Michigan Golf Course Association: House Bill 4052, daylight savings time (February 15, 2021)

Summary

Letter dated February 15, 2021 from Jada Paisley, CMP, Executive Director of the Michigan Golf Course Association, to Representative Marino and the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism about House Bill 4052. Paisley writes that eliminating daylight savings time would take away playable evening hours, some of the most important revenue hours for public golf courses. The letter states that the golf industry in Michigan represents $4.2 billion in total economic impact and $1.2 billion in wage contribution. An enclosure estimates that approximately 600 courses average 13 leagues of 35 people, for a total of 273,000 golfers, and lists revenue losses if leagues had to start earlier.

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National Golf Course Owners Association Affiliate

February 15, 2021

House Committee on Commerce and Tourism
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Representative Marino and Committee Members,

For your committee discussion on the February 16, 2021 agenda in
regards to House Bill 4052, | write to you on behalf of the Michigan Golf
Course Association to let you know how Michigan golf courses would be
negatively impacted, should Congress pass a bill that eliminates daylight
savings time in our State.

The elimination of DST would affect the golf courses in Michigan by taking
away playable evening hours, some of the most important revenue hours

from public golf courses.

The value of the extra hour in the in morning is less than the extra hour in
the evening. This is when families and individuals experience enjoyment
after work and school activities. There is a greater utilization of the time
gained in the evening than the morning. The trickle down also impacts golf
industry suppliers, youth workers, and ultimately the golf consumers.
Please find some enclosed statistics on what golf mean to Michigan

The golf industry in Michigan which represents $4.2 billion in total
economic impact and $1.2 billion in wage contribution would oppose
ending daylight savings time.

| would be happy to answer any questions you may have in regards to this
or the Michigan Golf Industry.

Respectfully,

Jada Paisley, CMP
Executive Director

Enc.

The Voice of Michigan's Golf Business

Board of Directors

President

Gilda Johnson

Lake Forest Golf Club

Vice President

Jim Dewling

Total Golf Inc.

Treasurer

jim Szilagyi

The Lynx Golf Club

Past Presicent

Bill Fountain

The Majestic at Lake Walden
Kathy Aznavorian

Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center
Corey Crowell

Indian River Golf Club
Bernie Friedrich

Boyne Golf

jeff Hoag

Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center
Toni Joers

Concord Hills Golf Course
Bob Koutnik

Fox Run Country Club

Bill Mory

Meridian Sun Golf Club

Bay Paul

Course Logix

Tom Schwark

Sycamore Hills Golf Club
Susan Vanderburg

indian Loke Hills Golf Course

Michigan Golf Course Association * 1005 Abbot, Suite A « East Lansing, MI 48823
Toll-free: 800-860-8575 « Office: 517-482-4312, = www.MichiganGCA.org
LOST REVENUE DUE TO DST ELIMINATION

One lost revenue example: League golf is a very large segment of a golf
course’s business. Depending on the course, it can be anywhere from
20-30%. In Michigan there are approximately 600 courses that have an
average of 13 leagues with 35 people in aleague. The total is 273,000
golfers.

if daylight savings time were eliminated, these would be the business
challenges a golf course owner and operator would face with ONE of its
largest segments of business, resulting in a loss of revenue.

e With one less hour of daylight in the evening, any league
starting after 5:00pm would finish in the dark. League
golfers start in the spring and in the fall

e A league would have to start an hour earlier to finish. This
would mean several golf courses would lose leagues that
cannot accommodate an hour earlier league time.

e With leagues starting earlier it would affect the golf
course’s management on making tee times for individual
golfers on either start of league start times, therefore an
additional loss of revenue.

e Leagues would not continue to play after their 9 hole round
due to lack of light, therefore the golf courses would
experience additional lost revenue.

e Food and Beverage sales would decrease due to fewer
golfers on the golf course due to darkness, resulting in
lower sales on the golf course.

e The evening driving range revenue would also experience
a loss in revenue.

e The high fixed costs of maintaining a golf course (or any
business) would remain the same if we were to remain on
standard time or daylight savings time. A typical 18 hole
golf course in Michigan budgets approximately 50% of their
overall expenses to golf course maintenance.

The Voice of Michigan's Golf Business

Michigan Golf Course Association * 1005 Abbot, Suite A » East Lansing, Ml 48823
Toll-free: 800-860-8575 » Office: 517-482-4312 — www.MichiganGCA.org

Board of Directors

President

Gilda Johnsen

Lake Forest Golf Club

Vice President

jim Dewling

Total Golf nc.

Treasurer

Jim Szilagyi

The Lynx Golf Club

Past President

Bill Fountain

The Majestic at Lake Walden
Kathy Aznavorian

Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center
Corey Crowell

Indian River Golf Club
Bernie Friedrich

Boyne Golf

jeff Hoag

Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center
Toni Joers

Concord Hills Golf Course
Bob Koutnik

Fox Run Country Club

Bill Mory

Meridian Sun Golf Club

Bay Paul

Course Logix

Tom Schwark

Sycamore Hills Golf Club
Susan Vanderburg

Indian Loke Hills Golf Course


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