April 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 62

N R PA I n A c t i o n

Tee Time
Industry allies unite for National Golf Day
By Bob Denney

$2 million-number of jobs
$3.5 billion-money raised
annually for charity
$61 billion-total wage income

he W E A R E GOL F coalition,
launched at the 57th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida,
and the Golf Industry Show in San Diego,
will converge upon Washington, D.C., April
28, in conjunction with National Golf Day.
WE ARE GOLF builds on the momentum of the past two National Golf Day
events and collaborative efforts to enhance outreach and represent the golf
industry at federal, state, and local levels of government.
Founded by chief executives of four
leading golf associations-The PGA of
America, Golf Course Superintendents
Association of America, Club Managers
Association of America and the National
Golf Course Owners Association-WE
ARE GOLF was designed as a broadbased coalition and is seeking allied
partners all throughout the industry. Its
growing membership partners include
other associations, multi-course owners,
manufacturers and golf facilities.
" The solidarity the industry has
shown by creating WE ARE GOLF is not
only encouraging, but critically important, " says Mike Hughes, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association.
" Together, golf represents billions of
dollars in economic impact; and, together, we will benefit from an even stronger industry that has the recognition and
respect it deserves in Washington and
throughout the country. "
WE ARE GOLF seeks to improve the
perception of the golf industry and to
enhance its level of respect and understanding. The two million jobs generated
by the multi-billion-dollar industry, and
the industry's vast economic impact, are
at the core of the coalition's message.
A primary goal of WE ARE GOLF is to
achieve fair and equitable treatment for
the golf industry in regard to legislation

60 Parks & Recreation

The U.S. Golf Industry
by the Numbers

APRIL 2010

and regulation impacting small business, as well as labor, tax and environmental matters.
" Golf is a stable, healthy industry with substantive impact on our local , state and national economies, but
there are lingering, sometimes damaging, misperceptions of our sport, "
says PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka.
" Golf must have a voice in aligning its
perception with its real values. WE ARE
GOL F engages
ou r i ndustr y i n
an unprecedented collaboration
to ach ieve legislative goals on
sma l l busi ness,
as well as labor,
tax and environmental matters. "
WE ARE GOLF
mem bers w i l l
a l s o s howc a s e
the often-underplayed impact that
golf has upon a
community.
" For decades, golf facilities have remained one of the most sustainable
small businesses in each local community, " says Jim Singerling, CEO of the Club
Managers Association of America. " Golf
facilities are good neighbors, providing
resources that impact both individuals
and other small businesses. "
Additionally, www.WeAreGolf.org
will work to share information, case
studies and articles with media, elected officials, regulators and other key
constituents to inform them on issues
of concern. The coalition will also coordinate messaging to the industry's vast
infrastructure.
" Two elements of the campaign are

w w w . NR P A . ORG

$76 billion-size of the golf
economy
$195 billion -total economic
impact

pa r t ic u la rly c r ucial, " Golf Course
Superintendent Association of America CEO Mark
Wo o d w a rd s ay s .
" First, we learned
that even though we
have made some
progress, the audiences we are targeting do not know
enough about our
industry and how it
has been affected
by past legislation. This effort will intensify our efforts to inform and educate.
" Second, this is not something that
will only benefit the associations and
their members. This is a campaign that
will benefit each and every member of
the golf industry, those who enjoy the
sport and even those who do not participate in it. That is why the message will
go beyond lawmakers. We will communicate with groups that directly and indirectly benefit from golf. "
For more information on WE A RE
GOLF, visit www.WeAreGolf.org. 
Bob Denney is Senior Association

Writer for the PGA of America.

April 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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