Non-Economic Benefits of Golf in Colorado

In addition to the direct economic benefit derived from fees and charges, the presence of golf courses in Colorado also provides open spaces, a healthy recreational outlet for residents and visitors for golf and other sports, a venue to attract visitors and a positive reflection on the image and/or brand of the state.  

Golf’s Impact on the Quality of Life in Colorado

Colorado Golf Teaching Programs

Golf courses can elevate the quality of life in communities in which they are present by helping to improve the health and well-being of citizens and by providing an outlet for youth activities. As 76 percent of the state’s 236 golf facilities are open to the public, many Colorado golf courses are providing affordable outdoor recreation to nearly half a million Coloradans.

Teaching

Every facility surveyed in the economic impact study participated in at least one program for fostering the growth of the game in 2019. Results estimated that:

• 96% of golf facilities offered a junior golf program.

• 64% offer a specialized beginner’s program such as Get Ready Golf and WELCOME2GOLF.

Giving

The PGA Tour’s record charitable total of $204.3 million in 2019 brought its all-time total to over $3 Billion[23].

• 84% of golf facilities held a charitable event in 2019.

• As many as 1,960 local golf charity tournaments raised an estimated total of $35 million in charitable contributions through active fund-raising.

Living

Golf supports the health and well-being of roughly one in thirteen Americans. A study released in June of 2019 concluded that spending 120 minutes or more per week in nature is positively correlated with well-being. Golf provides an activity for the improved physical and mental well-being of the nearly half million Coloradans who participate.

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

Colorado has the second highest percentage of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program-certified golf facilities (19 percent) in the US, and the 4th highest total of Program-certified golf facilities (45). The rate of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program-certified golf courses is twice as high in Colorado as it is among all other states in the Mountain region (10 percent).

[23] PGS Staff, PGATOUR.COM. “PGA TOUR, its tournaments surpass $3 billion in all-time charitable giving”. 28 Jan. 2020 <https://www.pgatour.com/impact/2020/01/28/pga-tour-tournaments-surpass-3-billion-dollars-all-time-charitable-giving.html>