Great Lakes Trade Exposition

I just returned from two days in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I attended the Great Lakes Trade Exposition (GLTE). Despite the very non-descriptive name (really, that name could refer to anything) the conference was very educational. The GLTE is colaboration between the Michigan Turf Foundation and the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and involves three days of educational seminars and a trade show at Devos Place.  While there, I listened to speakers from the USGA, Michigan State University, the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and various golf courses and businesses from around the midwest. I also talked with many suppliers, vendors and former classmates of mine from MSU.

Golf's Economic Impact

Interesting numbers from We Are Golf.org (an organization founded by The Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America, The PGA and The National Golf Course Owners Association)

Michigan has 265 golf courses, with a direct economic output (defined as the size of the golf industry within the state economy in terms of revenues) of $2.2 billion. Total number of employees of Michigan golf courses is 56,977. Compare that to North Carolina, which has 558 courses with an output of $2.6 billion or Massachusetts with 375 courses and $1.6 billion in output.