Mixing golf and business is common. A perfect match, you might say. However, golfing businessmen should follow particular guidelines otherwise the set up will be disastrous. Golfers have to balance-out their skill of the sport with friendship, deal with the competitive nature of colleagues and react to success and failure with positive sportsmanship, which should be an extension of their personal behaviour in the boardroom.
Aiming to impress may have the opposite effect. Being aggressive may make the game less enjoyable for your partner and golfing when you are not relaxed will stiffen your swing, causing a poor performance. Being angry and bitter in defeat will reveal ugly sides of your personality and may mean your golf partner remembers you for the wrong reasons.
Engaging your golf partner is a challenge. Keeping it casual and personal is the key. Do not keep conversation business-related; instead talk about family, life – anything other than business, for now.
An important thing to remember is not to feel too ashamed of a bad shot. Do not draw attention to it by throwing your club and disturbing the peace of the course. Your partner will probably be more focused on their own game than giving your swing a second thought.
The forum is a brighter place thanks to your posts. Thanks!