From the Executive Director’s Desk

by Joe Foley

When we last visited in this space five months ago, I was looking forward to seeing – for the first time since I moved to Arizona– the one million winter visitors who were about to flock to the Valley and play our golf courses over the coming months. Now, we’re wishing them safe travels home as we look forward to a busy and rewarding summer golf season ahead.

At the forefront of our minds as we enter the year’s driest months: the ongoing water crisis. In February, the Arizona Alliance for Golf (AAG) released a study that found that the golf industry generates $6 billion in revenue while utilizing just two percent of the state’s water.

Contrary to criticism received by the golf industry in recent months, these numbers are nothing new. For years, the industry has been committed to conserving the state’s most precious resource. Nevertheless, the AAG is committed to finding ways to continue to improve in this endeavor, and we will have more info to come about how Arizona Golf is working together to face these water challenges while protecting the game we love.

Just like our local golf organizations here in Arizona, the USGA is on the cutting edge and looking for new ways to enhance the golfer experience, while conserving resources. Recently, the USGA announced a proposed local rule to address hitting distances at the elite level in the coming years and separately introduced the first-ever “Smart Ball” (known as the GS3).