George, while I sort of get your point, I am not sure I fully agree. My impression based solely on observation primarily playing on the local sort of courses I play most often is that the vast majority of folks playing the game as recreation and trying to play as often as they can because they love the game, is an income strata that is not representative of the country club set. I suspect, and have no data from a golf foundation sort of survey group, is that the majority of people who play 10 to 50 rounds a year are daily fee, muni, or even affordable CCFAD players. As we do know, the Country Club privates are continuing to suffer membership decreases and are still out beating he bush in many cases for increased membership. While private daily fee rounds are also not what the used to be, I think their are still more players by numbers playing daily fee, muni and lower non-private venues.
So, while you say that possibly the country club and private club or upper tier CCFAD resort players may think that it is just tough economic luck if the 'can't keep up', I don't think that is the effective or operative way to look at it. I think golf will die, if it isn't saved at the lower cost level. As it dies due to costly play in time and perhaps money and regular players play less and less because they pay more and more, all the other supporting aspects of the game from suppliers of turf maintenance, professional and assistant pro activities, those that work designing and maintaining, and any other activity related to golf will dry up and that paucity of supporting acivity, along with the economy that underpins it, will dry up, and then it won't just be a matter of 'tough luck, if they can't keep up' as there will be little left to keep up with.