For the fourth year National Golf Day was held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday past. The lobbying effort has the avowed purpose to, “to share stories and data that illustrate golf’s diverse businesses and employees, the tax revenue it creates, the tourism it spawns, the charity it generates, and the environmental leadership it provides.”
In other words make sure our solons on Capital Hill don’t take golf for granted or worse pass legislation that further weakens the industry.
The group behind this showing golf’s flag at the country’s seat of power is an industry group WE ARE GOLF made up of the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, The PGA of America, and the World Golf Foundation.
National Golf Day set up an exhibit in the lobby of the Rayburn Office Building and explained to any Congressman who stopped by the impact of golf in America economically and environmentally. Among those golf industry names there were Joe Steranka (PGA of America CEO), Steve Mona (World Golf Foundation CEO), Jim Singerling (CEO Club Managers Association of America), Michael Hughes (CEO National Golf Course Owners Association) and Rhett Evans (CEO Golf Course Superintendents Association of America).
PGA Professional Jim Estes, founder of the Salute Military Golf Association started the day giving a golf lesson to (Ret.) Sgt. Ramon Padilla, who has used the program as part of his rehabilitative therapy following wounds received in Afghanistan. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Ranking Member Bob Filner (D-CA) attended the lesson and spoke about the inspirational nature of Estes’ program.
The Foyer exhibit also included swing analysis from PGA Teaching Professional Michael Breed, host of Golf Channel’s The Golf Fix, and a Republican vs. Democrat putting challenge.
One curious statement in the National Golf Day press release trying to explain the sponsoring organization’s purpose was, “…WE ARE GOLF is a broad-based coalition aimed at maximizing the industry’s synergy and reducing redundancy.” One wonders what redundancy is being referred to; courses, people, three-putt greens?
About Ed Travis
Related posts:
- myNEGM LESSON TEE is MOVING to a new time April 6th
- 2010 Stories carryover to 2011
- If Its April It Is Time For The Masters & Game Improvement
- Antigua Named Official Golf Apparel Licensee for 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team
- Granite Links Named “Course of the Year”
