2020 -- S 2882

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING "NATIONAL GOLF DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ON

MAY 13, 2020

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Felag, Lombardo, Ciccone, and Picard

     Date Introduced: June 17, 2020

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island has played a significant role in the growth of golf

as a sport in the United States. Newport Country Club was one of the five founding golf clubs of

the United States Golf Association and hosted the very first US Open and the very first US

Amateur Championship in 1895. In 1995, the centennial US Amateur Championship was held at

the Newport Country Club, which also hosted the US Women’s Open in 2006. In June of 2020,

the club will host the US Senior Open which will bring significant tourism dollars to Rhode

Island; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is blessed with golf courses that are internationally recognized

for their excellence and significant contributions to the game of golf. In addition to the

aforementioned Newport Country Club, Wannamoisett Country Club, designed by famed Golf

architect Donald Ross, is renowned nationally and internationally and annually hosts the

prestigious Northeast Amateur Invitational. In addition, the Rhode Island Country Club has

hosted the CVS Charity Classic for the past twenty years thanks to the tireless support provided

by Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, professional golfers from Rhode Island, and CVS. Altogether,

more than 21 million dollars has been raised for charitable purposes. Numerous other charities

also raised significant amounts of money by running golf events on Rhode Island golf courses;

and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has myriad organizations that have played and continue to

play a significant role in organizing, regulating and growing the game of golf in the state, as well

as supporting numerous charities. The Rhode Island Golf Association was founded in 1902, and

is the organizing body for the game of golf in Rhode Island. It is a member of the United States

Golf Association (USGA), and oversees all aspects of the game in Rhode Island. The Rhode

Island Golf Course Superintendent’s Association (RIGCSA) was founded in 1930 to serve as the

Rhode Island arm of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America. The John P.

Burke Memorial Fund, better known as the Burke Fund, was founded in 1946 by members of the

RIGA in honor of John Burke, an elite golfer from Newport who perished in World War II. In the

organization’s 72 years it has given out more than $ 3.5 million to 1,200 students. Finally, Button

Hole is a charity that for the past eighteen years has strived to make the game of golf more

accessible to all Rhode Islanders. All of these organizations, along with other Rhode Island golf

entities, comprise the Rhode Island Golf Council; and

     WHEREAS, Altogether, golf in Rhode Island provides approximately $213.5 million to

the State’s economy and is responsible for nearly 2,500 jobs; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby celebrates “National Golf Day” on May 13, 2020; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Pat Hogan, Legislation/Public Relations Chair,

Rhode Island Golf Council, Michael Varkonyi, President, RIGCSA, Robert Ward, Executive

Director, Rhode Island Golf Association, Maury C. Davitt, Executive Director, Burke Fund, and

Don Wright, Executive Director, Button Hole.

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