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| A Special Tribute to Michigan Golf Alliance presentation photo of the Michigan Golf Alliance leaders and Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall; from left, Tammy Carter of the GMCMA, Carey Mitchelson of the MTF and College Fields Golf Club, Stephanie Jennings of the Michigan PGA and of Whole Golf, Tom Schwark of MGCA Government Affairs and Sycamore Hills Golf Course, Speaker Hall, Jim Szilagyi of the MGCA and Lynx Golf Course, Richard Aginian of the GAM, Gene Davis of MiGCSA and Elk Rapids Golf Club, and Jada Paisley of the MGCA. |
LANSING – Speaker of the House Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) made time in his busy schedule to talk golf, specifically about the industry during the 17th Michigan Legislative Golf Day at the Capitol event Wednesday.
Hall met with presidents, executive directors and owners from the Michigan Golf Alliance member organizations in his office, asked questions seeking input from the industry leaders and answered questions, too.
“Speaker Hall listened to our message, talked about specific legislation that pertains to our industry and made it clear he believes in what we do and understands the impact golf has on the state,” Jada Paisley, executive director of the Michigan Golf Course Association, said.
“Our golf leaders had the opportunity to discuss the industry with Speaker Hall and thanked him for all of his efforts. I can’t overstate the importance of this day in delivering the message to our government leaders.”
Hall also presented a Special Tribute to the Michigan Golf Alliance honoring their unwavering dedication to advance the game of golf across the state and championing the economic, environmental and community benefits of golf in Michigan.
The Michigan golf industry shared its message and the impactful results from a 2024-released National Golf Foundation (NGF) study by visiting the offices of each state legislator and inviting them and their staff members to lunch and dessert in tents on the Capitol building’s front lawn.
The Golf Association of Michigan (GAM), Greater Michigan Club Management Association (GMCMA), Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA), Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA), Michigan Section PGA and Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) form the Michigan Golf Alliance. Representatives from each Alliance group dispersed and delivered information to the offices of each legislator.
Among the messages being delivered:
• The Michigan golf industry contributes $6.1 billion to the state’s economy, supports 61,000 jobs with $1.795 billion of wage and benefits income and more than $821 million in state and local taxes, and has a charitable impact of $104.3 million annually.
• Michigan has 859 golf courses that are part of 709 facilities, almost all of which are classified as small businesses. Our state is 10th in the U.S. in size and 11th in population but ranks third in the total number of golf courses and fourth in volume of annual rounds played (16.42 million in 2023).
• Michigan’s golf provides 92,200 professionally managed acres of green space in Michigan serving as wildlife sanctuaries, and the facilities practice several environmental impact programs.
• More than 1.85 million golfers travel to Michigan for golf and spend more than $1 billion annually with non-residents playing about three of every 10 rounds in the state each year.
Light rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the event, and legislators who came received golf umbrellas.
“The Michigan Golf Alliance was able to convey to the legislators that golf is a seasonal, weather dependent industry. It’s important to let our legislators know who their constituents are,” Paisley said. “Today was a great success once again.”