As mentioned in a post yesterday, today is National Golf Day. In Washington, D.C., leaders from around the game — including a delegation from GCSAA — are meeting with officials and congressional leaders to communicate the positive economic, environmental and societal impact the game has on this country.
Under that broad umbrella, there are plenty of smaller events on tap today. As of this writing (at about 11 a.m. Central), a news conference is under way officially announcing the formation of the We Are Golf coalition, a group formed by GCSAA, the Club Managers Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the PGA of America to promote the "true face of golf." You can read more about We Are Golf in this news release.
On GCSAA's behalf, members of the association's Government Relations Committee, the board of directors and select staff are on site and making visits around Capitol Hill. Already today, GCSAA President Jim Fitzroy, CGCS, GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS and Rafael Barajas, CGCS at Hacienda Golf Club in La Habra Heights, Calif., met with Republican leaders. The photo here shows that trio (from left to right, Barajas, Woodward and Fitzroy) shortly before that meeting took place.
Additionally, Barajas was one of the featured speakers during the We Are Golf news conference. His prepared statement for that event follows:
I am not sure where I would be without the golf industry. I know many other individuals who feel the same way. When I moved here, I needed a job. I didn’t want to work indoors. So, I went to a nearby golf course when I was 16 and some 30 years later I am still working on a golf course. That industry has provided me a career and a means to provide a college education for four children.
I had no clue about golf or golf courses. But I was quickly smitten by both. The golf course was this beautiful piece of land that provided enjoyment and employment opportunities for many individuals. I look at the development in communities and see golf courses as a natural oasis of wildlife, plants, lakes and streams. As for the game itself, I have loved it since the first time I hit the ball. It is a sport unlike any other because of the environment in which it is played and the values it instills. Let me play a round of golf with someone and I can tell you exactly what type of person they are. I am honored to be part of a sport and industry that still respects the values of honor and integrity.
It saddens me when I see, read or hear the negative perceptions of the game. Golf is a game for people of all ages and all backgrounds. There are opportunities for everyone. It also provides for the livelihood of people in the community. We employ 100 individuals, but we also buy resources from food vendors, golf equipment companies, golf course management suppliers and others. I would hate to think what it would mean for this community to not have my golf facility. There would be no jobs created, no venue for people to enjoy the game and perhaps no green space to enhance the environment.
What does golf mean to me? It means almost everything. But more than that, it means so much to so many people. I don’t know what I would have done without it.
Finally, a reminder about something we tweeted about a few times in the last 24 hours or so. Both Woodward and Barajas will be making an appearance on CBSNews.com's live daily feed from Washington D.C. today. It happens in just a few minutes — 12:30 Eastern, to be exact — but you can watch it live through this link. It will also be archived later for future viewing; we'll post the exact link to that archive once we receive it.
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