I think it is a mixture.
Mechanics is the correct hold on the club, and the realisation that you have to use the body as a kind of giant spring.
I played my first round of golf left handed in 1976, changed to right handed in 1980, read a wonderful book called "seven days to better golf", by Harry Obitz and Dick Farley, and in 1981 hit 77 on a par 72.
I used to play racquet sports and my whole game was based on feel.
In 2002 I had my first golf lesson, and my whole game was shot to pieces, but the litle bits of useful knowledge I have retained means that I am hitting the ball better than ever.
Conclusion - if you have played other sports to a reasonable standard then you are going to be a feel player.
GoNavy, you are so right about the old days - Lee Trevino was a hero of mine before I even picked up a club. Arnold Palmer used to thrash the ball.
The only players today that I can think of with odd swings are John Daly and Jim Furyk.