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Golf in Minnesota Fact Sheet
Golf In Minnesota
- Golf represents $2.4 billion to the state's economy, according to "The Minnesota Golf Economy," a Golf 2020/SRI study commissioned by the MGA in 2007.
- Minnesota consistently ranks at or near the top in golfer participation in the U.S. (for 2005, Minnesota was No. 1, with a 27% household participation rate), according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF).
- More than 733,000 Minnesotans play golf, according to a 2004 NGF report.
- Nearly 90 percent of Minnesota's golf courses are open to the public.
- The Minnesota Golf Association (MGA) counts 508 golf courses in the state: 55 private; 351 daily fee/semi-private, 83 municipal, and 19 resort.
- In 2006, Minnesota ranked 11th in the U.S. in number of golf facilities, according to NGF.
- Minnesota has 25 stand-alone driving ranges, according to NGF.
- The MGA provides the USGA GHIN Handicap service to its 75,000 associate members (80% men; 18% women; and 2% juniors, for the year ending 2007).
- MGA members posted 1.6 million rounds in 2011, or about 23.5 rounds per member.
- More than half (52.7 percent) of surveyed respondents to a 2001 Minnesota Office of Tourism study said that golf was highly important in choosing their destination.
- Golf visitors ranked Minnesota fourth highest from a list of 13 golf destinations, behind only Florida, Arizona and South Carolina.
- Minnesota is the only state to have hosted all 13 USGA national championships, and the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, and men's and women's State Team championships.
- In addition, Minnesota has hosted the 1932, 1954, 1959, 2002, 2008 and 2009 PGA Championships.
- Major championships on tap: the 2016 Ryder Cup (Hazeltine).