You should try and remember a xc course. That’s why you (g) walk them 2 or 3 or more times. 
This is what helps me the most, too - there are usually logical groups of jumps that link together based on the flow of the course, then you just have to string the groups together.
Like for this first course from WEF this weekend - I probably would ride 1, 2, 3, 4a and 4b, 5 as the first chunk. After 5 you have that turn and 6, 7, 8a and 8b are your next chunk. After 8b you look for 9 and jump 9, 10, 11 as your final chunk.
I’m also a person who names/renames the jumps, usually based on the colors or sponsor. I think it all comes down to learning style in the end, and takes some trial and error.
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I must admit, that this course being posted in the above post makes me feel like the OP, that seems so hard to remember.
But, I am the type that remembers lines and fence type color.
(made up course, not the above linked course)
Start on right lead to the pink jump, roll back to the out of the outside line, to the diagonal blue line, inside turn to the yellow oxer, to the cow jump…
This question makes me laugh because the only time I remember going off course in the ring was a HUNTER class at the Warrenton Pony Show. How can they expect you to stay on course when they don’t put NUMBERS on the jumps? (In this case there were TWO parallel diagonal lines (or maybe one was a single), both starting with a rust colored jump. So memorizing “rust diagonal” led me astray.)
In terms of memorizing show jumping courses, it works on several levels
1 Overall geometry(outside line, turn left to a bending line, right rollback to a diagonal line …)
2 The “look” of the jumps ( green vertical to red oxer, yellow planks to yellow rails, blue triple bar, black and white swedish to the road-closed planks …)
3 What I need to do with my riding ( keep forward through the outside line, get lined up to angle the bending line, rebalance for the rollback, keep forward on the turn …)
4 If all else fails, look for the next number.
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It’s true, they aren’t required to be up or visible. I also generally don’t look at them, aside from the occasional double check. I think they saved me once, but the jump I thought I was going for was also flagged in the other direction, so it was obvious for that reason as well. That was a course I didn’t walk…
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How about the time I had to walk the course without my trainer. I’m watching my standard 5ish rounds before going back to get my horse ready, and realized I missed an entire bending line to a one stride in my memorization AND walk. I was one of 4 clears that day. Thank goodness I watched some rounds! 
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I was trying to help a kid learn a hunter course. Every single fence in the ring was white and there were starter fences in addition to diagonal lines.
The other fun thing is when they put different color flowers on each side. So you memorize it as yellow flowers because that’s what you see from the in-gate end. And then you go to jump it coming towards the in gate and there are no yellow flowers, because they put pink ones on this side.
You know, I generally ignore the numbers in the arena, but I did find them VERY helpful in my first and only XC run so far. Hopefully I can count on them being there, because it turns out I need them when there are seemingly infinite logs I could be jumping.
