While the competitors at this week’s Ryder Cup won’t be getting paid for their efforts, that doesn’t mean they won’t be contributing to charity.

On behalf of the U.S. team, the PGA of America is donating $2.6 million to designated charities. Each player will designate $100,000 to the charity of his choice, as well as $50,000 to the college/university of his choosing for the “Play Golf America University” program and $50,000 to the Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy.

Oregon's golf economy represents an estimated $1.2 billion in direct annual economic activity in the state, according to a study to be issued Wednesday.

The state's golf industry supports nearly 27,200 jobs with $703.6 million in wage income, according to the study conducted on behalf of the Golf Alliance of Oregon, a consortium of trade and consumer groups...

...The study, paid for in part by the World Golf Foundation, estimates that golf had an overall economic of impact of $1.2 billion that year, owing to a multiplier effect used in similar economic impact studies.

The golf industry has a profound, positive impact on America's economic, environmental and social agendas. With one million jobs directly connected to golf, our sport has a substantial impact beyond the competitive and recreational benefits of participation. Job creation, tax generation and tourism activation are all impacted by your local golf course. Yet many people are unaware of golf's major contributions to the American economy.

During my year as ASGCA President I am proud to be working with our members and other partners in promoting the 'value of the golf course,' an effort to demonstrate the benefits individuals and communities provided by the course. The three pillars of this value - environmental, social and financial - cannot be emphasized enough.

Golf fans will long remember the PGA Championship's return to Wisconsin's Whistling Straits for the way it ended, but the state's golf industry will no doubt savor memories from the way it began: with the release of a study detailing the sport's economic impact on the Badger State.