I'm unsure as to what the difference is? Can any one tell me the difference and which one you prefer/ have had experience with?

Courting is an old fashioned terminology used to describe two individuals interested in each other whereby the man would court the lady with a chaperone. So it would not apply now in our time.

Really I still hear a few people pursuing courting...

I guess it all depends on what country you come from where social customs are much different then on the north american continent, say Canada and the US. I imagine different ethnic groups would observe 'courting' as a means of getting to know each other without being alone to do so.

I have never heard anyone I know say they are 'courting'. It would be archaic to do so.

I have heard some people say courting when they meant dating. They tended to be older people/ just being silly.

From my perspective courting refers to someone trying to get someone to marry them. So its dating with the specific intent of marriage. Dating is just two people going out together to have a good time, but with romantic goals.

im unsure as to what the difference is? can any one tell me the difference and which one you prefer/ have had experience with?
Not much.

I agree with ScottGem on this one! However, I live in the south and there are a lot of people who use this word when referring to casual dating(mostly older folks). To me, the two words are virtually the same thing but when I think of "courting" I think of something that is more serious.