Golf Photography Ground Level vs 50 Foot Elevation
The four most important factors that impact golf photography are lighting most dramatic in the first and last hours of the day), contrast (having varying colors like sand, water, etc) and perspective (the eye for the shot) and lastly elevation.
In a recent conversation with a professional golf photographer, he said you do not play courses from 50 feet in the air so why snap photos from there. While this is true it gives a true perspective of the whole. Later in the conversation he did reveal he often shoots from a step ladder.
The reason why elevation is so important is height brings more visibility to the contrasting elements of the shot. For example, you will see more of the blue pond, or browns of the traps.
Here is same shot at ground level. (shot with camera held above my head)