In 1993, the Texas Legislature proposed a bill that would have increased property taxes for some private golf clubs in Texas by a staggering 350 percent. Many of the clubs would have gone out of business and had a dire impact on the golf industry.
However, a group of club members and club professionals came together to educate the State Legislature of the negative impact the bill would have on local communities that benefit from golf facilities. Two important things happened next. The legislation was defeated, and the Texas Alliance of Recreation Organizations (TARO) was formed.
To this day, many of our Member Clubs might not be familiar with TARO or the important work it does. TARO is a non-profit alliance of clubs, organizations and individuals who participate effectively in the state’s legislative and regulatory processes for the benefit of their supporters. Because the TGA is a key supporter of TARO, our Member Clubs are automatically being represented to ensure they have a strong voice in the state’s political arena. It’s another example of how the TGA is working on and off the golf course to bring value to our membership.
Through the years, more than 100 clubs have supported TARO, as have many TGA allies, such as the Northern and Southern Texas Sections of the PGA, Texas Turfgrass Association and the Texas Chapters of Club Managers, Golf Course Superintendents and United States Tennis Association.
The foremost purpose of TARO is to support legislation and regulations beneficial to the club industry and related organizations. TARO actively lobbies with the Legislature, monitors regulations under existing laws, communicates with its supporters on legislative and regulatory issues affecting them and conserves an action network, which is mobilized as necessary to advocate Alliance positions.
As the main lobbying group for the Texas club industry, TARO’s main objectives are to actively be involved in the political arena, shape policies that arise in Texas politics and protect a fair political and regulatory business environment for the club industry. TARO also serves to educate its supporters on issues affecting them and to foster good will among its partners.
“Regardless of whether a facility is public or private, it’s essentially a small business, providing jobs and tax revenue to the local community,” TARO Executive Director Sam Brewster said. “While TARO was founded on an issue that primarily benefited golf courses, its scope has broadened to monitor issues that impact all small businesses.”
Over the years, TARO’s efforts have been both successful and effective. During this year’s 86th Texas Legislative Session, all the bills TARO supported passed. Conversely, 100 percent of the bills TARO opposed failed to pass.
To learn more about the vital work TARO does, click here.
