Tournaments and Associations
New York is a premier host for championship golf, staging more U.S. Opens (20) and PGA Championships (13) than any other state at iconic venues such as Winged Foot, Shinnecock Hills, Oak Hill, and Bethpage Black. In 2023, tournaments and associations generated $227.5 million in direct economic impact, anchored by the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester. The event showcased the Finger Lakes region globally while driving tourism revenue and long-term brand value. Complementing this were the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, the Twin Bridges Championship on the Epson Tour, and the LPGA Legends Weekend in Monticello.
New York will continue to shine as a host state from the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black to the 2026 and 2036 U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills, the 2028 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA and 2033 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, and the 2035 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, reinforcing the state’s unmatched role in golf’s competitive history and economic vitality.
New York is home to more than 300 golf-related associations that advance professionalism, competition, and community engagement statewide. Four regional PGA Sections, six GCSAA chapters, two CMAA chapters, and the New York State Turfgrass Association elevate service quality through certification, education, and science-based best management practices. In 2023, New York’s PGA Sections hosted championships and junior events statewide, reinforcing professional standards, competition, and golf’s presence across local communities.
The NYSGA and MGA oversee handicapping and statewide championships, driving travel, hospitality, and retail while broadening accessible programming. In 2023, New York hosted multiple U.S. Open local qualifiers through the MGA and NYSGA, giving hundreds of golfers a pathway toward golf’s most prestigious championship. The First Tee – Western New York, Mount Vernon City School District, CP Rochester and other grassroots organizations are among recipients of industry-supported Make Golf Your Thing grassroots grants, promoting inclusion and growth.
Collectively, these associations demonstrate the infrastructure sustaining New York golf’s economic, social, and environmental value.
Approach
What is assessed
The tournaments analysis measures the direct economic impact of New York’s major golf tournaments, including tournament operations, spectator spending, and retail activity in host regions. State, regional, and local governance bodies, along with affiliated organizations and golf-related non-profits were identified for the associations segment. The scope included organizational relationships, event calendars, district-level entities, and specialized groups. Financial impact was measured through IRS filings and modeled estimates.
How it’s measured
Major tournaments were estimated using inputs such as attendance and validated against official state and event communications, ensuring estimates of the immediate financial activity generated. A four-step protocol guided the process for identifying and assessing Associations. Directories from the Empire State Golf Alliance (ESGA) provided a baseline inventory. Systematic website reviews mapped relationships and activities, supplemented by partner sites, tournament clearinghouses, and nonprofit databases. Financial records were retrieved from IRS Form 990 filings and validated against EINs and submission dates. Where data was unavailable, a structured estimation framework was employed including scale-based modeling, program-fee analysis, and categorical benchmarking.
