Florida Senate - 2016 (NP) SR 1740
By Senator Richter
23-02190-16 20161740__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing February 4, 2016, 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, with a
7 direct economic impact of $8.2 billion and an indirect economic
8 impact of $11 billion in 2013, and
9 WHEREAS, in 2013, the golf industry employed 132,000
10 Floridians and had an annual payroll of $3.6 billion, and
11 WHEREAS, Florida is home to the PGA TOUR in Ponte Vedra
12 Beach; the LPGA International in Daytona Beach; the PGA of
13 America in Palm Beach Gardens; and The First Tee, the World Golf
14 Hall of Fame, and the World Golf Foundation in St. Augustine,
15 and
16 WHEREAS, Florida has more than 1,500 public and private
17 golf course facilities, more than any other state, which
18 generate annual revenues of $4.1 billion, a sum greater than
19 that of all other spectator sports in the state combined, and
20 WHEREAS, Florida will host 20 professional golf
21 championships in 2016, including six PGA TOUR events, four
22 Champions Tour events, two Web.com Tour events, and two LPGA
23 Tour events, 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 Trump National Doral in
28 Miami, and
29 WHEREAS, Florida’s golf industry is a top contributor to
30 charitable organizations, with donations totaling more than
31 $383.4 million annually from numerous golf outings and events,
32 as well as the charitable giving associated with professional
33 golf tournaments, and
34 WHEREAS, beneficiaries of these charity events include the
35 Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, The First Tee Miami, the Make-A
36 Wish Foundation, the Baptist Children’s Hospital, the Children’s
37 Miracle Network Hospitals, the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care
38 Foundation, The First Tee National School Program, the Boy
39 Scouts of America, the American Red Cross, the Alzheimer’s
40 Support Network, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast,
41 and many others, and
42 WHEREAS, Florida’s golf course owners and superintendents
43 have 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 and
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 2016 will bring an unprecedented level of worldwide exposure to
53 this state, and
54 WHEREAS, golf is a tremendous asset to this state,
55 affecting its 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 significant 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 February 4, 2016, is recognized as “Golf Day at the
67 Capitol.”
68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
69 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the affiliated
70 organizations of the Golf Florida Alliance as a tangible token
71 of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.