WHEREAS, Pebble Beach Golf Links, host to 10 previous United States Golf Association championships including four United States Open Championships, will once again host the U.S. Open from June 14 to 20, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Annually, California’s golf courses help raise over $300 million for numerous worthy charities and causes. This includes local club events, celebrity-charity events, and money raised from professional tournaments, among other things; and

WHEREAS, Junior golf reaches children from all walks of life, providing mentorship and developing sportsmanship and an enthusiasm for golf that can last throughout their lives; and

WHEREAS, The First Tee, which teaches life skills to young people through the game of golf and offers core programs that are estimated to reach at least 25,000 youth annually, has 17 chapters in California; and

WHEREAS, The Southern California Golf Association Foundation provided over 12,000 subsidized junior rounds of golf and 17,000 subsidized range buckets for juniors in 2009, resulting in at least 36,750 recreation hours for youth with over 2,400 youth participating in the program in 2009; supported local youth service organizations that teach life skills through the game with $130,000 in grant funding in 2009; and provided $30,000 in college scholarships for youth to continue their education in college in 2009. Overall, programs and initiatives affected over 12,000 youth through the spending of $350,000; and

WHEREAS, The Northern California Golf Association Foundation provided over 68,000 subsidized junior rounds of golf and 94,000 subsidized range buckets for juniors in 2009, resulting in at least 208,000 recreation hours for youth with over 15,000 youth participating in the program in 2009, and supported local youth service organizations that teach life skills through the game with $100,000 in grant funding in 2009. Overall, programs and initiatives affected over 20,000 youth through the spending of $960,000; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, California’s golf industry generated a total economic impact of $15.1 billion, supporting nearly 160,000 jobs with $4.8 billion of wage income. California hosted 16 professional golf championships in 2006, including seven PGA Tour, three LPGA Tour, four Champions Tour, and two Nationwide Tour events. These events generated $95.8 million, excluding the tournament purse and costs for TV broadcasting. State golf associations generated $41.4 million in 2006 revenues; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, according to a San Diego State University study, the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines generated an economic impact of $142 million on the region. The study estimated $73.62 million in direct spending, including lodging, entertainment, shopping, food, and beverages, that created an estimated “indirect impact” of $68.46 million, based on the projected effect of that spending to pay for local labor, goods, and other business; and

WHEREAS, It is clear that golf brings visitors to the state, spurs new residential construction, generates retail sales, and creates demand for a myriad of goods and services; and

WHEREAS, With 3 million golfers, 926 courses, and a large number of annual golf events, golf in the Golden State is more than an enjoyable pastime—it is a key industry contributing to the vitality of California’s economy; and

WHEREAS, The continued health and growth of the golf industry has a direct bearing on future jobs, commerce, economic development, and tax revenues for a large number of California’s communities and industries; now, therefore, be it