"I regard golf as an expensive way of playing marbles"

Gilbert K. Chesterton's quote is a funny way of expressing his opinion on the game of golf. He is suggesting that golf is a pricey variation of the youth game of marbles. He implies that the 2 games are similar because they both involve hitting a small object with a stick. However, he is explaining that golf is much more expensive than marbles, as it needs expensive devices and courses. He is also implying that golf is a game of high-end, as it is frequently played by rich people. Chesterton's quote is an amusing method of expressing his viewpoint on the video game of golf and its costliness.