The start of a new decade brings the second installment of the National Golf Foundation’s Top 100 Businesses in Golf initiative, an effort that highlights the vitality, size and diversity of the $84 billion golf industry.

As Troon’s manager of environmental science, Brianne Kenny has brought non-golfers with a negative perception of golf to the course, and turned around their notions about the game. Her efforts, and similar ones around the country, seek to address some existing misconceptions about the game’s environmental and ecological impact.

While the age 60-and-over set has traditionally served as starters or marshals at the golf course, this demographic is filling a vital maintenance need for part-time and seasonal work at facilities in the Midwest and beyond.

What percentage of water used for irrigation in the U.S. goes to golf courses? The answer might surprise.
Here’s what the golf industry has done to further reduce golf’s water usage, increase efficiency and incorporate innovative technologies.

Maui’s Plantation Course is shutting down for a nine-month renovation in February. In the short term, the Kapalua Resort will lose out on almost 30,000 rounds, approximately $8 million in playing fees and even more in retail and food & beverage revenue. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process at one of the flagship public facilities in the Troon Golf portfolio.