Page 12 - GreenMaster Fall 2024

L- R- Kevin Thistle, CEO PGA of Canada, Honourable Senator Mary E. Robinson, and Kathryn Wood, CEO CGSA.
L - R - Edward Moke, Member of CMAC Board of Directors, John McLinden, AGS, President CGSA, and Honourable Senator Scott Tannas (Alberta).
L - R - Daniel Pilon, President NGCOA Canada, Etienne-René Massie, Assistant Deputy Minister for Small Business, Tourism and Marketplace Services, Kathryn Wood, CEO CGSA, and Louise Patry, Member of Golf Canada Board of Directors
For over a decade, the Canadian golf industry has been studied to see what kind of influence it has on our society. On behalf of NAGA, the 21FSP Advisory Inc. produced the Golf in Canada Economic Impact Study 2023 in which over 12,000 Canadian golf course owners and golfers contributed their observations through online surveys.
The study showcases how golf positively affects the economy, employment rates, and environment. Golf also promotes the social well being of those who participate in the sport, both mentally and physically, and these topics were also addressed in the surveys. Extensive data was collected in the study and compared to previous studies from 2009, 2014, and 2019.
The partners of NAGA (CGSA, NGCOA Canada, CMCA, PGA of Canada, and Golf Canada) gathered the data for the 2023 study by distributing two comprehensive online surveys across Canada. The
Golfer Survey was given to golfers and over 12,000 people responded. The Operator Survey was passed onto golf course operators and 476 responses were received. These results produced an excellent picture of how much golf contributes to our country’s society.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The Canadian economy is greatly affected by the inputs from the golf industry. 2023 shows that the national GDP increased to an impressive $23.2 billion from our industry’s contributions, which is $5 billion more than 2019. This substantial growth indicates that golf helps drive our country’s economy while at the same time providing a multitude of employment opportunities.
Finding and retaining employ- ment in the golf sector can be tough, however the Golf in Canada Economic Impact Study 2023 highlights that these jobs are important to the
livelihood of many Canadians. The number of employees ‘person-years’ may have dipped from 248,878 in 2019 to 237,000 in 2023 however it didn’t influence how much money golf-related activities generated. In 2023, these activities produced over $14.2 billion in Labour Income versus $10.6 billion in 2019.
Government tax revenues also play a part economically, in which they help support our infrastructures and public services. In 2019, the golf industry created $4.5 billion in tax revenues whereas 2023 increased those tax revenues to $4.7 billion.
PROTECTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The business of golf has always been on trend or ahead of the game, when it comes to environmental stewardship. Many golf courses and their employees value their commitment to the environment by adopting sustainable practices. The golf industry has committed to
12 • CGSA • GreenMaster