Daylight Saving Time and the Golf Industry: A Fight for Evening Sunlight

Introduction to the Debate

The twice-yearly ritual of changing clocks for daylight saving time (DST) has long been a contentious issue in the United States. While some people dread losing an hour of sleep in the spring and struggle with earlier darkness in the fall, others see the benefits of extended evening daylight. For the golf industry, the stakes are particularly high. As the country prepares to "spring forward" into DST this weekend, many in the golf world are advocating to make the time change permanent. Their argument? More evening sunlight means more opportunities for golf, a sport deeply tied to the history of DST. For golf courses, the financial implications of losing DST could be devastating, with millions of dollars in potential revenue at risk.

The Historical Connection Between Golf and Daylight Saving Time

Golf has played a significant role in the history of DST, which officially begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March. The idea of moving the clocks forward originated with William Willett, a British builder and avid golfer, in 1905. Willett advocated for shifting the clock to make better use of daylight for outdoor activities like golf. The U.S. eventually adopted DST during World War I, and it became a permanent part of American life with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. In the mid-1980s, lobbying efforts by the golf industry successfully pushed Congress to extend DST by an additional month, a move that has benefited the sport ever since.

The Push for Permanent Standard Time

Despite its long history, DST has always had its critics. Many Americans complain about the disruption caused by the time change, particularly the loss of sleep in the spring and the earlier darkness in the fall. These concerns have led to hundreds of bills introduced in state legislatures over the years to abandon DST and adopt permanent standard time. Currently, over a dozen states are considering bills to make standard time permanent, citing benefits such as improved sleep quality and safer morning commutes. However, making DST permanent would require congressional approval, as states are currently allowed only to opt out of DST entirely, as Arizona and Hawaii have done.

The Golf Industry’s Fight to Preserve Evening Sunlight

The golf industry is pushing back hard against efforts to make standard time permanent. In Nebraska, for example, lobbyists for the Nebraska Golf Alliance testified before lawmakers, arguing that permanent standard time would lead to a significant loss of revenue for golf courses. According to lobbyist Joe Kohout, late afternoon golf leagues account for up to 40% of annual revenue for some courses, and nearly 50% of golf lessons take place after 4 p.m. Under permanent standard time, Nebraska’s golf courses would lose revenue, be forced to raise prices, and in some cases, could even be driven out of business. Similarly, in Utah, the Utah Golf Association is fighting a bill to make standard time permanent, emphasizing the year-round benefits of more usable daylight hours in the evenings.

The Status Quo: A Balanced Approach for Golf Courses

Not everyone in the golf industry is pushing for permanent DST, however. The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), which represents about 4,000 courses nationwide, recently polled its stakeholders on the issue. The vast majority favored either maintaining the biannual time change or making DST permanent. Only about 6% supported a switch to permanent standard time. CEO Jay Karen explained that while permanent DST would benefit courses that rely on evening play, it could harm others, such as those in retirement communities or Sun Belt regions where early morning golf is more popular due to extreme heat. For now, the NGCOA is advocating for the status quo, arguing that it causes the least harm to the industry as a whole.

Closing Thoughts: The Ongoing Battle Over Time

As lawmakers continue to debate the future of DST, the golf industry remains a key player in the conversation. While some legislators, like Republican Iowa state Rep. John Wills, are considering amendments to their bills in response to the industry’s concerns, others, like Indiana state Sen. Linda Rogers, are fighting to preserve DST. Rogers, who owns a golf course and successfully lobbied for DST in Indiana in 2006, argues that the extra evening daylight allows working people to enjoy outdoor activities like golf after 5 p.m. For the golf industry, the stakes are clear: losing DST could mean losing revenue, raising prices, and potentially driving some courses out of business. As the debate over time continues, one thing is certain—the golf industry will remain a vocal advocate for evening sunlight and the economic benefits it brings.