By Kate Moore
Each June the Michigan Golf Alliance sends a message to Lansing: “Let’s do lunch at the turn Michigan Legislators.” This year the popular Michigan Golf Day at the Capital event will take place June 7.
The Michigan Golf Course Association, the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Michigan Section PGA, the Golf Association of Michigan, the Greater Michigan Club Managers Associations and the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation – which together form the Michigan Golf Alliance – will convene on the lawn of the state Capitol and visit with each legislator.
For over a decade golf course owners, operators and superintendents have gathered each spring to voice a cooperative message. This year the leaders of Michigan golf have created a dynamic day of activity to promote the game and the golf business. The governor will proclaim “June is Michigan Golf Month” (#MichiganGolfMonth).
Several directors and representatives of the Michigan Golf Alliance will be under the big tent on the capitol lawn to meet with media and guests and discuss the wide range of topics regarding the golf industry, including and not limited to the Pure Michigan campaign’s effect on business and the industry’s sustainability efforts that have a positive effect on the environment.
The golf economy begins with the golf facilities themselves. When combined with other core industries that produce goods and services used to operate facilities and to play the game, golf has a $4.2 billion economic impact.
With approximately 830 courses in the state of Michigan, golf is much more than a recreational pastime – it is a key industry contributing vitality of Michigan’s economy. The total job impact nears 60,000 and there is no other industry that supports charity more than golf courses who donate thousands of rounds to support local, state and national initiatives including Patriot Golf Day, food banks and special Olympics, just to name a few.
Golf brings visitors to Michigan, drives new residential construction, generates retail sales, and creates demand for a myriad of goods and service. Those are some of the messages the industry leaders will take to the legislators on June7.
