What Golf Can Do To Your Business
Golf is good for the body; it is a low impact exercise that burns fat and utilizes almost all of the body’s muscles. It is not strenuous, so you can play for hours; and most of all, it is fun. Golf is good for the mind and soul; being around nature and breathing in fresh air calms and soothes the nerves. There is something meditative about the rhythm and pace of the game itself; after all, golf is a thinking game. In golf, you are neither competing with others or the course, instead, you are competing with yourself; to win a game of golf means to overcome your personal weaknesses. This Zen-like quality is perhaps what drew the powerful and influential patrons golf is known to have; a game more exciting and physically beneficial than chess, but just as intellectually challenging.
Another thing golf is good for is business. Golf has seriously evolved into an indispensable business tool; whether management is trying to bond with their employees; or CEOs are trying to resolve price wars; golf has become what hallowed grounds are to immortals – a neutral territory where casual discussions are possible among the fiercest rivals; where allies can forge even stronger bonds.
When a senior partner invites the plucky Benjamin of the firm for a weekend game of golf, it only means one thing: job interview. The young associate is probably being considered to handle a big case; or he is even being considered for partner. Whether or not he gets the case or promotion will depend on how he plays the game; and how he carries himself on the course, from his candid expressions to the clothes he is wearing.
More and more company outings have become company golf outings; company golf outings provide numerous opportunities for rank and file employees to socialize with management and make themselves known or noticed; or salespersons to build rapport with their suppliers, distributors and customers. Unlike formal affairs or meetings, golf is conducive for both small talk and business talk. As the game progresses, a strong sense of bond among the players is formed, and stature momentarily takes a backseat for camaraderie. To make the most of such opportunities, the participants must actually know how to play golf; they must also genuinely enjoy golf to a certain degree; and they must have a working knowledge of basic golf etiquette. Stories about promotions lost and unfavorable performance reviews due to unsavory behavior during a company golf outing are not mere urban legends; they are very real, and those in denial will continue to needlessly be passed over.
Star athletes and Hollywood celebrities are known to insist on golfing privilege clauses in their contracts. Certain athletes openly admit that apart from salary, one of the things that could sway him to sign a contract as a player or endorser would be access to a good golf course. Hollywood celebrities prefer to shoot on locations where there is access to golf courses as well, especially if the project will last for a substantial amount of time.
Golf also provides an excellent opportunity to network; you can meet new clients, suppliers, concessionaires, or new business partners while playing. Golf promotes healthy competitiveness in the sense that the focus and discipline the game demands trains the players to be less volatile; sweet tempers coupled with a non-strenuous physical activity help make golfers less defensive and more open to new business opportunities.
Golf can do a lot for one’s physical health and mental well being; it can also help take one’s business or career to the next stage. Gone are the days when deals are sealed by a handshake and a lap dance; the so-called martini lunches; or even the once ubiquitous power tennis matches that are usually followed by awkward sauna and public shower small talks. The present and future of business is with golf business; where the grass is greener, the air is fresher, and the outfits are more fashionable. However, what golf offers are opportunities; the individual must accomplish the actual work. In business golf, it truly does not matter whether you win or lose, what matters the most is how you play the game.
