Last week at the fifth annual National Golf Day in Washington D.C. I had the opportunity to represent the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA). I was proud to advocate for all of the small businesses that make up the golf industry in the U.S.

On National Golf Day the golf industry reaches out to members of Congress. The golf industry’s goal for the day was working towards the adoption of two pieces of legislation. We urged representatives to support HR 9, The Small Business Tax Cut Act of 2012, which provides deductions to businesses with fewer than 500 employees. We also advocated for HR 2718 and S 1456, The Disaster Tax Relief Act, to help storm-damaged public golf courses get back on their feet

We began the day by joining the Nebraska Congressional delegation at their weekly breakfast. Since the GCBAA’s office is headquartered in Lincoln, we felt it was important to spend extra time with Nebraska’s two Senators and three Representatives who attended the breakfast.

Following breakfast, I joined others in the GCBAA delegation in individual meetings with Members of Congress.  We met with Senator Ben Nelson, (NE) Representative Senator Mike Johanns (NE) Representative Ted Poe (TX), Legislative Counsel for Representative Emanuel Cleaver II, (MO) Jennifer Shapiro, ESQ., Representative Collin Peterson (MN), and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX).

State delegates heard statements throughout the day that the golf industry has grown to become a $76 billion industry (larger than the motion picture and recording industries combined), donates more money to charities than any other sport in America, and provides more than two million jobs in the United States with a total wage income of over $61 billion. Groups shared the common message on how golf has a positive human, economic, environmental and health impact.

Also participating in National Golf Day were the PGA of America, World Golf Foundation, Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and National Golf Course Owners Association.