Looking forward to that extra evening sunlight? Good news—daylight saving time is here. And guess who else is loving it? The golf industry, which is lobbying harder for permanent daylight saving time than your friend who insists a “gimme’ in golf is okay.
Golf course owners are adamant that this time change is not just about the joy of slicing a ball into the trees at 7 p.m.—it’s about cold, hard cash. Those late afternoon golfers? They’re the ones keeping clubhouses buzzing, beer taps flowing, and snack bars alive. “We would lose 100 tee times a day if daylight saving time goes away,” lamented Connor Farrell, general manager of Stone Creek Golf Course in Omaha. That’s half a million dollars lost annually—roughly the cost of a new country club membership and three rounds of drinks at the bar.
Surprisingly, golf has a long history of meddling with our clocks. In 1905, British builder and avid golfer William Willett had the revolutionary idea: “Why not shift time itself so we can play more golf?” Okay, that’s not a direct quote, but it might as well be. The U.S. eventually took his advice, first during World War I, then again in World War II, and later in 1966 with the Uniform Time Act. By the 1980s, golf lobbyists helped extend daylight saving by a whole month—because heaven forbid anyone has to play nine holes in the dark.
But let’s be real, not everyone is thrilled about adjusting their sleep schedules twice a year. Americans are over losing an hour of precious slumber in the spring, only to be met with winter nights that feel like they belong in a dystopian novel. Over the years, more than 20 states have passed measures to make daylight saving time permanent, largely thanks to—you guessed it—golf industry lobbyists. On the other side of the debate, sleep scientists insist that permanent standard time would improve health and safety. But are they considering the emotional devastation of missing out on post-work putts?
Nebraska is currently wrestling with competing bills that would make either standard or daylight saving time permanent. Joe Kohout, a lobbyist for the Nebraska Golf Alliance, is firmly in the “more daylight = more golf = happier people” camp. He warns that without those extra evening hours, some Nebraska courses could face financial ruin. The Utah Golf Association has joined the fight, arguing that keeping clocks as they are ensures people can enjoy their post-work rounds, backyard barbecues, and attempts at DIY home projects they’ll never finish.
Meanwhile, Indiana state senator (and former golf course owner) Linda Rogers is passionately defending daylight saving, pointing out that it benefits all outdoor activities, not just golf. “Daylight saving time allows someone who worked until 5 o’clock to come out and still play at least nine holes,” she explains. Let’s be honest, that sounds like the most compelling argument yet.
The National Golf Course Owners Association recently took a poll on the issue. The verdict? A whopping majority prefers either permanent daylight saving time or keeping things as they are. A mere 6% supported permanent standard time—presumably those golfers who enjoy teeing off before the rooster crows.
Even though golf advocates are pushing hard for daylight saving time to stick around forever, the industry is playing it safe. Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, admits that while losing those long summer evenings would be devastating for thousands of courses, pushing for permanent daylight saving time might backfire for early-morning golfers who like to beat the heat. “We feel like status quo is no harm, no foul,” he shrugs.
Meanwhile, in Iowa, Rep. John Wills introduced a bill for permanent daylight saving time—until he was bombarded with arguments about how it could negatively affect golf. The sport’s influence runs deep, folks.
As comedian Anthony Anderson wisely said, “You can’t spell ‘golf’ without ‘go,’ and that’s exactly what I do when someone invites me to play.” Whether you love it or have only ever touched a golf club in mini-golf, one thing is clear: the fate of daylight saving time could very well be decided on the fairway.
Oh, and fun fact—daylight saving time starts this weekend. So don’t forget to change your clocks, unless you want to show up an hour early to everything and feel personally victimized by time itself.
