Friends,
A California General Assembly bill has been introduced (Assembly Bill 1910) that would incentivize local agencies across the state to convert their publicly accessible golf courses into affordable housing developments. While we understand the need for affordable housing solutions in the state, the USGA strongly opposes the targeting of public golf courses and subsequent elimination of vital recreational, health and environmental benefits that they provide to communities.
Misinformation needs to be replaced by facts about golf as we advocate for our sport. Nearly 75 percent of golf courses in the U.S. are publicly accessible and affordable, and we’re seeing the strongest recent growth in participation among juniors, African Americans, females and Latinos – it’s a game for everyone that can be played for a lifetime. Golf courses also play a critical environmental role for communities as green spaces that serve as cooling and stormwater mitigation zones, as well as pollinator and wildlife habitat.
Now is the time to unify the game of golf against such attacks, to showcase all that is good about golf, to promote fair governance and to advance a dialogue about the many benefits of the game. Voters in California can visit savepublicgolfnow.com to learn more about how to take action and help to save public golf in the state. I would encourage all golfers across the country to join the USGA in our vocal opposition.
On behalf of the entire USGA, I’ve written the following letter to state Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
-- USGA CEO Mike Whan
Click HERE to view letter.