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Golf Needs To Project Its Positives To The Public

February 22, 2012 by  

One of the challenges as the golf industry seeks to attain tax-deductible status again is broadcasting a positive image of the game.

It’s up to us to educate them, the same way the National Allied Golf Associations’ educated politicians on the positives of the game last year and pointed out a lot of its findings in its economic impact study.

People need to know about the number of people we employ, the taxes we pay and other positive aspects of golf, including the number of people who play the game to point out that it’s not a case of the rich getting richer, which is a popular misconception about the game.

As far as golf being a legitimate tax deduction goes, we’re not asking for anything more than other entertainment-related write-offs. If I can take three people to a hockey game and dinner, why can I write hockey off, but not golf?

We in the golf industry read the blogs and columns and listen to PGA seminars on such topics. Because we circulate within the industry, we are aware of the reality, but will non-golfers, the people we need to grow the game, be aware of the NAGA economic impact study?

That’s the challenge we face in creating an image to the public. I think we’re on the cusp of it, but more work on that is needed.

About Kevin Thistle
Kevin Thistle is the general manager of Coppinwood in Uxbridge, Ontario and an oft-quoted media source for the game, including his regular thoughts through his GNN blog.

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One Response to “Golf Needs To Project Its Positives To The Public”

  1. Scott Pritchard on February 23rd, 2012 9:55 am

    KT – I totally agree – It’s funny that a number of journalists have written less than stellar articles about ‘the bourgeoisie’ looking for tax breaks. We definitely need help because the perception is not good and it’s emanating from a number of sources. Most notably from the National Post (ironically). As far as I see it the golf industry is getting battered in the mainstream media and not much is being done to combat it.

    This article in particular is somewhat offensive and people who read it probably took/take it to be true –
    http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/02/06/ottawas-all-party-golf-caucus-must-have-been-hit-in-the-head-by-a-golf-ball/

    Where is our voice?

    Look at the comments following this article.

    http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/03/mps-want-tax-deductions-on-valid-business-expense-golfing/

    SP

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