Is it possible to display the course / track without following it?

This is a solution, although in this way the map will not auto zoom and move ...

In that case just use the standard navigation. If the navigation directions disturb you, customize the screen, and remove them.

... or better yet, add a second screen without the navigation directions (by default there are four screens available in the naviagtion mode, and only the first one is enabled, in the settings). In this way you can then easily switch between the navigation with directions and without them.

It turns out that I can start the course anywhere, of course, as long as you know where to look;)

Yes, of course, you can start it anytime and anywhere. Did you think that when you start it, without following the navigation instructions, it would crash the device, or something similar?