Strengthening Our Voice, Protecting Our Future
Advocacy matters because decisions made today on water, taxation, tourism, and public policy will shape the future of Arizona golf for decades to come. Through relationship-building, education, and industry collaboration, Arizona golf continues to strengthen its voice, advance shared priorities, and ensure the industry’s perspective is represented where key decisions are made.
Water Policy and Industry Engagement
Uncertainty around water policy continues to dominate conversations across Arizona, though we expect greater clarity this summer as the state and basin partners work through the next phase of Colorado River management. Arizona is expected to take additional reductions to its Colorado River allocation, and important questions remain about how those cuts will be implemented and what they may mean for golf. Examining the factors through our podcast series, host Karie Dozer spoke with SRP legal executive Michael O’Connor for his perspective on the negotiations and how it stands to impact Arizona. Listen to the podcast.
In an era of increasing pressure on water resources, it is critical that golf has a seat at the negotiation table. Advocacy is not simply about responding to policy decisions after they are made — it is about ensuring policymakers understand the industry’s economic impact, environmental stewardship, and commitment to long-term sustainability before those decisions are finalized. Our work is focused on keeping Arizona golf informed, engaged, and prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The Arizona Alliance for Golf (AAG) continues to play an important role in bringing the industry together around water policy issues. By unifying golf course owners, operators, recreational users, and industry partners around shared priorities, the AAG is helping ensure Arizona golf speaks with a coordinated voice and remains a constructive, solutions-oriented participant in critical water discussions.
Just as importantly, the AAG continues to bring industry leaders together with water providers to discuss how future water policy decisions may impact golf facilities across the state. By creating these connections now, the alliance is helping courses better understand potential changes, prepare for future challenges, and demonstrate golf’s commitment to being a responsible and collaborative water user.
State Legislative Update
The recently passed state budget included $6 million for Colorado River litigation, indicating that both the Republican-controlled legislature and Democratic governor are gearing up for a serious fight over interstate water rights. The fund was initially created last year with a $3 million appropriation. The state budget also preserves funding for the Department of Tourism after earlier budget proposals would have eliminated state funding for the agency entirely. The AAG was part of the coalition to support and champion restoration of that funding, recognizing that tourism is a defining element of our state’s identity.
Legislation creating Tourism Improvement Areas (TIAs) in Arizona also passed this legislative session. TIAs are a voluntary, locally driven tool that allows lodging businesses within a defined area to collectively invest in tourism promotion, destination marketing, meetings, conventions, and event attraction efforts. Similar programs have been used successfully in destinations across the country to help drive visitation and strengthen local economies. The AAG supported the legislation, and we thank AAG Board member Ron Price, President and CEO of Visit Phoenix, for his work to champion the legislation, as well as the support provided by allied tourism leaders including AAG partners Kim Sabow, CEO of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Rachel Sacco, CEO of Experience Scottsdale.
National Golf Day
Arizona was well represented during the industry’s annual National Golf Day activities on Capitol Hill, where industry leaders met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss federal legislation and policy issues affecting golf.
AZ Alliance for Golf members meet with senior policy aides to Congressman David Schweikert, Senator Ruben Gallego and Congressman Andy Biggs.
Representing Arizona were Ben Baldwin, American Golf and Southwest PGA boards of directors; Dawn Grove, vice president and corporate counsel for PING; Ryan Standifird, golf course superintendent at Longbow GC and Cactus & Pine board of directors; Marc Connerly, executive director of the Golf Course Owners Association of Arizona; Katie Prendergast, executive director of the Arizona Alliance for Golf; and Cat Carmignani, executive director of AZ GOLF.
These conversations are about more than a single legislative issue. Building relationships with elected officials and educating policymakers about golf’s economic, environmental, and community impact helps ensure the industry is represented when important decisions are made. Advocacy is a long-term investment, and these engagements continue to strengthen golf’s voice at the federal level.
Par Act
The industry’s top federal legislative priority remains support for H.R. 1583, the Parity for Athletic Recreation (PAR) Act, which would provide equitable tax treatment for golf facilities impacted by natural disasters or located in designated economic recovery zones. Golf has outsized impacts in Arizona, and the problematic language that currently exists in the tax code prohibits golf from accessing federal support during floods, fires, and economic development efforts, and it disadvantages Arizona more than most other states which have fewer golf courses.
We appreciate Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) and his strong support as a co-sponsor of this important legislation and will continue working alongside industry partners to advance the measure. Special thanks to Dawn Grove for her tireless efforts to advance this legislation with our congressional delegation.
Congressional Site Visits
As we work to deepen relationships with Arizona’s congressional delegation and their staff, several golf facilities across the state have hosted site visits highlighting the industry’s commitment to water stewardship, environmental management, workforce development, and community impact.
These visits provide policymakers with a firsthand look at how golf facilities operate and the role they play in local communities. We know from experience that hosting these efforts on the ground helps shape perceptions and creates more informed policy conversations. If your facility is interested in hosting a future visit, please reach out AAG.
Arizona Golf and Tourism — On Center Stage
Arizona recently welcomed nearly 200 tourism and business leaders from the Raleigh, North Carolina region who came to learn from Arizona’s success in destination marketing and tourism promotion. During a panel discussion, AAG Board Member Ron Price of Visit Phoenix spoke about the role sports tourism has played in Arizona’s growth and national reputation. Golf featured prominently in the conversation, reinforcing Arizona’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier golf destinations and highlighting the sport’s continued impact on tourism and economic growth across the state.
Scottsdale Golf Economic Impact Analysis
The Arizona Alliance for Golf continues to leverage the statewide economic impact data released in January 2023 to demonstrate golf’s significant contributions to Arizona’s economy. Building on that foundation, a collaborative effort with the City of Scottsdale and Rachel Sacco at Experience Scottsdale will soon produce Scottsdale-specific economic impact data, providing a powerful new tool to quantify the local industry’s contributions to tourism, the economy, environmental stewardship, and quality of life.
Joe Shershenovich, Vice Chairman of the Scottsdale Tourism Development Commission and General Manager of Grayhawk Golf Club, emphasized the importance of this localized data as the industry engages elected officials and community leaders on critical issues. As Scottsdale and Arizona navigate future water policy discussions and other challenges, credible, market-specific data will strengthen our ability to tell golf’s story, demonstrate its value, and advocate for policies that support the long-term sustainability of the industry.
Collaboration at Arizona Golf House
The golf organizations that call Arizona Golf House home continue to strengthen partnerships and identify new opportunities to expand their collective impact across Arizona communities.
This collaboration is producing meaningful results — not only through shared programs and initiatives, but also by elevating the visibility and value of Arizona golf among policymakers, community leaders, and the public. By working together, the industry is better positioned to tell its story, advance shared priorities, and create positive outcomes for the game throughout the state.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in these efforts, we encourage you to reach out. At a minimum, please engage with the Arizona Alliance for Golf and help us spread our story and messages with golfers and non-golfers alike — this effort requires participation from all. To get involved today, reach out to the AAG at azallianceforgolf.org.
