Home Goals Do I really have to learn how to play golf in business?
May 12, 2007 9 Comments

Do I really have to learn how to play golf in business?

I received one of the most dreaded calls yesterday. A call to network that I could not fulfil.

“Hey Patrick. Thanks for exchanging cards and emails with me the other day. I am calling see if you’d like to come out with a group of us for a golf charity tournament?”

I hemmed and hawed but the end result was I could not do it. My best golfing tool is a baseball bat.

My wife had pointed out at least a decade ago that this was a skill I needed. “A good chunk of business gets done on the golf course” she said. And I have put it off and put it off.

Now that my business circle is expanding rapidly I am curious if it may be time to invest in lessons.

What do you think?

Filed Under: Goals
About Patrick Allmond

Patrick Allmond is the owner of the popular growing community at StopDoingNothing.com and the StopDoingNothing Facebook Page. He is also a decent speaker, and has been running Focus Consulting for over 15 years. You'll also find him active as the Social Media contributor to Fox TV and several other TV stations in Oklahoma City.

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  • http://www.youropenhouse.us Ryan Hukill

    Patrick, let me tell you, this is one I’ve struggled with myself. When I head out for a round of golf, it’s more like landscaping than it is a sport. Yes, it’s THAT bad! I’ve been kicking around the idea of taking lessons also, so if you want a partner to take it on with, let me know. I’ll be happy to join up.

  • patrick

    Now THAT is funny Ryan. I’ll keep you in mind. I’ll try to hit (pun intended) a driving range here pretty soon. Then we can compare divet sizes.

  • http://www.kevindeshazo.me kevin

    Absolutely. Just don’t take lessons from me (or apparently Hukill!)

  • http://www.historicokc.com Tracy Walton

    Honestly, I think you should take up golf only if it’s something you think you might enjoy. There are plenty of other opportunities to network. To get anywhere near passable at golf requires a huge investment of time (and it’s not an inexpensive activity.) Most of us are trying to find a way to make a living at something we enjoy, so taking up such a time-intensive new activity for business rather than enjoyment is something I wouldn’t do. That’s my two cents anyway!

  • patrick

    Thanks Kevin and Tracy. I was even considering doing this after work today. But then I looked out the window just now and decided otherwise. It is pouring out there.

    I do keep my clubs and shoes in the car all of the time. You know – just in case there is a golf emergency in the middle of the freeway I don’t ever want to not be prepared for something like that.

    • http://www.historicokc.com Tracy Walton

      Or the zombie apocalypse… :-)

  • patrick

    Hey that could happen. I just say Zombieland 24 hours ago. I am already making up my zombie rules.

  • http://www.jamesmshaffer.com Jim Shaffer

    Well, I could probably only add that I’ve hit more fairways from the driving range than I have from a Tee Box. I was also warned (by parents decades ago) that golf would be a valuable tool. Guess I’ll drag out the clubs.

  • http://www.gwynteatro.wordpress.com Gwyn Teatro

    Hi Patrick ~ I’m with Tracy. If golf is not something that ‘floats your boat” why do it? There have to be other creative ways of making business connections that don’t involve golf clubs. Nor have I ever seen, *the ability to play golf* as a job requirement written anywhere. Life is too short to do things you don’t enjoy. For some reason though, in a lot of businesses and organizations, we have allowed the ability to play golf to become a deciding factor between ‘who’s in’ and ‘who’s out’. Perhaps it’s time to change that.