Along the lines of what Dave Schmidt says, I heard a very smart 91 year old lady this morning talking in a more sociology-anthropological sense about the more meaningful, rich and effective experience of being in a smaller committed group with an identity and focus, than just part of the mainstream conventional wisdom sort of group within your society. (all paraphrased and interpretted from her remarks, not verbatim).
I though of that phenomenon in context with our treehouse.
If as Dave points out, your golf experience is only from the aspect or POV of the gazzilion other golfers, more passionate only to buy the latest equipment, hit the ball further than the other, bought fully into the marketed hype of golf as a trendy social-bizlike activity, only seeking what you are told is great golf by the PR machines, and lifestyle R.E advertisements, etc., you may wind up with the emptiness of the group that is swept along by the currents of the superficial.
Having a small, focused, on-going discussion and place to express yourself with those that understand the passion for the game and fields of play that isn't mainstream, market driven perceptions, is a good thing. Being able to hook up with similarly motivated folks, around the globe is really a modern day miracle of the internet.
In the old days, could you imagine what Tom Paul would have spent on 26670 cablegrams to tell us what he believes about GCA?