On the heels of a similar golf economic impact report for Washington and other states, a similar analysis has been completed for New York that shows its link to golf history extends past its roots in popularizing the game within this country. New York also is a state where golf is a key industry contributing to the vitality of its economy from employment, capital investment, tourism, significant charitable donations and the export of goods and services.
Those findings and more are part of a New York Golf Economy Report, commissioned by GOLF 20/20 for the New York Alliance for Golf Task Force and prepared by SRI International. The study was released March 10, in Albany, N.Y., in conjunction with the New York State Turfgrass Association's Advocacy Day.
As the birthplace of the United States Golf Association (1894) and the PGA of America (1916), New York has 818 courses, 38 golf resorts, and it's hosted four U.S. Open Championships in the past decade and hosts as many as nine annual championships, including showcase events of the USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA Tour - all which enhances the game as a benchmark in the Empire State's economy.
According to the New York Golf Economy Report, the golf industry generates a total economic impact of $5.3 billion, supporting nearly 56,600 jobs with $1.6 billion of wage income.