Legislators learn about golf’s impact in Michigan – Leader Publications

LANSING — State Rep. Paulene Wendzel stated she had no concept of the influence of the golf trade in Michigan earlier than she began her profession in politics.

In truth, she didn’t play the sport till it was urged to her that it was an effective way to get to know individuals in politics.

“Truthfully, it’s the place you’ll be able to spend 4 or 5 hours with an individual and actually get to know them, so golf has helped me politically, and I discovered I cherished it,” Wendzel, R-Watervliet, stated. “Then I realized in regards to the Senior PGA [Championship] which we simply had in our district at Harbor Shores Golf Membership and I discovered what simply that one event alone does for the group.”

Wendzel expanded her golf schooling Tuesday because the Michigan golf trade introduced the Michigan Golf Day on the Capitol occasion.

The Michigan Golf Course Affiliation (MGCA), the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Affiliation (MiGCSA), the Michigan Part PGA, the Golf Affiliation of Michigan (GAM) and the Better Michigan Membership Administration Affiliation, which type the Michigan Golf Alliance, convened with legislators and employees members on the garden of the state Capitol, and likewise visited the workplaces of every legislator.

For nearly 15 years course homeowners, operators and superintendents have gathered every spring to voice a cooperative message. To mark the day, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed that “June is Michigan Golf Month,” and Wendzel introduced the proclamation Tuesday.

“The Senior PGA had nice influence,” Wendzel stated. “The eating places after I talked to them final week, bought out of meals, the bars have been out of alcohol and also you couldn’t get a lodge room for miles. Huge crowds got here and it was nice.”

The chief administrators, presidents and members of the allied organizations within the Michigan Golf Alliance introduced different areas of influence to Wendzel and different legislators together with the influence on tourism, employment within the state, and the trade’s optimistic impact on the atmosphere.

“The Michigan Golf Alliance created this occasion to facilitate golf trade representatives introducing themselves and informing the legislators and their employees on who we’re and what our trade brings to the state,” Jada Paisley, government director of the MGCA stated. “I can’t overstate the significance of at the present time in delivering the message to our authorities leaders.”

The message from the Michigan Golf Alliance contains trade details like $4.2 billion in annual financial influence in Michigan, over 60,000 individuals employed by golf programs within the state. $1.4 billion in wages paid and over 150,000 acres of managed inexperienced area and wetlands that present wildlife habitats.

Wendzel stated she has concerned her relations in taking part in the sport, too.

“My brothers-in-law, my dad, we’re getting the entire household taking part in the sport,” she stated. “It’s nice and it does some nice issues for the group, too. Each time I inform individuals in Lansing the place I’m from (southwest Michigan) they’re like, ‘oh, you’re the world with all the great golf programs,’ and I say I undoubtedly am.”