GCSAA, PGA of America announce collaborative grassroots advocacy effort

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) announced the formation of a collaborative advocacy initiative between GCSAA and the PGA of America. According to the association, the partnership will enable the two organizations to expand the industry’s grassroots advocacy efforts with a larger, united voice.

The partnership will begin as a pilot program, with GCSAA working with the PGA of America and the Southern California PGA Section. The organizations chose Southern California as the pilot area due to its population, large congressional delegation and the high number of legislative and regulatory challenges faced by the California golf industry in recent years.

“We see this collaboration with GCSAA as a great opportunity to strengthen golf’s voice collectively through joint efforts in advocating for the game,” Seth Waugh, CEO of PGA of America, said. “Our organizations’ members are at golf facilities and have the firsthand experience to best educate lawmakers on the key issues facing the golf industry.”

According to GCSAA, it has seen advocacy success with its Grassroots Ambassadors program, which launched in 2014 as a way to establish a network of volunteers who are the go-to people for members of Congress on golf-related issues. Today, more than 500 GCSAA members pair up with members of Congress. The association says, these one-on-one relationships have resulted in establishing dialogues with the congressperson and their staff, often leading to the member of Congress visiting the golf facility of their ambassador and getting a first-hand look at the many benefits golf courses provide to their congressional district.

“We have seen the positive impact of our grassroots advocacy programs and we appreciate the opportunity to expand the industry’s voice in tandem with the PGA of America,” Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA, said. “Together, we will have more members with established relationships with lawmakers, more members with expert knowledge on the issues and more members attending hearings, writing letters and making phone calls that can make a difference for the industry.”

The first advocacy training will take place in the first quarter of 2024 and the pilot program will continue through September 2024.