ZWExton
I personally don't find the "impoverished" aspect necessarily in play.
That's not to say that I don't discount the fact that people who are in a tough spot financially choose to not play the sport for financial reasons. It's definitely an expense-related decision.
There are related expenses in every hobby... the hunter, the bowler, the tennis player, the avid fisherman, etc. No matter the hobby they cling to.
I guess my point is that the opportunities available, based on the decisions made as it relates to finances, less the discretionary income... I've got a lady who comes to clean my house every Friday. I make it a point to not be there when she comes, because all I hear is the "woe is me" stories with how she's struggling to get by, despite the fact that I'm paying her 30 bucks an hour.
Yet she has the latest iPhone. She drinks and smokes cigarettes.
Don't complain to me about your situation when there are things you can do, habits you can avoid, to help save money and improve your situation. If you're struggling to make ends meet - why do you smoke and drink? Why do you have the latest cellphone technology?
That's part of the reason why I find this argument irrelevant. And I understand that this isn't the case all the time, but it is much of the time. When I was in debt with a mortgage and a family - I was lucky to get out once every couple months. If that.
Golf ain't an inexpensive habit, but when you have other expensive habits, or you've made bad financial decisions in life? It all adds up.
Like I said, for a lot of different reasons - golf ain't for everybody.