Bobby Jones Links CEO Whitney Crouse joined The American Golf Industry Coalition in Washington, D.C., to kick off the 17th annual National Golf Day. The event highlighted the sport’s powerful economic, societal, and community contributions across the country.

On Thursday, May 1, Whitney joined three other delegates from Georgia to meet with the staff of the state’s two senators and select representatives on Capitol Hill, addressing key legislative and regulatory issues impacting the golf industry. The day also featured a Congressional Reception, offering stakeholders the opportunity to connect with members of the Congressional Golf Caucus — a bipartisan group of more than 140 lawmakers, co-chaired by Representatives Nancy Mace (R-SC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), and Scott Peters (D-CA).

Golf continues to be a meaningful economic driver and social connector in communities across the United States. With more than 47 million Americans engaging with the sport, golf generates a direct economic impact of $102 billion and supports nearly 2 million jobs nationwide. The industry's total economic impact, including indirect and induced efforts, reaches $226.5 billion.

This year's National Golf Day arrived amid a period of historic momentum for the sport. In 2024, Americans played 543 million rounds of golf, marking five consecutive years with more than 500 million rounds played. Participation is rising across key demographics, with notable gains among young players (3.7 million ages 6-17, up 6%), women (7.9 million, up 13%), and people of color (6.9 million, up 13%).

For more information about National Golf Day and the American Golf Industry Coalition, please visit www.golfcoalition.org