Our state leads the nation in golfers per capita; Hibbing is home to a golfer who consistently plays more rounds and posts more scores than any other golfer in the U.S.; and Minnesota is the only state to have hosted all 13 USGA national championships plus the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, and men's and women's State Team championships. 

While Minnesota's quality of golf seems to defy conventional wisdom, quantifying what golf means to Minnesota is clearer now, thanks to a recently published study on the economic impact of the golf business to the Minnesota economy.  According to the Minnesota Golf Economy study, the size of Minnesota's direct golf economy is approximately $1.2 billion, and golf-related tourism spending in Minnesota amounts to about $361 million.  When the total economic impact of golf-related activities is considered (core industries such as golf facility operations, construction, capital investment, plus enabled industries like real estate and hospitality/tourism) Minnesota's golf industry generated approximately $2.4 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic output, $776.7 million of wage income and 34,653 jobs. 

To put the golf business in perspective, golf's economic output is on par with the following industries: dairy products ($1.1 billion); printed circuit assembly ($1.3 billion); and accounting, tax and payroll services ($1.4 billion). According to a recent GOLF 20/20 report, the U.S. golf economy accounted for $76 billion in goods and services. The report estimated that golf generated a total economic impact of $195 billion, creating about 2 million jobs with wage income of $61 billion. Beyond its sport and recreational value, golf is at the heart of a major industry cluster that generates jobs, commerce, economic development and tax revenues for communities throughout the country.