RC90, I think Mike said it well. You have a passion for it or not. The passion may fade at times, but never leaves you. Watching a Ryder Cup or the last round of The Masters is quite exciting.
I'm not very good compared to the guys I play with. These guys are at a point that it's more a mental game than physical. They play the course in their heads. Watching a very good or great golfer manipulate the ball is spiritual and just plain amazing.
Years ago, I had the opportunity of watching John Daly make an unmakeable shot look easy. Ball was 4 ft behind a tree, several trees between ball and green, no visability to the hole, about 130 yd to the hole. He takes a 3/4 swing, I shiet you not, this ball just curves round everything, lands on the end of the green, about 30 ft from the hole, and then just rolls to 4 ft. Just unf'n believeable!!