Growth of the Game

North Florida PGA Ascends on Our Capitol...
Golf Coalitions Unite To Proclaim the Impact & Value of Golf on Florida Golf Day!
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Associations unite to proclaim the economic impact golf has on the State...

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Round table discussion with Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll after a day of meetings with Legislators & lobbyists...
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The North Florida PGA made another visit to our Capitol on Feb. 21 for Florida Golf Day. Rich Smith, NFPGA ED/CEO along with celebrity PGA Instructor Rick McCord and other major FL Golf Associations, spent the day with legislators and lobbyists to proclaim the value and impact the game of golf has on the State of Florida. The day concluded with a meeting with Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll to remind her and Gov. Rick Scott, as well. It is estimated that the game of golf has a direct economic impact of over 7 billion dollars annually! The overall impact approaches 14 billion dollars taking into consideration the ancillary dollars it brings in for tourism, lodging, restaurants and travel!
Of course there was some golf going on in the courtyard during the day! The North Florida Section set up an exhibition with inflatable hitting cages for guest PGA Instructors Rick McCord and Dale Brown to give free tips to the legislators and guests in the courtyard. There was even a putting duel between The House and Senate during their lunch break!
Associations such as the World Golf Foundation, World Golf Hall of Fame, GCSAA, SFPGA, PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour and Special Olympics were represented by their leaders and associates to meet with committees and legislators throughout the day to share our united story about just how much the game of golf really means to our state. Strength in numbers assures that critical impression to the legislators, as they are extremely busy planning for how their budgets will be distributed. You could sense that they do understand just how valuable the game of golf is to “The Golf Capital of the World”. We’ll continue to follow up and keep our game on the forefront of their minds and high on their list of priorities for promotional dollar expenditures to continue to grow our contribution to tourism, tax dollars, jobs and the game!
.The Golf Channel was on hand to cover the event. Click HERE to see their segment on Morning Drive.
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Golf Channel's Scott Walker Segment. Click HERE to view Scott's story.
.Visit our NFPGA Facebook site for some photos and fun! Click HERE for link to Facebook...