Well, golf fields are not as bad for environment as datac... I mean mines and factories.
Really, golf courses are taxed much lower usually, as they go as green open spaces (similar to protected forest areas), and also their assessed land value does not account for neighboring residential prices, so their tax is based on lower value than land can be sold at.
Golf courses are often full of exclusively native foliage, often protected areas, and wetland areas. With much more ecodiversity support than neighboring businesses, residential areas, and even parks.
The courses around me cost like $25-50 for a group tee time reservation. It's pretty cheap to get a set of second hand clubs, my small collection was had for like $75 over the years. You don't have to be rich to play golf.
Plus the golf courses around me are often municipal, they've got some nice bike paths to cut through the urban landscape around and through the links. It's a much nicer ride than along busy streets.
That said I do tend to enjoy disc golf more than traditional golf. I have never had too good of a shot.
I'm not especially fast and it normally takes me about two hours to play 9 holes. I also sometimes go to practice at the driving range or putting greens if I don't have that much time but want to do some golf things. It's not like one needs to do a full 18 holes every time you go golf.
How long do people normally spend at a public pool? How long will people spend playing basketball or tennis or baseball? How long is a soccer game usually? About a couple of hours?
Really, golf courses are taxed much lower usually, as they go as green open spaces (similar to protected forest areas), and also their assessed land value does not account for neighboring residential prices, so their tax is based on lower value than land can be sold at.