Golf Magazine's Golf Trails position paper: What drives this article?

I cannot help slogging through the variety of golf offerings out there…I’m on golf.com, golfdigest.com, golfweek.com, golfchannel.com, and the myriad others quite a bit. When I was in 3rd grade, I was the top speed reader in my class, so my ability to trudge promptly through these sites is well-rehearsed and well-earned. Many articles are fine entertainment, while others leave me scratching my head. Here is an example of one that absolutely reeks of corporate involvement:

Happy Trails: America has almost as many golf trails as it has had presidents. Which should get your vote?

As I read through the four trails mentioned here, I found it difficult to imagine that anyone would want to visit any of the trails, perhaps with the exception of the RTJ (in actuality, the Roger Rulewich) trail. I can absolutely imagine why Golf.Com would create the article, except as an advertiser, I wonder why anyone would want to pay for drivel like this.

At the drop of a hat, one could invent four golf trails (central Connecticut, central Ohio, central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania) within my own region that will cost you spit, will bring you within striking distance of handfuls of affordable and high-end courses, and will not demand that I use words such as “gas-guzzler…doesn’t win for quantity…dull slog…equally erratic pricing”

So honestly, Golf.Com, learn from an expert. Visit TravelGolf.Com to find the skinny on where affordable and logical golf course compendia really do exist. Oh sure, I could give you links, but that would cost you the fun of doing a little research.