Page 36 - Las Vegas Golf & Leisure Fall 2019

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Business of Nevada Golf

Part II Golf is a boom for Nevada, and course ownership
and management are working together to spread
how vital golf is to the state’s overall success

STORY BY BRIAN HURLBURT, @LVGOLFINSIDER

n our last issue, we shone a spotlight on the economic impact the small businesses that make up the industry.
business of golf creates in Nevada. The final tally? Pretty staggering
Istatistics to be sure. At the local and state level, the Nevada Golf Alliance was created to
mirror the national mission of WE ARE GOLF. The group of Nevada
IN 2018, NE VAD A’S GOLF INDU S T R Y allied associations worked with WE ARE GOLF and Golf 20/20 to pub-
GENER AT ED T HE F OLL O W IN G : lish the recent economic impact study. Associations helping to fund and
implement the study include the Southern Nevada Golf Association, the
» $1.242 billion of direct economic activity.
Northern Nevada Golf Association, the Nevada State Golf Association,
» $1.981 billion of direct, indirect, and induced economic output. the Nevada Golf Course Owners Association, the Southern Nevada
Chapter of the Southwest Section of The PGA of America, the North-
» 17,505 direct, indirect, and induced jobs. ern Nevada Chapter of the Northern California Section of The PGA of
America, and the Southern Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Asso-
» $701.3 million in wages and benefits. ciation of America.

» $138.6 million in state and local tax revenue.
The summary of the impact report stated the following:
However, many golf industry experts, despite the impressive statistics, Nevada is a small state of 3 million people that hits above its weight
believe that the industry doesn’t earn the respect that it deserves. At a in golf facility operations (estimated at $301.0 million) due to its large
national level, the WE ARE GOLF organization was created to help with number of golf resorts (18 resorts) and golf rounds generated by visitors.
these issues. Beyond the direct operating expenditures and capital investments made
by Nevada’s 88 golf facilities (which manage 98.5 18-hole equivalent
According to WE ARE GOLF, “Golf, a major industry with a positive courses), the game of golf drives significant economic activity across the
impact on America’s economic, environment and social agendas, re- State of Nevada.
mains misunderstood. WE ARE GOLF is a coalition to tell the true story
of golf. Not just the game, but the stories of the hardworking men and Jenny Ozawa served as one of the primary analysts and executed the
women who make it the greatest sport in the world and whose liveli- study. “For a state of 3 million people, a lot of golf is played in Neva-
hoods depend on it.” da due to the large number of visitors and partial-year residents who
play golf,” Ozawa says. “It's easy to see how golf complements the state's
WE ARE GOLF is made up of golf’s leading organizations including the gaming, dining, entertainment, and other outdoor recreational activities
Golf Course Superintendents Association, National Golf Course Own- that attract so many visitors year-round. Based on my work with several
ers Association, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, U.S. Golf Manu- states over the past 15 years, I'd say that golf facilities want to be viewed
facturers Council and World Golf Foundation. The coalition was formed as small businesses that employ people, attract visitors, and support lo-
in part because it had become clear the industry was misunderstood by cal communities by providing a place for outdoor recreation and giving
too many elected officials. Longstanding perceptions of the game simply back by hosting charitable events.”
didn’t square with the facts. By focusing on those whose livelihoods are
tied to the game, they have leveled the playing field for the thousands of Any way you drive the ball down the fairway, the industry of golf in the

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