LANSING – Michigan House Judiciary Chair Sarah Lightner (R-Springport), like a lot of people, found golf was a wonderful and safe way to be outside during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it pushed her interest in the game and industry to a new level.

“It’s not just something the elite do,” she said Wednesday at the 18th Legislative Golf Day at the Capitol.

“All of us do it. It’s funsies, and you can get a lot of business done on the golf course, too. Then I want to highlight all the charitable giving that a lot of you in the industry give back to our communities. It’s huge. You know the statistics, over 60,000 employees at your courses, and over 800 courses in our state … the economic impact that last year was over $6 Billion and almost $2 billion of that in wages and benefits. Golf is super huge for our state.”

Lightner visited with golf course owners and operators, executive directors, and presidents from the Michigan Golf Alliance member organizations, and delivered the state government’s proclamation declaring June as Michigan Golf Month.

“Rep. Lightner is a perfect representative for us to engage with because she loves golf, understands the impact of our industry and realizes almost all of the golf courses in Michigan are small businesses that need support from our legislature,” Jada Paisley, executive director of the Michigan Golf Course Association, said.

“We need to thank Kelli Saunders of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) for setting up the visit from Rep. Lightner. Our Michigan Golf Alliance leaders were impressed with the opportunity to discuss the industry with her.”

Saunders, vice-president of policy and engagement at SBAM, said Lightner truly understands the golf industry.

“She’s an avid golfer and her view and understanding of the industry is really top tier in the way she explains the social aspect, the physical benefits and recognizing how golf courses give back to their communities,” she said. “Her comments were really authentic, and because she engages in the industry herself in her free time, she has a firsthand perspective on the impact.”

After hearing tips on what to present from Lightner, the golf leaders dispersed to share the industry’s messaging by visiting the offices of each state legislator and inviting them and their staff members to lunch and desert in tents on the Capitol building’s front lawn.

The Golf Association of Michigan (GAM), Greater Michigan Chapter CMAA, Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA), Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA), Michigan Section PGA and Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) form the Michigan Golf Alliance.

Among the messages the representatives of those groups 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 over 110 million annually.
  • Michigan has over 850 golf courses that are part of over 700 facilities, almost all of which are classified as small businesses.
  • 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.
  • Almost 80 percent of Michigan golf facilities have active junior, women’s, disabled or military golf programs to provide greater access to the game’s affordable recreation.

“The Michigan Golf Alliance created this day to let our legislators know who we are and as their constituents what is important to us,” Paisley said. “Today was a great success once again.”

INFORMATION: Visit michigangolfalliance.com, or contact Jada Paisley of the MGCA at 800-860-8575 or jpaisley@michigangca.org

ATTACHED: A photo of the Michigan Golf Alliance representatives on the Capitol Building front steps.