Before golf became widely popular, business deals were sealed with a handshake after a round of golf. Salesmen who played golf were using an 18-hole round to entertain key clients and to solidify business transactions while on the course. Meetings were scheduled by making a tee time. Many members used their private memberships for business purposes.
Mark McCormack, founder International Management Group landed a colossal deal with non other then the King himself, with a simple handshake deal at the conclusion of a game of golf. The popular Arnold Palmer and Mark McCormack forever changed the world of golf on that fateful day. Sponsorships, TV contracts and corporate America jumped on board.
Today, young business men and woman are recognizing the value of knowing how to play as opportunities present themselves on a regular basis. You don’t have to be an expert to take advantage of the opportunity, but you need some understanding of the rules, etiquette, and how to get around the course in a timely manner. Many parents recognize the value of learning golf at a young age and send their kids to golf camps. Learning the fundamentals at a young age makes the game a lot easier later on. Many junior golfers come back and take a few lessons once they finish college because everyone at the office plays. I often see them quickly gain confidence with a few refresher lessons.
The PGA of America has introduced a wonderful program called Get Golf Ready and it is designed to teach new golfers how to get onto the course in just five days for only $99. I run that program at Boundary Oak and recommend it as a starter course for any adult new to the game. Graduation programs are offered after the five classes have been completed. For juniors, I recommend my Junior Camp which runs June through August. It is tailored for juniors of every level, beginner, intermediate and advanced.
My Corporate Golf Outings target employee and clients alike. Tailor-made for large or small groups, they include a group lesson or clinic, nine or 18 holes of golf and a meal. This is a great way to invest in your key people, and it’s local. Gather up your people in the office and come for a half day Friday or any day and I will bring them up to speed with how they can join the next company scramble and partake in the fun!
Often times I will take on a project where a person must learn golf and has a time line for a date with the links. Companies will often pay for them to learn golf so they can take part in the annual company golf outing. The challenge though is that golf can take awhile before you get the hang of it. People in general don’t do well under that kind of pressure with a game like this. The harder they try, often the more frustration the experience. Never the less, they must learn in a set time frame. My suggestion is to first read the summary of rules booklet. Next, private lessons with an emphasis on fundamentals while learning with five or seven clubs, instead of trying to figure out what all 14 are for. Then, mixing some lessons up, with time on the course (not just the range), and placing a greater emphasis on etiquette then performance. There is little chance that the golfer will achieve as high of proficiency level as they would like but they can learn how to behave and conduct themselves appropriately. Perhaps the later is more important anyway, rather than trying to become a decent player in a very short time. That can happen but it will take time and effort!
So, the next time you are invited to play a round of golf, join the company golf scramble, or just meet up with some co workers or friends, you too could be doing business and networking on the course!