How do you feel about a 4:30 a.m. tee time?
That may seem like an odd question; however, one of the many promises newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has made is to abolish daylight saving time and switch to standard time year round. This change would mean that Americans would no longer have to “spring forward” and “fall back,” effectively adding an hour to mornings in spring and summer and resulting in earlier sunrises and sunsets.
This would certainly harm the golf business, reducing the number of rounds played and potentially resulting in a lasting drop in golf course utilization/revenue.
Jay Karen, the CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, expressed strong opposition to the proposed change, stating, “Eliminating DST would negatively impact the golf economy, and the golf industry should unite against its elimination.”
Golf equipment executives also oppose eliminating DST in the warm-weather months. Dan Murphy, president of Bridgestone Golf, believes it’s not just a golf issue. “I believe Americans, whether they a…