Whilst this topic has moved on somewhat, as an environmentally sensitive golfer I personally avoid courses wedged between lines of condos and villas. Golf courses can be advantagous to local residents by keeping land away from the developer. TOC, Sunningdale, St Georges Hill will never be built on hence the huge premium of property overlooking the course. I was lucky to play Kennendy Bay, WA in Dec 2005, the course was invisible from the road and in keeping with the beauty of the surrounding bush and dunes. Sadly huge development is commencing which will surround the course with homes, will the golfing experience be the same in the future, I doubt it and understand why lobbyists would have objected to the course being built in the first place.
I understand development funding the course but we can make a difference by spending our pounds and dollars at enviromentally sensitive clubs and those where the housing fits the land as well as the course.