Cover Story

National Golf Day 2024

By Robert McLean • Director of Agronomy • GCSAA Class A Superintendent Indian Hills Country Club • Bowling Green, KY

National Golf Day was such a pleasant surprise.

National Golf Day is just that, a day in which golf is elevated to the national spotlight. As a first time attendee, I didn’t know what to expect. It had been explained as a marathon, non-stop from beginning to end. It definitely delivered.

This year marked the 16th National Golf Day. The goal of National Golf Day is to bring to the attention of our country’s leaders the economic, environmental, physical and mental health impact golf has on their constituents.

As a representative of the TGCSAA, I was joined at the Double Tree Hilton Washington DC-Crystal City by fellow members Wells McLure (Tellico Village), Mark Stovall (Harrell’s), Bart Cash (Crossroads Sod Farm), and Jay Willis (Chickasaw Country Club). Alongside were 198 members of the PGA of America, the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), and the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA). Industry partners involved with sales, service, technology, and research also participated. This group comprised the American Golf Industry Coalition (AGIC) for 2024. It is truly a coalition of leading industry professionals.

The event began with a meeting to familiarize ourselves with the legislative issues. The golf industry is a $115 billion a year business with $4.5 billion in charitable donations and needs to be seen as the economic driver that it is. Top issues are the Modernization of tax code HR-3124, PHIT Act, and the reauthorization of the National Turfgrass Research Initiative. Each participant was presented with a very detailed schedule. To schedule 203 different people from 38 states for meetings with Senators and Congressional Representatives from multiple states and districts was a feat of logistics. That evening we attended a congressional reception on Capitol Hill in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room. We had ample time to work the room, introducing ourselves and expanding our networking base. Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) spoke on the economic benefits golf has within their respective states and of their respect for the turfgrass industry and the work we do to provide this recreational outlet. Congressman Jimmy Panetta (DCA) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) are co-sponsors of the Tax Code Modernization Bill HR-3124, which would remove golf courses from an outdated tax code which excludes golf courses from federal funding following natural disasters. I applaud these two congressional members for reaching across the aisle for the common good of our industry.

Thursday morning was the obligatory photo opportunity on the steps of the Capitol. And, yes, I placed myself front and center. I met with my team from Kentucky, which included Superintendent Damon Hitti, (Weissinger Hills Golf Course in Shelbyville) and General Manager Susannah Miller (Lake Forest Country Club in Louisville). We determined which of us had knowledge and/or experience with the relevant legislative issues. The first meeting was in the office of Senator Rand Paul (RKY) with his senior counsel. Honestly, we were anxious at the start of the meeting; however, in just a matter of minutes the dialogue started to flow. It’s amazing how effortless it is to talk about something when you’re passionate about it. With the first meeting under our belts, we found a rhythm for the next five meetings. It was easy to find common ground with most of our hosts because of their love of the game. Thursday was a long, but productive day. A lot of walking, a lot of talking. But, when the day was over, I had a very satisfying feeling of having participated in the process.

Friday morning started early as we had to catch a bus by 6:30 for the National Mall. We gathered at the Jefferson Memorial for another photo opportunity and a few words of recognition and thanks from GCSAA Director of Government Affairs Chana McKee. We then divided into our assigned groups. I was fortunate to be assigned to mow the grounds surrounding the Jefferson Memorial. With five others mowing this didn’t last long, so I helped plant Yoshino cherry trees and spread mulch on the banks of the tidal basin. Planting the trees was a highlight. These are trees that will be there for generations, for millions to enjoy each spring as they bloom. To have been a small part of that was special. I hope to return to DC and check on the cherry trees.

Over the course of my 31-year career, never would I have imagined that a decision I made 15 years ago to join TTA would lead to a board appointment, and then to have such an incredible opportunity to represent our association. It was a fantastic way to let our voices be heard, to share our knowledge, and promote our industry. Kevin Sunderland, GCSAA Chief Operating Officer, said it best. “If you don’t tell your own story, someone else will,” he said, “That’s why advocacy matters.”

The bills and initiatives:

• US tax code HR 3124 – Modernize the tax code to exclude golf courses from a list of businesses not eligible for federal financial aid following a natural disaster.

• PHIT Act HR 1582 – Personal Health Investment Today - Would offer the option to use HSA/FSA funds on activity expenses to lower the cost of a healthy lifestyle.

• 2024 Farm Bill – National Turfgrass Research Initiative - Reauthorization and appropriation of more grant money funding for turfgrass research.

• HR 7574 – Closing the workforce gap act of 2024increase/ create a permanent cap of available H2B immigrant workers.

• HR 1477 – Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce - would expand 529 educational savings plans to be used on more then just post-secondary degrees (college) and would include post-secondary training and certification.