When industry leaders band together to promote the efforts of golf, great things are the result. This was the case Thursday, March 8, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.

Roughly 50 industry representatives gathered for Minnesota's Golf Industry Day on the Hill.  Kudos to members of the Minnesota GCSA who were in attendance.  Golf course superintendents were the most represented group and served as leaders for visits with state representatives and senators.


Minnesota GCSA Executive Director Jack Mackenzie, CGCS, who recently received the GCSAA Excellence in Government Affairs Award, took the lead during the day. Jack has been very active promoting the benefits of the industry in St. Paul. 

11 teams of industry representatives were created for visits, which ran from 10 a.m. through 2:30 p.m.  Each team had a leader and between three and five members.  With roughly five visits per team.  This allowed each team member to meet with a representative or senator from their home district and allowed for great discussion and communication during the visits.

I had the opportunity to join Justin Bicek and Dave Schwarz on their visit with Senator Jerry Newton.  The senator represents Anoka County, which is north of Minneapolis.  Two major golf facilities on in his district, including the TPC Twin Cities, which is host of a PGA Senior Tour event.  Golf is big in his district.  He understands the importance of the industry.

Golf has a great story to tell in Minnesota.  The state recently hosted the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska.  This is a $2.3 billion industry for over 733,000 players.  As Mackenzie will point out, the golf course is a community's largest rain garden.  35,000 golf industry jobs are generated annually in Minnesota.


"This is a great way to showcase the industry and the positive impacts of golf," noted Eric Ritter, CGCS and a GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador.  "Attending these type of events gets you familiar with our political system and gets us to know our representatives."

Participation from GCSAA assistant members is noted as well.  "Attending this event has helped me with public speaking and getting me out of my comfort zone," stated Matt Cavanaugh, Class C member from Rush Creek GC in Maple Grove.  "There's a misconception about golf.  This is our chance to explain the benefits of the game and our industry."


In 2018, the MGCSA will roll out four manuals relevant to environmental stewardship and state regulations.  Those include The Minnesota Golf Course Reference Handbook of Maintenance Practices, a 140-page document providing background on golf course maintenance to non-professionals, The MDA Agency Best Management Practices for Turfgrass Fertilizers and Pesticides, The MDA Agency Bullentins Specific to Golf Course Management and Best Management Practices (BMPs) Water Use Efficiency/Conservation Plan for Minnesota Golf Courses. 

These booklets, created with the help of many superintendents, state agencies, allied golf associations and the GCSAA, were great talking points during the successful Day on the Hill. 

We're spreading the great message of golf.  Consider getting involved!