Today is National Golf Day!!

Today those of us in the golf industry celebrate National Golf Day and many representatives for golf will be making visits to the capitals of our states and even our nations capital in D.C.  Golf often is depicted as a sport (or activity by some) that is elitist, segregating, and environmentally unaware.  Many of these myths stem from the fact that we in the golf industry have typically done a very poor job of tooting our own horns.  That all changed about 3-5 years ago when we all decided that we had been quiet long enough.  Golf is actually good for our local and national economies and programs like The First Tee and Play Golf America strive to increase the diversity of participants among their other goals.  As a golf course superintendent myself, I would argue that nearly all superintendents are actually stewards of the environment and care about the use of our natural resources, the habitat that we provide, and the wildlife that resides with our proprties.  We take pride in reducing our inputs to our facilities, which in turn benefits our regions and communities maintain safe drinking water and recreational opportunites for all generations to stay active and provide social outlets to meet with friends or make new friends.  Please take a look at this post and consider the MANY benefits that the golf industry offers to our communities and if you care about golf ... GET INVOVLED!!

• 2 million jobs makes golf more than just a game for America.
• $76 billion makes golf more than just a game for America's economy.
• Did you know you burn 2,000 calories walking an 18-hole golf course? Golf is more than just a game.
• $1.1 billion raised for charity by the PGATOUR alone and this does not include local events that are held at golf facilities that benefit charities in our own backyards, another reason golf is more than a game.
• Golf courses increase America's green space, proivide habitat, and benefit the environment, making golf more than just a game.

Golf is so much more than a game - it's an industry that contributes billions each year to local, state and national economies, and employs more than 2 million people nationwide. This is the story that will be told on Capitol Hill April 18, National Golf Day, by members of GCSAA's board of directors, Government Relations Committee and staff, GCSAA storytellers, and allied golf organizations CMAA, NGCOA and the PGA of America. For the initiative, which is part of the We Are Golf coalition, GCSAA will educate lawmakers about the U.S. golf industry's economic, environmental and social contributions.

As part of the GCSAA delegation, GCSAA President Sandy Queen, CGCS, CEO Rhett Evans, and GCSAA storytellers will join other association leaders to represent the industry in meetings with Democratic and Republican leadership, and the Sustainability Caucus to share quantifiable data that demonstrates the economic contributions golf makes.

GCSAA's storytellers

For 2012, GCSAA has expanded its group of storytellers to represent the industry. This year's speakers will be:

Kevin Breen, CGCS

Kevin Breen, CGCS

Kevin Breen, CGCS at La Rinconada Country Club, Los Gatos, Calif., is a proven leader in managing golf course properties in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Fifteen years ago, when it was not in fashion to be organic, Breen took a very high-profile golf community project, Lahontan Golf Club, Truckee, Calif., and made it synonymous with environmentally friendly best management practices. The philosophy that Breen has managed by -- to only grow as much grass as you need and limit inputs to work with nature -- eventually found favor garnering awards from local, state, and national organizations. Among his honors include Sierra Nevada GCSA's Member of the Year in 2007; California EPA DPR's Pest Management Innovators Award in 2006; Golf Digest's Environmental Leaders in Golf Award in 2001 and 2003; the California Golf Writers Environmental Award in 1998; and the Colorado State Jim Haines Memorial Scholarship in 1992. He is a member of the California GCSA government relations committee, the California Alliance for Golf, a GCSAA national committee, and the California GCSA chapter delegation. He has also served as president of the Sierra Nevada GCSA and the California GCSA.

Dan Dinelli, CGCS

Dan Dinelli, CGCS

Dan Dinelli, a 29-year GCSAA member and third-generation superintendent at North Shore Country Club, Glenview, Ill., is well-respected for his expertise and service on numerous committees and panels. He's also a frequently sought-after speaker. Dinelli's accolades include GCSAA's President's Award for Environmental Leadership in 2009, Golfweek magazine's 40 Under 40 Award, Scotts Tradition of Excellence Award in 2000, and the University of Illinois' Master Gardener. He is a current member of the Illinois Turfgrass Foundation Research Review Committee, Park Management and Horticulture Advisory Committee at William Rainey Harper College, and the U.S. Composting Council's Golf Course Committee, and has served as the president of the Chicagoland GCSA, and as a committee member for GCSAA.

Mike Hurdzan, ASGCA

Mike Hurdzan, ASGCA

Dr. Mike Hurdzan is an internationally recognized authority on golf courses and the environment. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, Hurdzan has taught countless seminars, and his seminar experience is perhaps surpassed only by the collection of articles he has written for publications ranging from Golf Digest and National Geographic Traveler, to The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. An equally distinguished 27-year career as an officer in the United States Army Reserve has garnered Hurdzan many accolades, including his qualification to the elite Special Forces (Green Berets), receipt of the Legion of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements” and promotion to the rank of full colonel and unit commander. His distinctions include the American Society of Golf Course Architects' Donald Ross Award, one of Golf Digest's Five Most Powerful Architects, the University of Vermonth's College of Life Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award, Ohio State University's Distinguished Alumni Award, and a member of the Ohio Golf Assocaition Hall of Fame.

Peter McDonough

Peter McDonough

Peter McDonough, Class A GCSAA member at Keswick Hall, Club and Estate, Charlottesville, Va., is a man of action. A 21-year GCSAA member, he has been a leading force among golf course management professionals in Virginia. His efforts have shown lawmakers and regulators how the golf industry is not only a valuable asset to the region, but also a steward of the land. His accomplishments include the Virginia Turfgrass Council Award in 2011, the Virginia GCSA's Environmental Stewardship Award in 2011, GCSAA's Excellence in Government Relations Award in 2008, the Virginia GCSA's Distinguished Service Award in 2003, the Virginia GCSA's President's Award in 2002, and the Virginia Turfgrass Council's R.D. Cake Memorial Award in 2000. He also founded and was the first president of the Virginia GCSA, a founding board member of the Virginia Golf Council, and a member of the Virginia Technical Advisory Committee.

About We Are Golf

The We Are Golf coalition retained the Podesta Group, a Washington, D.C.-based government and public affairs firm, to coordinate the initiative’s unprecedented legislative efforts concerning small business, labor, tax and environmental goals. Its objective is to assist the coalition in getting the golf industry a seat at the table when important and relevant legislation is being developed. Visit We Are Golf for more information on the coalition and its strategic progress.