Mmmmm....are we again getting into the realms of the US making up it's own rules and names for things that have been tradition elsewhere for many centuries? It would seem in many spheres that someone in the US happens upon a tool or implement, doesn't know its name, and so gives it a name of his choosing. Then a week later another unknowing soul happens along and assumes this newly chosen name is the only name and within yet another short space of time this name is sacrosanct throughout the US. Including manufacturers of said item.
To return to the cue;
Gary, the origins of billiards and hence snooker and pool, lay in France some 6 or 700 years ago. A week or two before the formation of the US I believe. I'm not going to say who is right or not but just say that here in the UK, if you asked someone what type or make of cuestick they had, you would receive a puzzled look and asked "wtf's a cuestick?".
As far as I am aware, the order of play in golf has always been determined either by drawing names from a bag, the short stick/straw method, or variations thereof, or as has become prevalent of late, the toss of a coin. No mention of an 'away' player which I can only assume derives from inter-college or state golf. It is not a rule of golf.
Does real golf permit games to be quit without affecting handicap?
Yes but it depends on a) if it's due to an illness and, b) if it's in a competition, then as long as it's reported to the stewards
Does real golf permit games on "Best of" courses?
No, The nearest being I suppose, is the Links Championship played over the St. A, Carnoustie and Kingsbairns links in the St. Andrews area of Scotland. There maybe others.
Does real golf permit golfer to buy balls during game?
Yes. Rule 4-4a prohibits a player from borrowing a club from another player playing on the course but the Rules do not prevent a player from borrowing other items of equipment (balls, towels, gloves, tees, etc.) from another player or an outside agency. The Pro's shop being deemed an outside agency, as would a car in a parking lot I guess.