A study commissioned by the Michigan Golf Alliance shows the state generated 56,977 direct and indirect jobs and more than $1.3 billion in golf-related hospitality and tourism spending in 2006. The study also established that the state's golf industry generated $4.2 billion of direct, indirect and induced economic impact. The state ranks first in the nation in number of public golf facilities and third in the nation in the number of 18-hole equivalent courses.
The results of the study were released yesterday at a breakfast at Oakland Hills Country Club, where the 90th PGA Championship is being held this week.
The study is part of the ongoing effort by the World Golf Foundation's Golf 20/20 initiative to quantify golf's economic, environmental and human impact at both the national and state levels. Golf 20/20 is supported by golf's national allied associations, including The PGA of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Club Managers Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, United States Golf Association, the PGA TOUR and the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
The Michigan Golf Economy Report includes the following findings. Golf:
• Generated 56,977 direct and indirect jobs for its citizens.
• Generated $2.2 billion of direct economic output.
• Generated $1.4 billion in direct and indirect salaries and wages in the state economy.
• Generated $1.3 billion in hospitality and tourism.
The study, published in 2007, was conducted through a comprehensive, standardized framework that can be replicated nationwide. The SRI study used the following measurement indexes:
Direct Impact – Determined by the size of the golf industry cluster within the state economy based on revenue. The state golf economy is calculated by adding the size of each of its core and enabled industries.
Indirect Impact – Determined by the purchases of golf course facilities and the companies, which provide goods and services to the golf industry and in turn, purchase goods and services from other companies.
Induced Impact – Employees directly employed within the golf sector spend much of their income in the region, which creates more spending and more jobs in the economy. Together, the "indirect" and "induced" impact forms a multiplier impact on the golf economy.
"Using the SRI template for the study was really an eye-opening experience. Without such a process, it is difficult to comprehend the size and impact of the golf industry. Taking into account all of the data, golf contributes greatly to the overall economy in Michigan," said Kevin Helm, Executive Director of The Michigan PGA Section.
The study also verified the human impact that the golf industry has on the State of Michigan. In 2006, SRI estimates that the total amount of charitable giving attributed to the game of golf in Michigan exceeded $118.1 million. One example of this is the annual Team Championship event hosted by the Golf Association of Michigan which benefits the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and the Evans Scholars Foundation. Proceeds provide full-tuition college scholarships to young golf caddies.
The Buick Open, a PGA TOUR event, also raises significant funds for local charities each year, such as the Easter Sales, American Red Cross, the Whaley Children's Center and the American Lung Association in 2006.
"The public and private sectors have long known the significance of the economic impact of golf in Michigan; this new research confirmed the importance of golf to our tourism promotion efforts and to the broader Michigan economy," said George Zimmermann, Vice President for Travel Michigan, a business of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "We offer enthusiasts some of the best golf in the world, and the quality of our golf product makes the golf industry an economic engine for the state of Michigan."
"One of the most exciting developments of the last several years has been the ability to take the economic impact template from the national report and apply it at the state level," said Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation. "Michigan now joins a number of states that have produced and publicized their own reports. This offers those states several important benefits, including an improved ability to secure public support for increased golf tourism promotion, as well as positively impacting legislation that can benefit golf facilities."
For a copy of the complete Michigan report or other economic research on golf, visit www.golf2020.com.