National Golf Day 2015 Set for April 15 in Washington, D.C.

Mike Hughes Named 2015 WE ARE GOLF Board Chairman

(ST. AUGUSTINE, FL) – WE ARE GOLF – a coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners – today announces the eighth annual National Golf Day will be held Wednesday, April 15 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Golf’s leaders will meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies to discuss golf’s nearly $70 billion economy, $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. Throughout the day, participants will share stories about the game’s nearly 15,000 diverse businesses, two million employees, tax revenue creation, tourism and ecological value.

National Golf Day in May 2014 was the most successful to date with over 120 scheduled Congressional meetings in one day. Globally, the #NGD14 Twitter campaign eclipsed 16 million impressions and reached 7.4 million accounts, including 787,000 users in a one-hour span.

“Planning for golf’s much anticipated return to Capitol Hill is in full swing and we look forward to an even more successful event in 2015,” said Steve Mona, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of World Golf Foundation, administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “The primary goal as an industry is to make sure our voice is heard in Washington, D.C. to ensure laws and regulations that impact the golf industry are fair and appropriate.”

In addition, Mike Hughes, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), was recently named WE ARE GOLF Board Chairman for 2015. He succeeds Rhett Evans, CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association, who served as the 2014 Board Chairman.

Hughes joined NGCOA in 1990 and has increased its membership from 250 to more than 6,500 golf courses worldwide. He previously served as Executive Committee Chairman for GOLF 20/20 as well as the Board of Governors for the National Golf Foundation and Advisory Board for the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“National Golf Day is an ideal opportunity for the industry to collaborate on important issues and meet with legislative decision-makers to preserve and enhance the image of golf,” said Hughes. “It’s important for the game to have a unified voice so a true picture is painted for Congressional leaders.”

To join the conversation, visit the WE ARE GOLF social media hub. Use #NGD15 and @wearegolf on Twitter and Instagram to show your support for the golf industry.

For more information, visit www.wearegolf.org.