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Golf Day reflections

By |  July 15, 2015 0 Comments

Back in April during National Golf Day, the annual GCSAA-organized trip to Washington, D.C., our delegation reminded legislators that the U.S. golf industry generates $70 billion in economic impact annually, employs close to 2 million Americans and generates nearly $4 billion in charitable giving each year.

The first two items get a lot of attention because they affect the economy (wages, spending, taxes, etc.). The third item, “charitable giving,” jumped out at me because it’s an increase over the previous figure of $3.7 billion. Although a slight increase, it comes at a time when we are recovering from a period of economic slowdown.

From my years as executive director and magazine editor for the Florida GCSA, I know our 11 local chapters have annual fundraisers that support scholarships, turf research and charities. I know because I have been there to see the check presentations and hear the comments of those receiving the support.

Another thing that made me think a little more about the national charitable giving component of the golf industry’s contributions is the television coverage of golf tournaments. We have all seen the 3- to 4-minute segment where the announcer and the CEO of the tournament’s corporate sponsor talk about the local charity receiving a large donation from the proceeds of the event.

GCSAA superintendent chapters around the country also have events to raise money for local charities and other worthwhile programs. I reached out to all the GCSAA regional representatives and some of the chapter executive directors I have met over the years.

I don’t have enough space to recognize all of them in this column, but suffice it to say that we help make a difference in our communities. That is a good thing. Superintendent chapters have embraced charities, programs and foundations that support people in need. Some events have been in place for a couple of decades. Two of these in Florida are South Florida GCSA’s Missing & Exploited Children’s Foundation tournament. They will have their 30th annual event this September, and have raised more than $500,000 for this charity. Then there’s the Seven Rivers GCSA’s John Hayden Memorial Envirotron Classic, which is celebrating 26 years and has raised $800,000 for turf research at the University of Florida.

Almost universally, chapters give money for student scholarships in two categories; children of members and turf students. The Michigan GCSA gives one to MSU students, and the Everglades GCSA hosts the G.C. Horn Endowment Tournament to fund a graduate student in honor of G.C. Horn, Ph.D., the grandfather of Florida’s turf program.

The Eastern Shore GCSA hosts an annual crab feast and pig roast with a silent auction to raise funds for Wounded Warriors and the Tomorrow’s Children Project. The Carolinas GCSA began the Rounds for Research program, which raised money annually for Clemson and N.C. State research. That program was adopted by the GCSAA to embrace all chapters and help fund projects of the Environmental Institute for Golf.

I first heard about the Wee One Foundation from my friends in the Wisconsin and Michigan chapters, and it has spread everywhere. Georgia GCSA Executive Director Tenia Workman says that chapter has just begun donating to the Wee One like so many have done already. Tenia also mentioned scholarships and the Golden Valley Foster Care programs.

Brian Cloud reported the annual charitable work done by the South Texas GCSA for Camp Hope, a place for wounded warriors to get treatment, housing and rehabilitation, and their support of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The North Texas GCSA has been extremely active since 1999 in supporting the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas.

These are just snapshots of what chapters around the country are doing, but I think you get the big picture. Local chapters are valuable national assets.

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