PGA Tour makes major request of Donald Trump after Presidents Cup

The PGA Tour has thrown its support behind plans to make daylight saving time permanent in the United States, with CEO Brian Rolapp telling President Donald Trump that more afternoon sunlight could be a major boost for golf.

Rolapp wrote to Trump on October 1, just days after the President attended the final round of the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club.

Team USA, captained by Brandt Snedeker, defeated Geoff Ogilvy's Internationals 17-13 in Chicago, with Trump attending the closing stages of the contest.

Following the event, Rolapp formally outlined the PGA Tour's support for the Sunshine Protection Act, which would keep daylight saving time in place throughout the year rather than requiring Americans to change their clocks twice annually.

For golf, the argument is straightforward: more afternoon daylight means more opportunities to play.

PGA Tour believes golfers could benefit

In his letter, Rolapp argued that permanent daylight saving time would expand access to golf for recreational players who have to fit the sport around work and family commitments.

He pointed to golfers heading to the range after work, parents taking their children to the course after school and players trying to squeeze in nine holes before darkness.

That window becomes considerably smaller when the clocks go back in autumn.

According to figures cited by Rolapp from the National Golf Course Owners Association, permanent daylight saving time could generate 23 million additional rounds of golf each year, while creating approximately $1 billion in additional direct annual revenue for the U.S. golf industry.

That equates to around $250,000 per golf facility.

The timing of the extra daylight could also be particularly valuable for golf courses.

Rolapp cited figures suggesting afternoon and evening tee times generate approximately 40% more revenue than morning play.

For course operators, therefore, an additional hour of daylight could mean more than simply allowing golfers to stay outside for longer.

It could create additional opportunities to sell tee times during one of the busiest periods of the day.

PGA Tour events to benefit too

Rolapp also believes professional golf could gain from the proposal.

Autumn and winter tournaments can face problems when play runs late, particularly after weather delays or slow play push the final groups towards sunset.

More usable afternoon daylight would give the PGA Tour greater flexibility in those situations.

It could also help broadcasters.

Rolapp said additional daylight could allow television partners to extend live coverage of finishing holes and avoid situations where a tournament runs out of light just as the closing stages are unfolding.

For fans, that could mean seeing more of the action when tournaments reach their most important moments.

Why does Trump support the plan?

Trump has been a vocal supporter of permanent daylight saving time and has been pushing for the Sunshine Protection Act to progress in Congress.

However, the proposal remains controversial.

The House of Representatives has passed the legislation, but it remains stalled in the Senate, with Republican Senator Tom Cotton among those opposing the move.

Cotton has raised concerns about darker winter mornings, particularly for children travelling to school.

The debate therefore extends well beyond golf, with supporters and opponents considering issues including safety, school schedules, working hours and the wider impact of permanently changing the country's clocks.

For the PGA Tour, however, the potential benefits are clear.

More daylight, more golf?

Rolapp also highlighted the wider benefits of golf, arguing that more evening daylight could give Americans additional opportunities to walk courses and spend time outdoors with friends and family.

For the average golfer, the benefit could be much simpler.

An extra hour might mean getting nine holes in after work, taking the kids to the course after school, heading to the driving range or playing a twilight round with friends.

The PGA Tour's position is now clear.

With Rolapp citing estimates of 23 million additional rounds and $1 billion in extra annual direct revenue, the golf industry has a substantial financial interest in the debate.

Whether the Sunshine Protection Act ultimately becomes law remains to be seen.

But if America does stop changing its clocks, golfers could find themselves with something they are rarely given enough of: more time to play.