STATE LEGISLATURE
A
MONG ITS MANY activities,
the Connecticut State Golf
Association plays an active role
at the State Capitol monitoring trends,
policies, and potential legislation that
could affect Connecticut’s golf business.
“We take our role as advocates for golfers
and the Connecticut golf industry quite
seriously,” says CSGA Executive Director,
Mike Moraghan. “It’s important that we
be aware of what’s happening in Hartford,
and whenever possible help shape policy
that favors our member clubs and golf
course operations.”
The CSGA employs Capitol
Consulting, LLC, a government relations
firm based in East Hampton. Longtime
lobbyist Mike Dugan owns and operates
Capitol Consulting and keeps the CSGA
apprised of relevant issues within the State
Legisl ature and beyond.
“Mike Dugan has been at this
for a long time and he knows all the key
players,” according to Moraghan. “He has
great people skills, is widely respected in
the building, and has a real passion for
the work. From our perspective it also
helps that he loves golf and understands
the game from a number of angles. He’s
a regular at Glastonbury Hills Country
Club who loves to play, and he appreciates
that golf is more than just recreation for
a lot of people in Connecticut; it’s their
livelihood, whether they’re an agronomist
out on a golf course or a merchandiser in a
pro shop.”
Pesticide and fertilizer issues,
water use regulations, and varying forms of
taxation are among the topics Dugan, the
CSGA and the Connecticut Golf Course
Superintendents Association have worked
on together for several years. “We’re
happy to provide the funding for Capitol
Consulting and help our superintendents
in any way that we can,” says Moraghan.
“We have industry leaders and experts
in Connecticut like Scott Ramsey
(superintendent at The Course at Yale)
who’ve been outstanding representatives
for golf and the industry in Connecticut.
Scott, Mike and I talk frequently about
issues and when necessary we’re more than
happy to meet with legislators or testify
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before committees.”
In March of 2014, Moraghan and
several golf course owners including Bob
Ferrarotti (Fairview Farm, Stonybrook)
and Bud Smith (Orange Hills) spoke
before the Legislature’s Planning and
Development Committee. The topic was
tax legislation put forth by State Senator
Kevin Witkos of Simsbury that could
provide some relief for privately owned
public golf courses. When Dugan brought
the topic to Moraghan’s attention the
Executive Director immediately called a
number of golf course owners and brought
the group together in the lobby of the
Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
“It was a good first step in getting
the manner in which golf courses are taxed
back on the table and in the conversation
again at the Capitol,” according to
Moraghan. “With Bob and Bud conveying
personal stories to a very receptive P&D
Committee I believe we made some
progress.” In his testimony Moraghan cited
the disappearance of the Canton Public
Golf Course, an area now covered with
asphalt, cement and shopping malls, and
described the threat of golf courses being
taxed out of existence.
Property taxes on both private
courses and on privately owned (nonmunicipal) public golf courses in
Connecticut may vary year-to-year based
on interpretations by local tax assessors.
Inconsistencies and sudden increases
have been onerous to many golf facilities
in the state. The legislation proposed by
Sen. Witkos sought to give local assessors
the option of treating golf courses as open
space and taxing them at the same rate as
farmland and forests.
Although the Committee held
the Witkos bill, Moraghan and others
in attendance including Bill Anderson
of Blackledge and Carey Stollman of
Chanticlair believed a foundation was laid
for future consideration.
“There are a good many
Connecticut legislators who play golf and
appreciate all the positive aspects of the
game,” said Moraghan. “I also believe we’re
beginning to see a good, positive shift in
how golf courses are viewed by non-golfing
Connecticut State Golf Association 2014
Top: CSGA Executive Director Mike Moraghan; Bottom: Mike
Dugan of Capitol Consulting, LLC
legislators. Folks who value economic
development understand that golf courses
are small businesses that employ people and
bring value to the surrounding community.
Environmentalists recognize that golf
courses provide green space, wildlife
habitat and groundwater filtration. People
who value quality of life see the health
benefits of being outdoors and playing
golf.”
While legislative issues that affect
golf course operations are often slow in
developing, Connecticut’s golfers remain
assured that the CSGA, the CT Golf
Course Superintendents and Capitol
Consulting remain committed to acting
on their behalf with a strong presence at
the State Capitol in Hartford.
www.csgalinks.org