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 80,000 associate members (80% men; 18% women; and 2% juniors, for the year ending 2007).
• MGA members posted 1.7 million rounds in 2007, or about 21 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 and 2002 PGA Championships.
• Major championships on tap: the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open (Interlachen Country Club, Edina); 2009 PGA (Hazeltine National, Chaska); and 2016 Ryder Cup (Hazeltine).