Being a green pinko tree-hugger who plays the occassional round of golf (only I call it Whackf*ck), I prefer to separate "Golf-the industry", with it's inherent environmental issues,class and wealth issues etcetera, from "Golf-the pursuit", much as I would broadly delineate "music-the industry" from "music-the pursuit". I believe course architects get way too much credit for hacking a course out of a pristine mountain-side- a real challenge would be to rehab an old tailing pond or other such like.
Golf-the-pursuit, has more to do with the inner than the outer, methinks. You're just swinging the club. Like when you play the fiddle, you're just bowing the strings. Quite simple really.
Und golf is also ze bladder sport. When the buxom fraulien is coming mit ze beer cart all ze time, you need ze big bladders...
While I'm at it - here's my dream golf foursome - me, Alice Cooper, Anne Murray and Bill Murray.

Cheers,
Bardfored