Golf tax pitch drives fears

If Del Ratcliffe thought he could charge people more than $30 to play golf at his Charles T. Meyers Golf Course, one of the five Charlotte-area courses he owns, he would. But he says people would spend their money elsewhere.

But state lawmakers might be increasing his prices against his will. When they started knocking around various tax proposals, legislators hit one right at the golf industry. And the sport, already facing a slowdown, is organizing quickly to dodge it.

"Believe me, if we could charge 7 percent more and do the same volume, we would already be doing it," said Ratcliffe, who is president of the N.C. Golf Course Owners Association. "The fact is that people are not going to play as much golf as they have, and that's bad for the state."

In budget talks at the legislature, the Senate has been pushing to restructure the state's tax system by broadening the sales tax base to include services. Among the services that would be taxed are "recreation and entertainment" activities such as golf, rafting trips and amusement park admissions.

"Our goal all along has been to restructure the tax system," said Sen. Dan Clodfelter, a Charlotte Democrat. "If we spread the tax rate out, we can lower it for everybody." (N&O)

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Re: Golf tax pitch drives fears

Submitted by cdtew on July 16, 2009 - 10:20am.

This is sheer lunacy. Ask anyone from out of state what they know about North Carolina, and they'll probably say "NASCAR, Charlotte/the Triangle, Beaches and Golf" in no particular order.

I'm working at the beach this summer, and let me tell you there has been a significant reduction in tourism already. There just aren't as many cars on the OBX because people aren't coming. The hospitality industry has already suffered in this economy, and now we're taxing one of our biggest tourist draws?

I'm sorry Dan Clodfelter represents a sorry district without good golf courses, but I hope some of the Democrats with better golfing in their districts (here's looking at you Marc Basnight, R.C. Soles, Julia Boseman, Steve Goss, Joe Sam Queen, Josh Stein, Linda Garrou) will wake up and realize their seats will be in big trouble if they vote "Yea".

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Re: Golf tax pitch drives fears

Submitted by BitterEXdemocrat on July 16, 2009 - 9:14am.

If one can afford $410 for a WEEKDAY round at Pinehurst #2, lettum pay the 7% 'state privilege' to play! Remind them that democrackkks put this on they tails..All clubs shall post notices of same. "7% golf privilege TAX brought on you by NC democrats"

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Re: Golf tax pitch drives fears

Submitted by domewatcher on July 16, 2009 - 7:40am.

Top ten reasons the golf tax is a good idea:

10. It will further keep the poor people outside the gate! Golf used to be fun and exclusive before the poor people started playing.
9. Rich folk never complain about higher taxes because rich folk complaining gives satisfaction to the poor (and we’d never want that.) So the only people complaining are the poor folk and who cares about them anyway. Tax golf!
8. The golf tax will not hurt the poor because the poor folk will quit playing golf as soon as they learn they can hang around the grocery store and drink free beer.
7. Most everybody has been laid-off anyway and these people need to be out looking for a job rather than playing golf. DUH! This new tax will lower unemployment !
6. Poor people should never have been allowed to play golf in the first place. This tax will help them go back to tinkering with old cars or raking leaves or wearing sleeveless t-shirts or whatever poor people do for fun.
5. The state needs the money more than the golfers. The golfers will probably all make bets and somebody will lose. Now everybody loses.
4. This quote by George Eliot may explain it all: “Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state.” These new taxes may be some ploy of the Christian right to make us more religious. Or then again it may be a Democratic ploy so that the state can spend more money. Either way it’s great!
3. This new tax will be offset by the $1.00 per hole you get for filling out a new ACORN voter registration card. It’s a win-win situation and nobody gets hurt.
2. Dan the man was quoted above: "If we spread the tax rate out, we can lower it for everybody." What a great idea. I think I also read this same quote in a fortune cookie at Lin’s Super Buffet in Tarboro. Spreading taxes = lowering taxes. So, tax increases will lower taxes. I’ll bet a cheeseburger & fries really is $60.00 over there. I hope he says next that eating more will make you lose weight!
1. This tax is a ploy from the drug makers to get you to use more depression medication. At present, most all golfers are depressed after a round because they played so poorly. Now, this new tax will depress you before you start. Those drug makers are some smart people. Double dose, baby, double dose. This tax will make you feel better about yourself. Go for it!

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Re: Golf tax pitch drives fears

Submitted by mtneerssr on July 16, 2009 - 6:51am.

Our goal all along has been to restructure the tax system," said Sen. Dan Clodfelter, a Charlotte Democrat. "If we spread the tax rate out, we can lower it for everybody." (N&O) How can any one believe this is true. There are no " new tax sources" there is only one tax source. THE TAX PAYER

the only way to lower taxes it to lower spending.

The Clodfelter statement is stupid or a lie. "Spread it out so we can lower it for everybody" ? Is that how the democrats plan to fill there Billion Dollar gap? by lowering taxes for everyone

democrats fix the budget .... you broke it

The only hold ups are in the democrats .... and their conscious.

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