The Desert Sun took a look at a report commissioned and partly funded by the Hi-Lo Desert Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America on the economic impact of golf in the Coachella Valley. Some of the highlights:
- The direct and indirect impact of golf on the desert economy was estimated to be $1.1 billion;
- Direct payroll expenses for desert golf courses in 2014 were estimated to be $211.6 million (roughly 48 percent of the total operating expenses for desert facilities);
- $480.6 million of golf spending in the desert was on-site at golf facilities, while another $265 million came at off-site facilities like independent golf shops;
- Overall golf produced $31.8 million in sales taxes in 2014 and another $28.1 million in property taxes;
- A slight majority of all golf spending (54 percent) comes from full-time desert residents and golfing tourists who stay at least one night on their visits account for another 39.8 percent of golf spending; and
- The report was based on a survey of 90 golf facilities (out of the 120 or so total) in the desert for the first quarter of 2015, though only a little more than one-third off the facilities responded. The company that produced the report, Tourism Economics, says that still means 41 percent of the golf industry by estimated gross revenue, is part of the study. Of the facilities that did report, 67 percent were private clubs, 22.6 percent were resort clubs and 9.7 percent were public clubs.
For more information, please read Larry Bohannan’s article in The Desert Sun below….
http://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/golf/2015/09/01/golf-money/71551850/