I don't understand why you're grumble.
Associations cup it's optional.
If you feel you can't go with your official competitions, you don't participate.
it's simple.
And if you have fun with it, why not to use some extra greens to that.
They did a great project, why not get a small reward for that.
After all, those greens are going to the improvement of our players and not to spend condition in our asc. games.