There was a time when there was less of a pressing need for golf to have a formal presence at the Colorado state capitol.
After all, with Les Fowler serving as either a state representative or a state senator for 22 years (1967-88), he could always be counted on to carry the torch for the game if the situation arose at the capitol. Not only was Fowler one of the top amateur players in Colorado, a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame and later the president of the CGA, but he was universally respected by his lawmaking colleagues.
But while the game of golf still has plenty of friends among Colorado lawmakers, nowadays it’s wise to have a higher-profile presence at the state capitol. That’s why, for more than two years, the Allied Golf Associations of Colorado (the CGA, CWGA, Colorado PGA, the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Mile High Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America) have commissioned a lobbyist to represent them at the capitol.
It’s also why on Wednesday, the Colorado Golf Alliance Day at the Capitol was held for the second straight year. It’s a chance for golf industry leaders in the state to chat with lawmakers and make them aware of the benefits golf brings to the community.
At least 20 state representatives or senators — along with dozens of others, including Gov. Hickenlooper’s chief of staff — stopped by the west foyer of the capitol on Wednesday morning to chat with golf leaders and collect information. (Among the lawmakers at the event were Rep. Alec Garnett, top, in glasses, and Rep. Daneya Esgar, left, with bag.) Later, the golf folks were introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives (pictured below).
For those in the golf industry, Golf Day at the Capitol is a very worthwhile endeavor — and in year 2 even moreso than year 1.
“I think our numbers were way up for senators and representatives this year,” said Gary Leeper, executive director of the RMGCSA. “Last year was our first year, and we had a lot of aides and interns who just came by to grab breakfast — and they looked and took some things back. This year, I bet there were twice as many representatives and senators that came down and talked to us — and spent a lot of time actually. It was entirely different. I think we’re at least getting some traction in them knowing we’re there. A lot of them recognized us from last year, so that was good as well.”
Added Laura Robinson, executive director of the CWGA: “Compared to last year, there was a higher buzz, a higher level of energy.”
Like at National Golf Day, which will be held for the 10th time on April 26 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., part of the idea is to demonstrate that golf pays many dividends — in terms of economic impact, the environment and philanthropically-speaking. For example, the Golf Day at the Capitol event included an “industry scoreboard” which noted the direct impact ($560 million annually) and indirect ($1.2 billion per year) of golf in Colorado; the wildlife habitat that golf courses create; that 88 percent of water used on golf courses is non-potable; that conservation efforts are a very high priority in the industry; and that an initiative such as the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program has reached more than 40,000 students over the past five-plus years.
But in addition to all that, the Golf Day at the Capitol help put faces on the Colorado golf industry for lawmakers. And if issues of special importance to golf come before those lawmakers in the future — issues related to water use, pesticide application, general environmental stewardship or whatever the case may be — that could prove very important.
“It’s a reminder of how important it is to be seen (by lawmakers),” said CGA executive director Ed Mate. “There were a lot of compliments about the job Jennifer (Cassell, the golf alliance’s lobbyist) is doing, so I think we’re well-represented here. It’s part of that presence you need to have here before something blows up that you’re really concerned about. I think it’s important that we be here every year.
“It seems like there were a lot more state legislators and senators that came by today. It’s an easy subject to break the ice with with golf. But this shows (the Golf Day at the Capitol) is going to become an expectation. Once a year doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s a lot better than none.”
Robinson seconds that.
“(The lawmakers) were getting to know the golf industry on a personal level,” she said. “They were able to ask us questions and we answered, but they got to meet us — and that was valuable.
“It’s also valuable that we get to debunk a lot of the myths that some people have about the golf industry. They think that we use water (excessively), we waste resources, we pollute through chemicals, that we are inaccessible. I hope what we shared today through all the literature and the posters was that we are actually a good member of the community. If we even educated two or three people today, it was successful.”
