Dick
I don't know about others, but I use the word "geomorphology" primarily because I like its sound and secondarily because I like to piss off my brother, who is a real geologist.
To both Hogan and me, all that counts is what's in the dirt, and from what I have seen, there is no dirt in the USofA which matches the dirt at the proper links of GBandI. Not at Prairie or Pacific Dunes, not at Shinnecock or NGLA. It may be serendipity rather than geomorphology, but to me, at least, it is a fact. Not trying to make any value judgements--after all, all values are relative these days, aren't they?--but I haven't seen a proper links golf course in the US , yet, but I'm still hoping!
In any case, who cares? Enjoy whatever golf you can get, wherever and however, and if you get to play any of the courses I have listed above, count yourself lucky, as do I.