April 11 -- What contributions does the golf industry make to the United States from an economic, environmental, human resources and charitable perspective each year? Golf takes its compelling case to Congress on April 16, when the industry's allied organizations converge on Capitol Hill during the inaugural National Golf Day.

With The PGA of America playing a leadership role in organizing and orchestrating an ambitious agenda, representatives from every branch of the golf industry will visit Washington, D.C., to update Congress and influential lawmakers and lobbyists on golf's significant economic, environmental and employment impact in the U.S. The industry's charitable contributions and the business of golf also will be emphasized on the landmark day dedicated to golf and government.

Leaders of Golf: Tim Finchem, Commissioner of the PGA Tour; David Fay, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association; Joe Steranka, CEO of The PGA of America; and Steve Mona, World Golf Foundation CEO. (Photo taken at PGA Merchandise Show)

PGA President Brian Whitcomb and CEO Joe Steranka will anchor a strong PGA of America contingent that will be joined by World Golf Foundation representatives such as PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem; U.S. Golf Association Executive Director David Fay; World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona; The First Tee CEO Joe Barrow; LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens; National Golf Course Owners Association CEO Mike Hughes; GOLF 20/20 Executive Director Ruffin Beckwith; Club Managers Association of America CEO Jim Singerling, plus many additional staff members from golf's allied organizations.

"National Golf Day on April 16 will provide a unique opportunity for the golf industry to speak with one voice about the economic, environmental and human impact of the game," says Whitcomb. "Golf has a powerful message to share with our national leaders, and National Golf Day will provide a perfect platform to deliver that message.

"All of the associations and organizations involved have their own issues and constituencies, but on Capitol Hill we will be working together to develop relationships with our leaders and lawmakers for the good of golf. If The PGA did this by itself, it would have some impact but a minimal impact. By speaking as a united industry, we will demonstrate to Congress that golf is a strong coalition capable of affecting change and making a difference."

Under the umbrella of the World Golf Foundation, The PGA and other organizations will not travel to Capitol Hill with an agenda to lobby for specific legislation. Rather, industry leaders will use National Golf Day to introduce themselves to lawmakers, congressional staffs and other influential people in an educational and social atmosphere designed to underscore golf's impact on the national economy, environment, employment and philanthropic landscapes while laying the groundwork with congressional delegations on issues pertaining to the industry in the future.

"Before you can tactfully address specific legislation, you need to establish a presence on Capitol Hill and develop relationships with those national leaders who will be decision-makers in the future," explains Steranka. "It is important that our national leaders understand the relevance of our industry to Americans at the local, state and federal level. National Golf Day delivers on all three fronts. It establishes a presence for the golf industry in Washington and will allow us to develop lines of communication with key leaders and their staffs.

"The stature of golf will grow as more public and private officials in our nation's capital have a greater understanding of the scale of our industry and the impact golf has on jobs, tourism, tax revenues and other economic and environmental impacts at the local, state and national levels."

Steranka has been working closely with new World Golf Foundation CEO Mona in establishing a process to keep local, state and national lawmakers informed about golf's varied contributions while uniting the golf industry in support of initiatives that serve the game's best interests.

"National Golf Day is a powerful start to what will be an ongoing effort by the World Golf Foundation to reach out to our elected officials," assures Mona. "National Golf Day offers an important opportunity to stress golf's strong charitable contributions and environmental stewardship.

"One of the key learnings coming out of the 2005 Golf Economy Report, for example, is that the golf industry accounted for $3.5 billion in annual charitable contributions. It's hard to imagine any other single endeavor resulting in such a powerfully positive human impact in communities across the country."

Mona says the golf industry needs to share its environmental story with congressional delegations on April 16, too.

"Increasingly, the industry is focused on the game's environmental impact and opportunities, and decisions made by those who design, build and maintain golf courses are made with environmental stewardship in mind," notes Mona. "As one example of industry leadership in this critical area, the Environmental Institute for Golf, the

philanthropic arm of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, has embarked on a series of detailed research reports that will measure and communicate in detail an environmental profile of golf courses and provide significant insight into environmental best practices. We look forward to sharing this very positive charitable and environmental record as part of the National Golf Day activities."

All 535 members of Congress have been invited to attend National Golf Day events in the nation's capital. The April 16 agenda tees off with The First Tee Congressional Breakfast featuring threetime U.S. Open Champion Hale Irwin. A media conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., will follow later in the day. The press conference and subsequent meetings with congressional delegations will include special presentations on the 2005 Golf Economy Report conducted by Stanford Research International (SRI) that determined the golf industry produces a direct economic impact of $76 billion annually in the United States.

A noon luncheon with U.S. senators and allied leaders hosted by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson will provide leaders of the allied golf associations an opportunity to visit with prominent senators over lunch, while numerous breakout meetings with various senators and congressional leaders are scheduled throughout a busy afternoon. An

evening reception sponsored by House Tourism and Travel Caucus co-chairs Rep. Sam Farr of California and Rep. John Porter of Nevada will provide another opportunity for golf industry leaders to discuss the importance of golf, travel and tourism in specific states.

Congressman Ron Klein of Florida is adding pomp and ceremony to the efforts of the allied golf organizations by sponsoring a resolutiondeclaring April 16 National Golf Day. More than 50 co-sponsors have endorsed the resolution, which will be read as part of the official ceremonies on Capitol Hill marking National Golf Day.

"National Golf Day provides the industry with an opportunity to work together as a coalition and offers the golf industry a chance to educate Congress and congressional staffs on the significant impacts of the business of golf," says Erik Winborn, government affairs consultant for The PGA of America. "This is an important first step in building relationships and paving the way for ensuring that golf has a voice in shaping legislation that will affect the industry in the future. Even if a lot of legislation isn't passed during this election year, the allied golf organizations are taking a positive step toward becoming involved in the legislative process."

If all goes well, perhaps National Golf Day will become an annual tradition on Capitol Hill.