Golf courses hold a pivotal role in Colorado, offering opportunities for physical activity, leisure, and enjoyment of the great outdoors, and also serving as a key economic, community, and environmental asset. With more than 200 golf facilities, the sport is a cornerstone of economic vitality in numerous cities and towns across the state. The industry is estimated to have generated just over $2.0 billion (direct, indirect, and induced) to the Colorado economy. It fuels tourism and retail spending, bolsters residential property values, and drives new home construction within golf communities.
Moreover, the industry supports a wide array of jobs, makes significant contributions to the supply chain, and generously participates in charitable activities. Golf leaders and superintendents are dedicated to societal and environmental welfare that reaches well beyond the greens, nurturing strong bonds with neighbors, stakeholders, and inspiring our youth.
Engaging actively with community members, from local enthusiasts to civic authorities, is essential for upholding golf’s ability to operate and strengthening our ties with the community. Open conversations illuminate golf course operations and underscore our dedication to the well-being of people and the planet. By participating in local discussions, state legislative sessions, and national platforms like National Golf Day, superintendents champion golf's contributions to the environment, economy, and health. Community engagement best management practices (BMPs) range across all levels of golf club, neighborhood, city, region, state, and federal relations.
Such practices support our golf courses' commitment to the community, fostering goodwill, enhancing interest, and demonstrating shared values. There are also methods of engagement and informing that our golf courses and superintendents use to strengthen community relations and education.
Superintendents and golf course leadership teams seek feedback and bolster community ties by working with member services teams to survey members, host workshops, or hold neighborhood meetings. Our desire is to share how the golf industry is a responsible, integral part of the community fabric.
Our BMPs aim to cultivate a deep-rooted community connection and spark enthusiasm for golf's role in environmental stewardship, particularly among the young, who may one day lead our golf courses or embrace the sport. Colorado's golf course superintendents, by adopting these practices, are not only the keepers of the course but also champions of community engagement.