Arizona Alliance for Golf Study Finds Arizona Golf Industry Creates $6 Billion Economic Impact While Using Only 2% of the State’s Water to Serve 16.6 Million Rounds
PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A study released today estimates that Arizona’s golf industry generated $6 billion in economic activity while using just 2% of the daily water state to service 16.6 million rounds of golf in 2021. This economic output has supported nearly 66,200 jobs, provided $2.3 billion in wages, and generated $518 million in state and local tax revenue.
“The positive impact on our community provided by the golf industry is good for everyone, even those who don’t play,” said Joe Foley, executive director of the Arizona Golf Association and member of the executive committee of the Arizona Alliance for Golf (AAG). “It’s one of the most impactful ways we give back, with many community support organizations hosting their own golf fundraisers every year, as well as direct support for events like the WM Phoenix Open. . And the use of 2% of the state’s water in the process clearly shows that the golf industry is effectively managing the vital resources we all depend on.
Led by Rounds Consulting Group in partnership with AAG, “The Economic Contribution of Arizona’s Golf Industry”, gathered and quantified the economic and environmental impacts directly and indirectly attributed to the Arizona golf industry in 2021.
Arizona’s golf industry also generates hundreds of millions of charitable fundraising dollars to local nonprofit organizations. For example, the WM Phoenix Open raised $10.2 million in 2022 alone. The game also funds youth golf programs, which provide opportunities for children in Arizona to maintain their physical and mental health. and develop their life skills.
Among the environmental benefits, the report also finds that golf courses are effective in mitigating the urban heat island effect due to the abundance of tree cover and green spaces.
“An affinity for the sport is not a prerequisite for benefiting from its reach,” said Ron Price, President and CEO of Visit Phoenix and member of the AAG Board of Directors. “Tourism is big business in Arizona. The quality and variety of golf courses here play a major role in helping the state attract millions of travelers each year. In 2021, the city of Phoenix welcomed over 16 million people who spent over $3.2 billion. This is impacting a wide range of businesses, large and small, in greater Phoenix and the state.
About the Arizona Golf Alliance
Representing the millions of Arizonans who rely on the game of golf and the travel and lifestyle attractions that bring millions to the Grand Canyon State each year, the Arizona Alliance for Golf was formed in 2022 to unify local allied associations, non-profit organizations, private industry and consumers to speak with one voice in an effort to protect Arizona’s golf industry by educating the wider community, policy makers and government agencies on issues shaping the future of golf in Arizona. Visit AZAllianceForGolf.org to learn more.