National Golf Day stresses golf’s contributions to society
The leaders of 11 of the U.S. golf industry’s most prominent allied associations met with members of Congress and their staffs on May 13 in Washington, D.C, to highlight and discuss golf’s very significant economic and social contributions.
In a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, golf’s leaders carried the message of the industry’s enormous economic impact. A study released last year at the inaugural National Golf Day, the 2005 Golf Economy Report, quantified golf’s annual direct economic impact as $76 billion, and highlighted the fact that the industry provides 2 million jobs and $61 billion in wage income. The study also found that golf generates more than $3.5 billion annually for charities across the country.
“This is a very important day for the U.S. golf industry,” said Steve Mona, World Golf Foundation CEO. “Golf is a great pastime for millions of participants and fans, but it is much more than that. As a leading industry, golf is a powerful economic engine in our country and we’re delighted to be able to meet today with members of Congress and their staffs to communicate golf’s very positive impact on our society.”
The organizations represented at the second annual National Golf Day activities included American Society of Golf Course Architects, Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Builders Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, LPGA, National Club Association, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of America, PGA Tour, USGA and World Golf Foundation.
By coming to Washington together, the allied association leaders were able to send a message of a united industry. “As an organization, GCSAA has long seen the advantage of working with our allies in the golf industry to bring success to our facilities, and by doing so, success to our individual members and the industry as a whole,” said GCSAA CEO Mark J. Woodward, CGCS. “So working together in Washington to share the benefits that golf provides to communities throughout the country is a natural extension of these relationships.”
In addition to GCSAA staff attending Naitonal Golf Day events, the association's Government Relations Committee met in Washington to participate.
In addition to the meetings with members of Congress, industry leaders participated in the seventh The First Tee Congressional Breakfast. More than 50 members of Congress joined golf’s leaders to learn more about the positive impact this preeminent youth development organization is having on young people throughout the country.
Also in attendance were golf greats Fred Couples, Judy Rankin and Greg Norman, who is chairman the Advisory Council of The Environmental Institute for Golf, GCSAA’s philanthropic organization.
Throughout the day, the golf industry leaders highlighted that the game’s impact on society could best be viewed through three perspectives: economic, human and environmental. Summaries of the results of the 2005 Golf Economy Report in these three areas are available at golf2020.com.
Final chance to take GCSAA’s energy use survey
Tuesday, May 19, is the deadline to complete GCSAA’s energy use and environmental practices survey.
This fifth survey of GCSAA's Golf Course Environmental Profile focuses on energy use and environmental practices. Recognizing that some find it difficult to assemble all of their energy use records, participants can complete the survey to the best of their ability; skipping the question(s) they are unable to answer. Widespread support is vital for the success of the project and all of individual responses will remain strictly confidential.
For completing the survey, GCSAA will award 0.25 service points. In addition, by completing the survey, you will be eligible to win prizes from The Toro Co, and GCSAA. As an added incentive for completion of this survey, The Environmental Institute for Golf and The Toro Company will conduct a random drawing and award one superintendent’s golf facility the use of a new Toro Pro Force™ Debris Blower for one year. In addition, participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of seven $320 GCSAA gift cards, which can be used for any program or service offered by GCSAA.
The new Toro Pro Force debris blower delivers tremendous air power for fast removal of grass clippings, leaves, aeration cores, or other debris from your golf course, maintained turf areas, and paved areas such as golf car paths and parking lots. Operated by a wireless remote control with unmatched functionality, and with design features such as the durable one-piece plastic nozzle, the Pro Force sets a new standard. For more information, visit Toro's Web site at: http://www.toro.com/golf/utility/debris/blower/proforce.html.
For more information contact Mark Johnson, GCSAA senior manager of environmental programs, at 800-472-7878 or via e-mail at mjohnson@gcsaa.org.
Benefit auction for research raises $55,000
The Carolinas GCSA’s inaugural Rounds4Research effort raised more than $55,000 to benefit turfgrass research at Clemson and North Carolina State universities.
More than 300 foursomes bid and won tee times in the unique online auction, which grossed more than $74,000 before expenses. Rounds were donated by courses in seven states in the Southeast – North and South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi – plus the Dominican Republic and Bermuda.
The two-week initiative coincided with PGA Tour events in Hilton Head, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C. Tim Kreger, programs director for the Carolinas GCSA and creator of the online auction, says the project resulted in tens of thousands of hits on the Rounds4Research Web site, an indication, he says, of how much golf means to the Carolinas area.
“When you think about all the golf course owners, managers, private club boards and members who took a look at this project and decided to take part, that’s hundreds and hundreds more people who want to solve a challenge, not wait for someone else to do it. And this was just year one,” says Kreger.
Paul Jett, CGCS, president of the Carolinas chapter and superintendent at Pinehurst No. 2, notes that the importance of the Carolina’s $5 billion golf industry to the region’s overall economy was a vital factor in the Rounds4Research project.
“All of that would be at risk if we were to lose any of the expertise of turfgrass researchers at Clemson and N.C. State,” Jett says. “Their work has a lot to do with the excellent reputation that Carolinas golf enjoys throughout the U.S.”
Justin Timberlake helps deliver green message in Golf Channel spots
During upcoming PGA Tour events, The Golf Channel will air a series of short videos called “Choose Your Course,” which highlights the work of superintendents and the environmental benefits of golf courses. Justin Timberlake joins superintendents and GCSAA and ASGCA representatives in the videos.
The messages are introduced by Timberlake, a Grammy-award winner; avid golfer; host of this fall’s PGA Tour event, The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open; and founder of Miramichi Lakes, the country’s first Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified green course.
The first two videos have now been posted on GCSAA TV. View the video featuring Nancy Miller, Class A superintendent at Maple Leaf G&CC, and thevideo with Greg Lyman, GCSAA’s director of environmental programs. Additional spots include Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore CC; Kevin Breen, CGCS at Lahontan GC; and Bill Love of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
The videos have already begun airing on events this year, and will continue to air during live coverage Thursdays and Fridays for the following PGA Tour events. They will be rebroadcast later each of these Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as during The Golf Channel’s “Golf Central” news show on Saturdays.
• Valero Texas Open (May 14-17) • EDS Byron Nelson Championship (May 21-24) • Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (May 28-31) • the Memorial Tournament Presented by Morgan Stanley (June 4-7) • Stanford St. Jude Championship (June 11-14) • Travelers Championship (June 25-28) • AT&T National (July 2-5) • John Deere Classic (July 9-12) • RBC Canadian Open (July 23-26) • Buick Open (July 30-Aug. 2) • Wyndham Championship (Aug. 20-23) • The Barclays (Aug. 27-30) • Deutsche Bank Championship (Sept. 4-7) • BMW Championship (Sept. 10-13) • The Tour Championship Presented by Coca-Cola (Sept. 24-27)
Carrick elected president of architects group
Doug Carrick, principal of Carrick Design near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was recently elected president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects at the group’s 63rd annual meeting in Seattle.
His portfolio boasts more than 50 courses and includes The Carrick on Loch Lomond (Scotland), Bigwin Island Golf Club (Ontario), Lake of Bays (Ontario), Angus Glen Golf Club (Ontario), Greywolf Golf Course (British Columbia), and Fontana Golf Club (Austria).
As president, Carrick says he plans to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of golf courses. Carrick also believes that courses can be designed to allow for faster rounds and less land used, two elements that could ultimately drive down costs of play in time and money and thus lead to greater participation. He previously served as the chairman of ASGCA’s membership committee.
