The last week in April in each year is designated as "Golf Week" in South Carolina. The Governor shall issue appropriate proclamations to commemorate "Golf Week" which must be observed throughout South Carolina with appropriate ceremonies and events to recognize the:

(1) economic impact of the golf industry in South Carolina;

(2) importance of the state's junior golfers;

(3) importance of turfgrass research.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 29, Section 1, eff April 10, 1995.

Editor's Note

The preamble of 1995 Act No 29 provides as follows:

"Whereas, a University of South Carolina and South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism study shows golf generating more than six hundred forty-four million dollars annually for the state's economy, putting it on a par with the state's larger industries; and

"Whereas, given that the National Golf Foundation ranks South Carolina just behind Florida as the nation's most popular golfing spot for tourists, this staggering amount of revenue isn't surprising; and

"Whereas, the study, which is the state's first economic impact study of South Carolina's golf industry, finds that the golf course operations generate employment for more than fourteen thousand full-time workers; and.

"Whereas, the study showed:

"(1) Out-of-state and international tourists, mostly from Canada and Germany, account for thirty-eight percent of South Carolina golfers

"(2) Sixty-three cents of every dollar spent by South Carolina's golf industry is respent in the state's economy

"(3) More than four hundred sixteen industries, including golf courses, utility companies, liability insurance companies, chemical/fertilizer manufacturers, and golf vehicle dealers, benefit directly from the state's golf industry

"(4) More than sixteen million, seven hundred thousand dollars in sales, excise, and admission taxes are generated annually by golf-related industries. Additional benefits include the creation of jobs and property tax revenue; and

"Whereas, the members of the General Assembly recognize the importance of raising funds for research to promote environmentally sound turfgrass management. The continued success of the golf industry is dependent on research-based answers to the environmental concerns of the public; and

"Whereas, Golf Week in South Carolina will allow the South Carolina Junior Golf Association and the South Carolina Chapter of the Professional Golfers of America to seek support to increase the education and advancement of junior golf throughout the State and will allow the South Carolina Turfgrass Foundation to pursue research and education relating to environmentally sensitive turfgrass management. Now, therefore,".