As many of the golf industry’s leaders and top executives gathered in Dallas earlier this month for the NGF’s annual Business Symposium, The Q took the opportunity to ask a few attendees two questions — one about the game and the second about their business experiences.

The Bay Area of San Francisco is known for its exclusive private golf options and premium public facilities. In Bayland Golf Links, the area is finally getting the high-quality, affordable public option it has needed. NGF Consulting gives an inside look at a special municipal course rebirth.

Golf directly drove $84.1 billion in economic activity across the U.S. in 2016, according to a study commissioned by the World Golf Foundation. The findings reflect a 22% increase from $68.8 billion in 2011.

The RTJ Golf Trail has helped boost the Alabama economy through golf tourism and travel. It’s also set the standard for dozens of golf trails that have followed across the U.S., marrying marketing efforts and co-opetition to boost visibility and, hopefully, the bottom line.

When it comes to product innovation, no sport outpaces golf. Protecting intellectual property is crucial for the industry and it’s why there have been more than 22,000 patents related to golf filed over the past four decades.