Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 7

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What is MGA
membership
)
?
It's your invitation to play some
of the fi nest golf courses around,
through participation in MGA Associate
Members' Days or the MGA
Senior Tour. * It's your USGA Handicap
Index, now updated twice every month,
year-round. * It's your subscription to Minnesota
Golfer magazine, delivered to your
home. * It's your support of programs and
services that make the game better.
Teeing Up the
Game
Chances are you fell for the game a long
time ago, and if asked about it, you would
have a few ready answers to the question
of why you love to play golf (see Nadia
Turner's profi le for a youthful point of
view). Here are a few facts that put the
game in perspective, courtesy of Golf
20/20 and We are Golf:
Economic: Golf contributes $68.8 billion
and nearly 2 million jobs to the U.S.
economy.
Charitable: Golf generates $3.9 billion
for philanthropic causes (more than all
other sports combined).
Environmental: Golf courses are responsible
uses of green space, providing
wildlife habitat, a fi lter for runoff and a
cooling effect on urban areas.
Health and Wellness: Playing 18 holes
burns 2,000 calories when walking and
1,300 calories when riding a cart.
A Game for All: Nine of 10 golfers play
at public facilities, 76 percent of golf is
played at public courses, and the median
cost of a round is just $26.
For the Fun of It
N
adia Turner, 13, started golfi ng
at age 7 at the Cleary Lake junior
program. " It has been an
amazing experience and truly enriched
my love for the sport of golf, " she says.
Earlier this summer she saw an ad
calling for article submissions in the local
newspaper and decided to investigate why
her peers also enjoy the game she so loves. " I
want to be a sports reporter when I'm older, "
says Turner, " so I thought this would be a
good way to get my foot in the door. "
Th e Twin Oaks middle schooler
interviewed more than 30 friends, split
between boys and girls from Cleary
Lake, as well as friends from around the
country. She asked them about why they
Why do
you like
golf?
10%Ages 10 and under
10%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
Ages 11-13
Fun
Use your
mind
Hitting
balls
80%
20%
20%
Ages 14 and up
30%
10%
10 10%%
Fun
Exercise
Using
clubs
Family
golfs
Not sure
Nadia Turner
Fun
Casual
sport
Hitting
balls
Skill
Challenge
Can do
with
friends
started golfi ng, their favorite clubs, what
they like to eat on the golf course and
their favorite golfers. Th en she compiled
the results by ages (10 and under, 11-13,
and 14 and older).
Turner was most surprised by the many
reasons why kids like the game. She found
that kids love the game because it is fun.
" Fun " held the largest percentage in each
of the age groups, which is exactly what
we want to hear from this up-and-coming
generation.
Turner even took a turn answering one
of her own questions-why do you like
golf? " It's a good way to meet new people,
it's a lot of fun, and it's a lifelong sport
that's never ending. " -Alex Flasch
www.mngolf.org
Fall 2014 MINNESOTAGOLFER
5
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014

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