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Arizona’s Senate president took aim at viral comments about the future of golf from the state’s Democratic attorney general as their battle to be the state’s top law enforcement officer entered its final stretch before next week’s midterm elections.
A remark about potentially restricting golf courses and the Grand Canyon State having “too much grass” turned a debate over water conservation into a campaign flashpoint, with Sen. Warren Petersen accusing Attorney General Kris Mayes of targeting a multibillion-dollar industry in the desert state while Mayes later insisted her remarks were taken out of context.
“Kris Mayes thinks Arizona has too many golf courses. I think Arizona has too many radical politicians who believe government should dictate which industries get to thrive,” Petersen, R-Maricopa, told Digital Tuesday.
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“Our golf courses support jobs, tourism, small businesses and communities across this state. Instead of attacking an industry that contributes to our economy, the attorney general should be focused on enforcing the law, protecting consumers and defending Arizona families.”
In an interview with Politico delving into the data center debate and whether the proliferation of water-intensive buildings is wise, particularly in an arid state, Mayes cited neighboring states allegedly “backed by” the Trump administration as hindrances to Arizona’s local supply.
Mayes’ golf course remarks came shortly after she warned that Arizona was headed toward a potential Supreme Court showdown over Colorado River water supplies.
“We could do a hell of a lot more when it comes to conservation,” she said, citing tax incentives for catchment and removal of lawns.
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Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen speaks during a rally for vice presidential nominee JD Vance at Arizona Christian University July 31, 2024. (Imagn)
“We have way, way too much grass in Arizona. We probably, frankly — and I’m sure the golf industry is not going to like this when I say this — we probably have too many golf courses in Arizona right now.”
That remark sparked blowback from Petersen and many others.
“We don’t have a golf course problem in Arizona. We have a dumocrat (sic) problem in Arizona,” quipped Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz.
“Kris Mayes is promising to get rid of golf courses. I promise to get rid of Kris Mayes,” Petersen added in his own tweet.
E-procurement software CEO Tom Spengler added that Arizona “honestly need[s] more golf courses.”
“Tee times are very hard to get and rates have doubled or tripled since COVID,” he said.
“We have too much grass — said no one ever, other than Kris Mayes,” added Turning Point USA executive Justin Streiff.
Arizona’s business community also took notice, and Arizona Chamber of Commerce Vice President Courtney Coolidge responded to Mayes with several statistics about golf’s impact on the state.
Coolidge reported a $6 billion economic impact, 66,000 jobs, $2.3 billion in wages and $520 million in tax revenue. Most relevant to the water debate, she said golf courses collectively use 2% or less of the state’s water resources.
Those stats also lined up closely with separate figures in a 2023 study by the Arizona Alliance for Golf.
Popular golf satire site PGA Tuor shared a clip of Mayes’ comments, writing, “How to not get re-elected 101.”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks at an Arizona AFL-CIO Get Out the Vote canvass launch with union members and supporters Nov. 2, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Another putting enthusiast said Mayes’ comments cost her his vote, saying, “[She] has no idea what the economic impact golf has on our entire state.”
Digital reached out to Mayes for comment on the viral nature and content of her remarks.
The Democrat separately tweeted that she was intending to make a larger point about water usage.
“Relax, nobody’s closing golf courses,” Mayes said.
“My point is we need incentives to help all Arizonans and major industries swap thirsty grass and catch rainwater, especially if our water situation gets worse — while I take on the foreign mega-farms and data centers draining our water.”
She then accused Petersen of spreading “false claims.”
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A golfer tees off during a tour in Flagstaff, Ariz. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
But Mayes’ response was also met with ridicule. X critics called it “condescending” while one also quipped, “you relax – we all heard you.” Others characterized her stated approach toward the golf industry as “communist.”
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With Election Day just days away, Petersen is betting the controversy will resonate beyond the fairways, casting Mayes’ remarks as part of a larger dispute over government intervention in Arizona’s economy as Republicans seek to regain control of a state government they once reliably held.
