Golf Industry Key to Vitality of State's Economy According to New Report

Saturday, 13 February 2010

Golf is big business

Did you know golf's direct impact on the State's economy totaled $1.2billion in 2007, and that its indirect contribution was $2.15 billion? And how about the fact it paid out roughly $116 million in taxes, provided 29,318 people with jobs and $796.3million in wages?
No, probably not, how could you? For the last couple of years, while the nation has suffered the worst economic slump since the Great Depression, golf has come under fire in the corridors of power. Last year Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and 18 fellow Representatives demanded Northern Trust repay part of the $1.6billion government bailout money it had received and spent, a little injudicuously perhaps, on schmoozing corporate guests at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. Golf has also been condemned for having a negative impact on the environment; a fair and valid accusation 15 years ago certainly, but one the sport has worked hard to dismiss in recent years.
John Bodenhamer
According to figures in a new report prepared by SRI International and commissioned by Golf 2020 for the Washington Golf Alliance, golf is very much an essential part of the State economy, however, as it contributes more to State coffers than both wheat production and boat building and is only slightly behind the seafood preparation and packaging industry. 'These are the figures we need to put in front of state legislators,' says John Bodenhamer, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) and Wasington State Golf Association (WSGA) which, along with the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association and Western Washington Chapter of the PGA, form the Washington Golf Alliance. 'Golf has gotten a hard time of late, and underservedly so we believe. Not only does the continued health and growth of the golf industry have a direct bearing on future jobs, commerce, economic development and tax revenues for a large number of Washington's communities and industries, it also contributed close to $36.3 million to charity in 2007. We hope figures like these will change the general perception of the game, not only in Olympia but among the general public as well.'
The publication of this report comes three weeks after the introduction of 'We Are Golf' at the PGA Merchanbdise Show in Orlando. A coalition of four of the game's leading associations (Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, and The PGA of America,) We Are Golf's primary objective will be to represent the economic, human and environmental benefits of the industry at federal, state and local levels of government.
Golf, it seems, is fighting back.