California Alliance for Golf

Comments

Mike

I hope the golf colitions join together and sue to stop this tax especially since the Govenator will not be targeting bowling, tennis, softball games, etc. This is an illegal targeting of a specific industry with intent to do it economic harm while allowing other similar activities to escape this tax.

January 28, 2009, 6:57 PM

david thomas

I understand the magnitude of the current financial crisis, and the need generate revenues as well as curbing spending.

In pricincipal I am aligned with the unavoidable need to generate incremental tax revenue.

I am adamantly opposed to singling out golf, or any other sport, as an isolated target for additional taxes. I am also vehemently opposed to size of the tax.

Combined with the impending drought which will increase water costs and reduce playing time on courses, an incremental tax could cripple an industry that faces some serious challenges this year.

If golfing is bundled with other discretionary recreational fees such as swimming club and fitness club memberships, tennis instruction and tennis court fees, sailing berths & boat registrations, martial arts studios, recreational baseball and sports leagues, etc. I could accept the concept. Not only would this be more fair, it would also spread the tax burden and decrease the tax percentage reducing the financial impact to the industry and the economic ripple effect of reduced employment and spending by golf-related business.

A more progressive sport tax would tax passive activities like spectator tickets at sporting events and food concessions, rather than discouraging an outdoor activity, and would generate far more revenue.

January 30, 2009, 11:38 AM

John Haskins

As an employee of a course in Long Beach. I can tell you that this tax will hurt the people who play here. We raise the green fee one dollar per year and they flip out. I can only imagine what they (the golfers) will do if this tax goes into effect. Mr. Thomas is right in his post. Lets not let our game get takin for the preverbial ride. Spread it around to the other sports. I play approx. 155 rounds per year. Thats is another $625 per year just to play. Dont think I can afford it. It makes me sad to even think that I wont be able to play anymore.

February 2, 2009, 8:47 AM

Judith Quintana

This will be a hardship for the golfers who are retired and are on fixed incomes. As mentioned above, tax ALL recreational sports, not just golf. Some people regard golf as an elitist sport, it is NOT!

February 2, 2009, 4:40 PM

L. Gordon

I'm sure this comment will get deleted, but I do not believe that it is a bad idea to tax golf. We as golfers can show others that we are willing to pay our fair share of taxes as citizens in this time of budget crisis. I think the real question is to whether the payment of these taxes will go toward improvement or at least maintaining our existing publicly funded golf programs throughout CA.

February 6, 2009, 5:28 PM

Bill dahlquist

I disagree with L Gorden, none of our taxes should be spent on such programs.The problem is the lame ca. legislators that have continuilly expanded gov. and programs beyond our revenues.The first thing they should be doing is to cut all the programs back to 2005 levels,then look at what taxes may be needed.I believe it would be far less then what is being proposed. After that they must force themselves to stay within their budgets as well as not borrowing our future away.

February 6, 2009, 8:07 PM

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