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Industry Leaders Convey Economic Impact of Golf to Legislators

Apr 12, 2011

A well-attended Economic Impact Launch Event at the statehouse Tuesday conveyed the importance and magnitude of golf’s impact on Indiana’s economy. At 12:30 on the main floor of the capitol, Ted Bishop, Vice President of the PGA of America and Linda Rogers, Vice President of the National Golf Course Owners Association joined Mike David, Executive Director of The Golf Office for a brief presentation. The industry leaders presented the findings of the 2010 Economic Impact Study and emphasized the many ways that golf benefits all Indiana citizens, from facility employees and new junior golfers to local businesses and charities. Numerous legislators and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman filled the room throughout the day to learn and discuss golf’s important role in the state. PGA Professionals from around Indiana were also on hand to give free hitting and putting lessons to legislators and statehouse employees.

Coverage can also be found at Inside Indiana Business.

The Study, completed in 2010, showed impressive data.  Golf
provides $909 million in direct revenue to the Indiana economy. Compare
that number to other industries in the state and it paints a clear
picture of how important the golf industry is to the state’s economy. In
Indiana, medical equipment manufacturing accounts for $5.8 billion to
Indiana’s economy. Soybean production accounts for $2.4 billion to the
economy and dairy products account for $640 million to Indiana’s
economy.  Additionally, the Indiana Study showed
that over 21,000 jobs in Indiana are created through the golf industry
and account for a total wage income of $530 million.

It’s
well publicized that golf and charities work hand in hand. The Study
found that in 2008, charitable giving by the Indiana Golf Industry
topped the $42 million mark. Golf course owners, operators and PGA
Professionals serve as access points for hundreds, if not thousands, of
local service organizations for their annual fundraising needs.

The findings of the study came as no surprise to those closely associated with the golf industry.

“The
Economic Impact Study validates that golf is an economic engine that
contributes substantially to the momentum of the Indiana economy,” said
Linda Rogers, owner of Juday Creek Golf Course in Granger, Ind. and Vice
President of the National Golf Course Owners Association.

PGA
of America CEO Joe Steranka concurred with Rogers’ statement. “The
biggest benefit of these studies is the ability to show how golf
benefits not only the 1 in 11 Americans who play, but entire communities
which benefit from the jobs it creates, the green space it protects and
the healthy recreation it provides for people of all ages,” said
Steranka.

The need for these studies became evident in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast.  Following
Katrina, the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act was passed allocating tax
benefits and relief for businesses that had been affected by Hurricane
Katrina. The bill specified that tax benefits would not apply to golf
courses or country clubs, lumping those facilities in with massage
parlors, hot tub facilities, tanning salons, liquor stores and gambling
establishments.

 

The
Gulf Opportunity Zone Act highlighted the fact that the golf industry
needed to coordinate efforts in order to prove how the golf industry
benefits society. To date, 22 state golf economic impact studies have
been conducted and the findings certainly support the fact that golf is a
viable industry producing a major benefit to states’ economies.

“With
the evidentiary support from the Economic Impact Study of the positive
effect that golf has for Indiana through job creation, property tax
generation, charitable giving, environmental stewardship and increased
tourism, lawmakers will likely be more inclined to craft legislation
that is favorable to the golf industry, “ said Rogers.

See the entire report here.

The
study, which was prepared by SRI in agreement with Golf 20/20, was
commissioned by the Indiana Golf Association and the Indiana Section of
the PGA. Other associations that participated in the study were the
Indiana Golf Course Owner’s Association, the Indiana Golf Course
Superintendents Association, the Indiana Club Managers Association and
the Indiana Office of Tourism Development.