Amateur

NAGA report positive news from annual meeting at RBC Canadian Open

Glen Abbey Golf Club (Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Representatives from Canada’s six National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) met Friday during tournament week of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

Each of the association’s presidents and staff leaders met onsite at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., including Golf Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, the Canadian Society of Club Managers, the PGA of Canada, the Canadian Golf Industry Association and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. Much of the discussion revolved around the positive impact of golf in Canada and an overall increase in rounds played over the past three years.

The Rounds Played Report, conducted monthly by the NGCOA Canada, confirms 2015 golf play to June 1 was up 14% compared to the national 3 year average and up 27‎% over 2014. Regionally, only the Maritime provinces were down, explained by unusually poor spring weather conditions, while the western provinces led the country with exceptional early season results.

Economic Impact of Golf in Canada:

Based on a Canadian golf economic impact study released in June of 2014, the sport of golf accounts for an estimated $14.3 billion of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Included in that economic impact are more than 300,000 jobs (direct, indirect and induced), $8.3 billion in household income, $1.4 billion in property and other indirect taxes, and $2.2 billion in income taxes.

The total direct economic activity (total direct sales, golf related travel, capital spending) resulting from the Canadian Golf Industry is estimated at $19.7 billion. Direct revenues generated directly by golf courses and their facilities, and stand-alone driving and practice ranges ($5.0 billion) rivals the revenues generated by all other participation sports and recreation facilities combined ($4.8 billion) in Canada.

“The evidence of golf’s popularity in Canada is not surprising to those aware of the sport’s economics, and the good stories don’t stop there,” added Elizabeth Di Chiara, Executive Director Canadian Society of Club Managers and NAGA’s incoming president. “From environmental benefits to the charitable impact and tourism revenues, there are many reasons for the Canadian golf industry to be encouraged.”

Additional benefits and impacts of golf in Canada include:

Golf Participation – approximately 60 million rounds of golf are played annually by more than 5.7 million golfers.

Environmental Benefits – Over 175,000 hectares of green space managed by approximately 2,308 golf course operators, including 30,000 hectares of unmanaged wildlife habitat under golf course stewardship.

Charitable Activity – In 2013 there were nearly 37,000 charitable events hosted at Canadian golf courses (25,000 were reported in 2009). Using conservative estimates, these events raise more than $533 million for charitable causes across Canada ($473 million in 2009 dollars).

Golf Tourism – In 2013 Canadian travellers spent $2.5 billion annually on golf-related travel within Canada (including on-course spending at courses visited). Foreign visiting golfers spent $1.6 billion on golf related travel and on-course spending (approximately $2 billion reported in the 2009 study).

Golf Facilities Report 2015:

Another report released in 2015 – Golf Facilities in Canada 2015 – revealed the following snapshot regarding golf facilities in Canada:

18-hole supply in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan, 18-hole courses are outnumbered 3 to 1 by 9-hole courses.