Florida Senate - 2012 (Corrected Copy)(NP) SR 2108
By Senator Bennett
21-03051B-12 20122108__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing February 14, 2012, as “Golf
3 Day at the Capitol” in Florida.
4
5 WHEREAS, the golf industry has become an integral part of
6 the economy, identity, and quality of life in this state, and
7 WHEREAS, golf has become a major component of Florida’s
8 economy, with a direct economic impact in 2007 of $7.5 billion
9 and an indirect economic benefit of $13.8 billion, and
10 WHEREAS, the golf industry employs 167,000 Floridians and
11 has an annual payroll of $4.7 billion, and
12 WHEREAS, Florida is home to the PGA TOUR in Ponte Vedra
13 Beach, the LPGA in Daytona Beach, PGA of America in Palm Beach
14 Gardens, and The First Tee, the World Golf Hall of Fame, and the
15 World Golf Foundation in St. Augustine, and
16 WHEREAS, Florida is home to more than 1,200 public and
17 private golf course facilities, more than any other state in
18 America, which generate revenues of $3.4 billion, more than all
19 other spectator sports in the state combined, and
20 WHEREAS, Florida will host 15 professional golf
21 championships in 2012, including six PGA Tour events, three
22 Champions Tour events, two Nationwide Tour events, and one LPGA
23 Tour event, and
24 WHEREAS, two of golf’s most prestigious events are played
25 in Florida, THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte
26 Vedra Beach and the World Golf Championships - Cadillac
27 Championship, played since 2007 at the Blue Monster Course of
28 the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, and
29 WHEREAS, Florida’s golf industry is a top contributor to
30 charitable organizations, with donations totaling more than $312
31 million annually from numerous charitable golf outings and
32 events as well as the charitable giving associated with
33 professional golf tournaments, and
34 WHEREAS, beneficiaries of these charitable events include
35 Miami Children’s Hospital, First Tee Miami, the Make-A-Wish
36 Foundation, Baptist Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Miracle
37 Network hospitals, the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care
38 Foundation, The First Tee National School Program, Boy Scouts of
39 America, the American Red Cross, the Alzheimer’s Support
40 Network, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Florida, and many
41 others, and
42 WHEREAS, Florida’s golf courses and superintendents have
43 continued to be stewards of the environment by using best
44 practices in hazardous waste management, wetland and stormwater
45 protection, and wastewater minimization, and
46 WHEREAS, the game of golf assists in the development of
47 Florida’s youth through the introduction of life skills
48 experiences, management of emotions, goal setting, conflict
49 resolution, and improving relationships with family and
50 community, and
51 WHEREAS, the concentration of golf activity in Florida in
52 2012 will bring an unprecedented amount of worldwide exposure to
53 this state, and
54 WHEREAS, golf is a tremendous asset to this state,
55 impacting quality of life and tourism and strengthening the
56 state’s position as a great place to live and do business, and
57 WHEREAS, the golf industry has a tremendous impact on the
58 state’s economy, provides recreation and wellness opportunities
59 for residents of all ages, fosters strong character development
60 for Florida’s youth, contributes significantly to charitable
61 organizations, and is intrinsic to the brand of the Sunshine
62 State, NOW, THEREFORE,
63
64 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
65
66 That the Florida Senate recognizes February 14, 2012, as
67 “Golf Day at the Capitol” in Florida, the official golf day in
68 this state.
69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
70 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the affiliated
71 organizations of the World Golf Foundation as a tangible token
72 of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.