WE ARE GOLF – a coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners – today announces the 11th annual National Golf Day will be held Wednesday, April 25, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
National Golf Day celebrates the game’s nearly $70 billion economy (updated data available in April 2018), nearly $4 billion annual charitable impact, and many environmental and fitness benefits. Industry leaders will meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and federal agencies to discuss golf’s 15,000-plus diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation, and tourism value.
Returning for 2018, golf industry leaders will arrive Monday, April 23 to participate in a community service initiative on the National Mall on the morning of Tuesday, April 24.
The project will focus on beautification, preservation, and helping the National Park Service with turf deferred maintenance. More details will be available soon.
“With one in 75 U.S. jobs impacted by golf, the industry plays a significant role in stimulating our economy nationwide,” says Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation, administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “Last year, a record 2.5 million people tried golf for the first time, further cementing why it is vital to share golf’s interests with our country’s lawmakers, showcasing the game’s many economic, charitable, and fitness benefits.”
2017 RECAP
To begin National Golf Day on April 26, The First Tee Congressional Breakfast was held in the U.S. Capitol. Pictured below are The First Tee Scholars for 2017, Noah Ahmed (left) and Adam Zakaria (right). They are joined by Billy Hurley III (center), PGA TOUR golfer and winner of the 2016 Quicken Loans National.
Organizations participating in the 10th annual National Golf Day on April 26 were the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Builders Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Links to Freedom, National Alliance for Accessible Golf, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, Salute Military Golf Association, The First Tee, U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council, United States Golf Association, World Golf Foundation and several others.
Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation, kicked off the event in the Rayburn House Office Building and introduce several special guests. Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director, provided some opening remarks.
At National Golf Day 2017, a record 175 Congressional meetings were scheduled, and nearly 200 attendees from 35 U.S. states participated.
This year’s event included Mike Davis, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association (USGA), the PGA TOUR’s Billy Hurley III, and Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen.
“I look forward to National Golf Day every year. It’s a chance to visit with the folks at WE ARE GOLF here on Capitol Hill to talk about the positive impact the game has on our economy, worthy charities, and personal fitness,” says Congressman James E. Clyburn, Assistant Democratic Leader (D-SC). “I appreciate the opportunity to discuss expanding diversity throughout every aspect of golf.”
National Golf Day featured a day-long exhibit in the Rayburn Foyer with live lessons for Congressional Members and staff from 2012 PGA Teacher of the Year Michael Breed, host of “The Golf Fix” on Golf Channel, and LPGA Teaching Professional Karen Palacios-Jansen, founder of Cardiogolf, a golf-specific fitness system.
Special exhibits and activities included a “Closest to the Pin” contest on an aboutGolf simulator; state-of-the-art swing analysis from GolfTEC; a Republican vs. Democrat “Putting Challenge” with Cleveland Golf and Srixon; an educational display with the National Alliance for Accessible Golf; and interviews with attendees on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio.
“The influence of the game continues to grow. Golf continues to lead the way, in terms of not just physical strength but also mental strength and character,” says Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). “Golf is a worldwide, growing global activity.”
Across America, Topgolf partnered with WE ARE GOLF to offer free five-minute lessons at 27 U.S. locations with slow-motion video swing analysis through its Topgolf U instructional program. More than 2,000 free lessons were given nationwide in one day!
SOCIAL MEDIA
In 2017, the National Golf Day Twitter campaign (#NGD17) exceeded 72 million impressions (52 million in 2016; 37 million in 2015; 16 million in 2014; 7.2 million in 2013).
This included reaching 24.3 million Twitter and Facebook individual accounts. #NGD17 exceeded 12 million Twitter impressions during its peak between 2-3 p.m. on April 26, which was also a global trending topic for the third year.
