The American Golf Industry Coalition (AGIC) announced that Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Scott Peters (D-CA) have joined as new co-chairs of the Congressional Golf Caucus. They will work alongside existing co-chairs Representatives Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) in a strengthened bipartisan leadership team focused on supporting the golf industry’s economic, environmental, and community contributions.
This expanded leadership comes as the caucus advances HR 1583, the Parity for Athletic Recreation (PAR) Act, bipartisan legislation that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove restrictions on using tax-exempt bond proceeds for golf facilities. These outdated provisions currently prevent golf courses from accessing economic development tools and disaster relief available to other small businesses and recreational facilities.
“The addition of Representatives Hudson and Peters strengthens our bipartisan effort to achieve tax code parity for the golf industry,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of the American Golf Industry Coalition. “Their leadership is instrumental in educating colleagues about how today’s golf industry differs dramatically from when these restrictive provisions were written nearly 40 years ago.”
According to AGIC’s 2023 National Economic Impact Study, golf is a $102 billion industry supporting nearly 2 million U.S. jobs and approximately $60 billion in annual wage income. Approximately one out of every 75 U.S. jobs is connected to the golf industry.
“America’s golf courses contribute significantly to our local economies through jobs, tourism, and community development,” said Rep. Richard Hudson. “Unfortunately, the outdated tax code has unfairly penalized these businesses for too long, making it harder for them to grow or recover after a disaster.”
Rep. Peters added, “With most golf facilities open to the public, it’s clear that golf is a vital part of accessible recreation for millions of Americans. These small businesses are essential in keeping the sport affordable and enjoyable for communities nationwide.”
The PAR Act would enable golf course operators to secure more affordable financing for improvements and infrastructure projects. This is particularly important as an estimated 62% of golf facilities invested an average of $419,500 per facility on capital improvements from 2016-2022, with courses investing $3.65 billion in capital improvement projects in 2022 alone.
For more information about the American Golf Industry Coalition and its legislative priorities, visit https://www.golfcoalition.org/industry-impact.
