The California Alliance for Golf (CAG), the unified voice
for the golf industry in California, visited the California State Capitol in
Sacramento on April 27.
The delegation was made up of representatives from the
California GCSA, Englander Knabe & Allen, GCSAA, Moore Minister
Communications, Northern California PGA and the Southern California Golf
Association.
The California GCSA and GCSAA were represented by Jim
Ferrin, CGCS at Sun City Roseville and CAG secretary; former GCSAA President and CAG board member
Bruce Williams of Bruce Williams Golf Consulting; Kurtis Wolford, Sierra Nevada GCSA President and Class A Superintendent
at Cherry Island Golf Course and I.
The group met with Keali’i Bright, Deputy Secretary to
Natural Resources Agency; John Casey, Communications Director to Speaker
Anthony Rendon; Kip Lipper, Office of Pro Tempore; Assemblyman Patrick
O’Donnell, Assemblyman Phil Ting, Josh White, Legislative Director for Minority
Leader Chad Mayes and key staff members of Governor Jerry Brown.
Topics included a current overview of Governor Brown’s
emergency drought declarations as well as the possible easing of those
restrictions in the coming weeks due to ample snowfall in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, the State Water Resources Control Board’s continuing changes to the
state’s Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), growth of the game
and youth initiatives in the state with a particular focus on the SCGA’s Youth
on Course Program, golf’s efficient use of water in the state (less than one
percent of the total fresh water), the industries outreach efforts with local
government agencies and municipalities and an ask on the industries behalf for
a resolution proclaiming a Golf Day in California.
Additionally, the delegation held in depth discussion on the
economic impact of the game. The state’s nearly 900 courses have a total impact
of more than $13 billion, employ 128,000 creating $4.1 billion in wages and
contributes nearly $365 million to charitable causes.
The event marked the first of two yearly visits by CAG to
the State Capitol. For more information on the organization and its efforts,
visit www.cagolf.org.
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| Pictured are members of the California Alliance for Golf at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA during CAG’s Legislative Day |
