It seems like science because it is science; ballistics is literally the study of the mechanics behind objects in flight. I was drawn to shooting because of the math and science behind it while studying kinematics in college. Kinematics led to the study of internal and external ballistics, which led me to terminal ballistics, which led me to hunting. An accomplished long range shooter has to have at least a basic understanding of the math behind what's happening. If the shooter doesn't understand what's happening, then he must rely on somebody else who does (spotter). Otherwise, they're just lobbing shots in the general direction of a target and getting lucky every once in a while.
I'm not terribly familiar with golf, but I'd bet that any top level player is applying just as much science into that sport as shooting. Even if the individual golfer isn't aware of the mechanics behind the sport, somebody else on the team is. Otherwise, everyone would be using a single club for every shot.