For many of us, golf is an important pastime. A great way to get out of doors, exercise, apply your mind and compete, if only against yourself.

But beyond the activity, a recent report depicts golf as an economic engine that drives results across the state – results in dollars, jobs and quality of life, including substantial commitments to charitable organizations.

The new report has just been completed by the Golf Alliance of Oregon, a partnership of the Oregon Golf Association, the Oregon Golf Course Owners Association, the Pacific Northwest PGA-Oregon Chapter, the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents and the Club Managers of Oregon.

It was unveiled at a reception at Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club on May 6.

Consider these statistics, which are drawn from the report prepared by the consulting firm, SRI International:

• In 2013, the size of Oregon’s direct golf economic impact totaled approximately $1.3 billion, which compares favorably to revenues generated by other key industries in the state, such as paper manufacturing ($3.9 billion), software publishing ($1.5 billion), and greenhouses/nurseries ($.8 billion).

• Golf brings visitors to the state, spurs new residential construction, generates retail sales and creates demand for goods and services, thereby enabling the industry to reach a total annual economic impact of $2 billion.

• That $2 billion total includes $576 million of wage income for more than 21,000 jobs in the industry.

• As for charitable contributions, the total amount of dollars is in the range of $31 million. The Safeway Classic alone raises at least $1 million every year for local organizations. The Boys and Girls Club of Portland estimates that it has received more than $3 million over the past 10 years from the professional golf event in Portland.

Based on these statistics – and many others – the Golf Alliance says that “the continued health of the golf industry has a direct bearing on future jobs, commerce, economic development and tax revenues for a large number of Oregon’s communities and industries.”

Whether it’s Bandon Dunes on the South Coast, Pumpkin Ridge in North Plains, Columbia Edgewater, Waverly, Portland Golf Club or Riverside in Portland, Eugene Country Club in Eugene, or, yes, Illahe Hills in Salem, each contributes to the economic health of the communities in which they are located.