"instead of hitting the balls with them sticks, why don't they throw them, be a lot easier for them surely"

Well, that is more or less how the Irish sport of Road Bowling works. Except that it's played along the road, and the "ball" is a lot bigger and heavier than a golf ball, being a sort of cannon-ball.

I believe it's a bit more organised these days. It can be a bit hairy driving along and coming across a game, especially when the bowler is cutting a corner on thr road with the throw.

Then there's the version we've all played as kids, kicking a can or a stone along the road going home from school or whatever.