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Dear CAG Members & Friends,
2018 will soon be wrapping up but not before I take a moment to thank the organizations and their staff who have supported the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) this past year.
Throughout the year, there are several allied golf associations who faithfully support The Alliance and its efforts to protect the golf industry. They have been our towers of strength. Now, it is time to expand our fundraising efforts by casting a broader net.
In 2019, we will be launching a membership program, reaching out to new stakeholders (i.e. private and public golf clubs, course operators and golf management companies, equipment manufacturers) seeking their financial support. This is a priority for the organization and necessary for the future vitality of The Alliance.
The CAG Board of Directors will meet in early February in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show (GIS) in San Diego to discuss the formal roll-out of the new membership drive. In the meantime, we welcome your support which will help offset basic operational costs.
In closing, if you truly care about the future of the golf industry, please consider making a donation to CAG during this Holiday Season of Giving. To do so, please visit: http://www.cagolf.org/join-us/. Your support will help us protect the future of the Game and Business of Golf.
Here’s to a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous 2019,
Yours in Golf,
Emmy Moore Minister
President
California Alliance for Golf
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Legislative Updates
Provided by Craig Kessler
ELECTION 18 – THE NUMBERS WITHIN CALIFORNIA’S NUMBERS
In California, the Democrats have captured the 2/3 control of the legislature necessary to pass tax legislation with nary a Republican vote and have captured all statewide offices, albeit Independent Steve Poizner did come within a whisker of defeating his Democratic opponent Ricardo Lara. Final count – Assembly 60-20 Democratic majority; Senate 30-10 Democratic majority.
The more interesting discussion is whether there is anything behind the numbers that you should take note of – anything with direct or even indirect impact upon the California golf industry. There were five – two involving the voters’ verdict on statewide initiatives, one involving the verdict of the voters of the state’s most populous county, one involving the verdict of one of the state’s urban bastions regarding wage issues, and one involving comments issued by Governor Elect Newsom. Four of them tell us something about where the state may be headed with respect to taxes and one tells us where even a conservative city is headed with respect to minimum wages.
It’s hard to interpret the electorate’s overwhelming rejection of Propositions 5 and 6 as anything other than a statement from the state’s voters that they are willing to tax themselves to accomplish collective needs. Given an opportunity to save 12 cents for each gallon of gasoline purchased, the voters rejected that “opportunity” in favor of fixing the roads. Given an opportunity to vote themselves a significant property tax benefit post age 55, the voters chose to keep those dollars in the hands of local government at expense to themselves.
Since his election to the state’s highest office Gavin Newsom has made repeated reference to the need to address the volatility built into the state’s tax structure by over-reliance upon the capital gains of a shockingly small number of California residents, many of whom labor in a tech sector that common wisdom assumes is about to enter a cooling off period. He has hardly disguised the fact that he sees a systemic reform that would take pressure off high marginal income tax rates and overly high and regressive sales tax rates as the answer. And all roads of that discussion lead to the creation of a service tax. “Discussion” won’t lead to action until the next recession makes clear just how fast the state will plow through the $10 billion rainy day fund that Jerry Brown created. We are now in the longest recovery in American history; how far off can that next recession be?
A year is an eternity in politics. But smart money would be on bracing ourselves for an onslaught of more taxes, fees and wage increases in the short run and in the somewhat longer run perhaps a tax “reform” that adds California to the 23 states that tax golf.
A challenge, yes. An insurmountable challenge, certainly not.
More California-related news can be found here:
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Golf News
PGA of America to give relief funds to California fire victims
Some of the finest golf courses in Southern California have been in the path of the recent wildfires.
Names like North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village and Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, home of a PGA Tour Champions tournament and former home of Tiger Woods’ World Challenge event, have been threatened or evacuated.
So it's natural that people who work at those golf courses live in the same areas and have been impacted by the fires. The PGA of America hopes to help employees at the affected courses through its Golf Relief and Assistance Fund.
The fund, started at the annual PGA of America meeting in 2017 in Austin, Texas, is designed to help golf industry personnel impacted by qualified natural disasters, from wildfires to hurricanes. Started with an initial contribution of $250,000, the fund grows through contributions from PGA of America members, related organizations and the public.
Read the full article here.
A Legal Battle in the Coachella Valley Could Transform How California—and the Nation—Uses Water
By: Sophie Yeo, Pacific Standard
In a legal battle between a Californian tribe and the state's water agencies, experts are seeing a turning point in the history of United States water rights, potentially affecting how water is controlled across the entire country.
While Coachella Valley is home to the Agua Caliente Indians, it is also home to Palm Springs, a resort town that boasts more than 100 golf courses. Keeping these places green in the desert is a challenge at the best of times. If the court finds that the local Native Americans are entitled to control a significant portion of the groundwater, it could give the tribe major leverage over the management of such spaces.
Read the full article here.
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News You Can Use
SCGA Twilight Leagues Continue To Benefit Golfers and Facilities Alike
SCGA Twilight Leagues are at the forefront of innovative ways to get golfers on the course in new and exciting ways.
After a successful third season hosting Twilight Leagues throughout SoCal, the SCGA is excited for the future of this budding program. In 2018 alone, SCGA Twilight Leagues brought in an average of $5K per facility in green fees alone over the course of the 8-week season. Hosted during non-peak hours during the week, Twilight Leagues offer facilities an opportunity to capitalize on otherwise underused tee times.
Players are given an opportunity to play casual, yet competitive golf on a routine basis throughout the summer. Facilities are able to capitalize on food & beverage sales and other revenue streams due to the influx of players during a normally slow time of day.
If you are interested in hosting a league at your course, contact the SCGA!
Long-time CAG Supporter CourseCo earns GCSAA Presidents Award for Environmental Stewardship
CourseCo, a golf course management company with properties in California, Oregon, Washington and Texas, has been selected by the GCSAA Board of Directors to receive the association’s 2019 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.
CourseCo will officially receive the award Wednesday, Feb. 6, during the Opening Session of the 2019 Golf Industry Show in San Diego (Feb. 2-7).
GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship was established in 1991 to recognize an exceptional environmental contribution to the game of golf; a contribution that further exemplifies the golf course superintendent’s image as a steward of the land.
“CourseCo’s strong commitment to the environment is a great example for the entire industry,” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “They believe in sustainable turfgrass management, and CourseCo superintendents are supported and encouraged to use sustainable practices and innovative strategies to benefit the environment and their communities.”
CourseCo started in Northern California and now manages 35 golf courses that are primarily owned by municipalities or counties. A core principle of CourseCo is a commitment to environmental enhancement, reduction of resource use, and sustainable management practices that benefit the communities the company works in.
Read more about CourseCo and their award on GCSAA's site here.
CAG Founding Board Director Ted Horton and Irrigation Contractor Tom Tanto will receive GCSAA Distinguished Service Awards at Golf Industry Show in San Diego
Celebrated golf course superintendent Edward “Ted” Horton, CGCS, and golf course irrigation contractor Tamas “Tom” Tanto will receive 2019 Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Awards from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
The pair will be recognized at the 2019 Golf Industry Show on Feb. 6 during the Opening Session, presented in partnership with Syngenta, at the San Diego Convention Center.
The award is given to individuals who have made an outstanding, substantive and enduring contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent profession.
"Ted and Tom rose to the highest levels of their respective fields through hard work and dedication to the golf industry, in keeping with the legacy of Col. John Morley,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO. “Their contributions have not only been to the benefit of superintendents, but to the wider world of golf."
Read the full story here.
Happy Holidays from Women's Golf Day!
Since 2016, over 900 locations in 52 countries have Engaged, Empowered & Supported women and girls playing golf around the globe by hosting a Women's Golf Day event.
Register your location to host a WGD event on JUNE 4, 2019.
CAG has been a supporter of the growth of the game initiative since its inception and looks forward to participating in next year's event!
All locations can sign up for free as an official Women's Golf Day location between now and February 28th!
Here are some key advantages to being an official WGD location:
- Placement on our homepage interactive map for a minimum of 12 months
- Unique profile page like this on our website which you can edit
- Digital marketing toolkit including social media, posters, graphics, and more that you receive once you have registered
- Multimedia coverage including TV, magazine, newspaper, blogs & others
- Access to unique golf-industry offers and opportunities such as seminars, webcasts, etc
- Give new customers in your area the perfect way to get into golf
- Ability to be geolocated from anywhere in the world once registered on the website
- Other benefits including discounted merchandise and more
You will also be recognized as an official participant in a growing movement that inspires women and girls to learn the skills that last a lifetime and join their voices for a greater cause that affects people around the world. You can register here.
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PGA Merchandise Show
January 22-25, 2019
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
Golf Industry Show
February 2-7, 2019
San Diego, CA
Nor Cal Golf Rep Show
February 25-26, 2019
Thunder Valley Casino
Lincoln, CA
PGA Championship
May 13-19, 2019
Bethpage Black Golf Course
Women's Golf Day
June 4, 2019
More info here!
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Interested in joining CAG? Click here for more information!
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