Have you ever noticed how many business people are also golfers? We have. Not everyone who you see on the golf course is scheming up a deal in between every shot, but there’s a good chance that some of the people you see on the course are there on business of some sort. Because of this, business people who don’t golf often wonder if they should learn. For the right person, the answer is yes. This is not always the case, however, and here’s why:

First, some incentives.

• Golf is one of the few sports that you can play at any age and any stage. It is truly a lifetime sport and even if your boss or customer is many years older or younger, it can still be a very even match.
• Even if the ability level of you and your golf partner is very different, the handicap system allows golfers to even the playing field.
• Although it takes around four hours to play eighteen holes, only a very small percentage of that time is spent actually hitting the ball. This leaves plenty of time to talk, bond, and enjoy your company. You can think of a game of golf as as an outdoor, four-hour conference call.
• Golf can be an excellent test of character. You can see who stays calm under pressure, has a temper, or can make light out of a tough situation.

So who shouldn’t learn? There are several great aspects of golf that make it the perfect sport for business people, but it is not for everyone.

• If you are not willing to actually learn, practice, and build up your skill set, it could be embarrassing to golf with someone you are trying to impress. Even though the handicap system does help even out the field, it can’t fix your inability to hit the ball at all.
• If you are not going to stay calm, you shouldn’t learn to golf. It requires patience, and if you are easily frustrated, you should probably stay away.
• It can be expensive, so you if you are committed to learning, you must also make a monetary commitment to the game.

Our President, Cindy Neese, believes that business people should learn to golf. She says, “Golf is worth the pain for people in business! It isn’t always about your score or how you play.  It is the about the quality time you can spend with people to get to know them outside of the office. It is about building relationships and finding time to build a friendship.  With that, business will come your way.”

Do you think that learning to golf is worth the pain? Let us know!