogs" overtrained to the point that they were robots. I like an interactive hunt with my dog.
If you want an all around companion, family dog, and all around buddy that will become as good of a hunter as you put time and training into, go with a Golden.
If anyone knows of any upcoming hunting stock Golden litters, please drop me a message. Thanks.