I'm biased as we have a golden...so I won't post my opinion. Lol. Ours is a lovely boy though, but he can be bouncy when he wants to!

Honestly, any dog has the chance of having health problems, some breeds stick out because they do have known hereditary problems, but so long as you make sure the breeder has had the parents tested and scored for those problems (such as hip dysplasia etc) then you should be ok, although nothing is ever guaranteed. Things like obesity can be controlled by exercise and diet, and aren't necessarily a reflection on the breed itself.

I guess have a really good think about what you want in a family pet, and choose a breed that best fits your ideals. Maybe think about a cross breed too, there are quite a few lab x goldens these days, so hopefully you'd end up with the best of both breeds! It really is a very personal decision though, and everyone will tell you something different, so I'd just go with your gut and find a puppy that you like!