August 1, 2014
By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek
As this year’s PGA Championship tees off at Valhalla Golf Club, the host city of Louisville, Kentucky, can expect to benefit by having the event. The Louisville region could generate up to a $100 million economic impact from the golf season’s fourth major. Golf’s annual economic impact across the nation is close to $70 billion and supports two million jobs. In Louisville in particular, the PGA Championship has created more than 1,000 jobs, some lasting up to eight weeks. The event also will generate about $2.5 million in tax revenue for the region.
Beyond the competition, golf tournaments are renowned for the charitable endeavors, and the PGA Championship is no exception. This year’s PGA Championship will raise about $500,000 for local and regional charities. Golf’s national charitable impact is nearly $4 billion, which is more than the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB combined.