Does anyone do business on the golf course any more?

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Permalink Reply by Johnnie Firari on June 9, 2009 at 11:45pm

I am interested to hear others comments on this. For me I just do not see business being done on the golf course anymore. At least not like 10 years ago where there was a whole strategic way of doing business on the gold course, such as not talking business until the 16th hole. I know some companies have golf outings and business associates may get together but I only see it as a relationship building opportunity. For me golf is an escape away from business.

Now it could be different for big businesses but in small to medium businesses, I do not see it.

I am escaping in mid July! Planning my golf trip now deciding either to go to Michigan or Tennessee.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Valle on June 10, 2009 at 9:26am

As a small business owner in today's environment, it's hard to find the time to spend on the golf course. Not only do you need to carve out time to play a round, but you also need to spend at least a little time on learning the game. There's nothing worse than taking a customer out on the golf course only to find that she is WAY better than you are. Matching a very poor player with a decent player can greatly diminish the experience for the decent player.

Just my two cents.

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Permalink Reply by Randy Ballinger on June 10, 2009 at 1:40pm

Business on course is just different than was once thought of. As Chris said, you won't see a merger happen on the course today, however as Chris also said golf is a great way to evaluate a person you might want to do business with. Golf is a game of integrity, honor and competition, all necessary traits to evaluate when hiring or negotiating with someone. Business on course is just different. I see many companies that used to host large outings finding that smaller, more frequent outings are more successful; again it is a matter of target marketing. The other thing I see happening is using golf or range parties as a way to foster team building. Range parties are often effective to bring non-golfers into the team. It is all about customer/staff appreciation. My strategy this year as a course owner has been to build relationships with local businesses by finding what is good for them and delivering that product at a price they want to pay without giving it away. If I can make a business look good, it will come back to me 10 fold.

In short, business on course is alive and well; it is just taking a different form that is a little more transparent as I think most of you would see as a good thing especially if you are paying the ticket!

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Permalink Reply by Greg Blunk on June 10, 2009 at 2:02pm

Golf and business are a great marriage. I'm not sure it's being seen as a way to close business like it used to be, but it's still a great way to build relationships. You have someone as a captive audience for 4+ hours. That's more time than you'll likely spend talking to them in one day than you will do in a month on the telephone, doing conference calls, buying dinners, etc.

Golfing with someone can tell you about their character and how they do business. Do they follow the rules? Do they fudge their scores? How do they handle themselves when things are going well? How about when things aren't going well? You can find out a lot if you just pay attention.

Unfortunately I see a lot less business golf being played. The economy is a factor. But the main factor is time. We just don't have the free time that we used to have. Speaking of time....I have to take a call. I'll try to write more later.

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Permalink Reply by David Mark on June 10, 2009 at 4:50pm

Oh the cliche of golf and business. It sounds awesome doesn't it? The sound of it wears me out. Forgive me here, I'm typically upbeat, positive and optimistc to a fault. Let's get something straight. I LOVE golf. I LOVE business. Golf + Business = 6 hours of wasteful spending. I'll admit I had more than my fair share of golf and business over the years and perhaps it broke me down, or just $ broke me! ;)

I used to be in an industry where golf and "business" were commonplace and perhaps expected. Correction: It was expected!We golfed 3-4x/week, drank ALOT of beer, smoked cigars until our tongues turned into leather, told dirty jokes that weren't that funny (yet still laughed), we gambled, we shmoozed, we hazed, we sang, we danced, blah, blah, blah...

I golf for FUN now. I'm much more relaxed and I enjoy myself. No business, just pure fun (even when I'm shanking, duffing, hacking, topping and hooking the damn ball!). I may take a client out golfing AFTER we're doing business, but NEVER before. We'll still have fun (minus the singing and dancing! OK, may some singing and fist pumping), but without the concern of earning their business. We can just be friends who happen to golf and share a business interest.

In six hours I will call 12 prospects, speak to 11, close 10, visit 9 existing clients, call 8 clients on the phone, drop 7 emails, 6 tweets, give 5 referrals, take 4 referrals, write 3 thank you cards, go back for seconds and just for craps and giggles, I'll sit in that damn pear tree chilaxin' with a frosty one with or without the partridge present.

Moral to the story: I'd rather show you my relevant brilliance and how, what and why this applies to your success. Unless you need golf lessons and I'm a golf instructor, or Tiger Woods, I'm sticking to using what I know best to earn your business. Kapeesh?

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Permalink Reply by Chris Theisen on August 10, 2009 at 10:24pm

While David makes a great point about the value of your time I have gained alot of inroads in places I may not have otherwise due to golf. I used to be a golf professional and have gained alot of contacts, clients and friends in high places all because I can hit a golf ball fairly well. At the same time I rarely talk actual business on the golf course. Most of the time people enjoy the fact that they get to play golf without their partners bugging them about business. Rest assured I throw in a few comments here or there and then use the golf friendship to extend into the business world. Golf is a tool for business but one that is being used less and less as our time becomes more and more valuable, just dont overlook it completely. FYI I'm not opposed to trade a golf lesson or a few long scramble drives in exchange for some business or contacts ;)

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Permalink Reply by David A Wachtel on August 11, 2009 at 6:26am

Not only have I used golf for my business, but I have connected people via golf to do business with each other.

Several people made comments about learning about people's integrity and behavior on the golf course, since it is a game of integrity. That is spot on. I've walked away from business because I've watched people I thought I knew turn into raving lunatics while golfing. I need to do business with people that have integrity. I don't need to do business with people that cannot control themselves when having fun. What happens when it really matters?

It's also important to not embarrass your guest, prospect, whatever...I always allow my group to determine the tee from which to play, help them with the course, yardages, etc. If they want to play some "games", I try to make sure that we are evenly matched so that it's competitive, yet fun, and no one has to explain whey they lost $500 bucks golfing. But most of the time I set it up so that it's a drink afterward to pay off and it stays fun.

I maintain a club membership to use to take people with whom I'd like to know better and eventually do business with...or help them meet new friends that might turn into customers. I am not "closing deals", but I am developing new relationships, strengthening existing ones, and helping other people connect with each other, all while having a good time. And at my club, I can get a foursome around in about 3.5 hours. Lunch, golf, and you are home for dinner.

BTW...we all agree to one thing before we start:

NO cell phones on. Everybody loves it.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Gibbs on August 11, 2009 at 8:41pm

Yes, with the right people. It is a very thoughtful game and is great for business that needs to be well thought through.
Just make sure you avoid the traps!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Morgan - Video Production on August 12, 2009 at 4:46am

(Oh - and - I grew up on the Golf Course in my backyard...)

Well, I know that my Dad did when he was building his firm (1970's, 1980's) - and I think the "main" reason that "entertaining" is so successful at landing business is that the participants focus on the experience of being together (the fun) - they get to develop friendships - what I would say is a fundamental builder of "trust" - (credibility & trust) - thus life long clients rather than "one time closes" - ha. Brian Morgan.

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