If you have ever been to a professional golf event then you know part of the atmosphere created has to do with business. Even a non-golfer should realize the realities of a professional golf tournaments revolves around business.
However, one of the things both golfers and non-golfer do not realize is that over 90% of the business done at a professional golf tournament is started with the Pro-AM tournament.
I say ‘Started’ because unlike what some people who speak on business golf are saying, the golf is the glue to the business deals that come after the round. Too many business people make the mistake of using a round of golf as a 5 hour sales pitch and if that is your thinking of how to use golf as a business tool then you might just want to go ahead and send that check to the Nigeria Princess who just emailed you from Facebook..you’ll get the same results.
Where Business Meets Golf
The professional golf Pro-Am is at the Top of the food chain when it comes to playing business golf. The biggest reason why this is has to do with the pro event’s set up. Where else are you going to have an atmosphere developed on a grand scale of excitement and with every little detailed covered for the people who play in these events. The answer..nowhere else but a professional golf tournament.
Ladies Professional Golf Association Rocks
Let me drill this down to a more real level of explanation of business golf at a professional golf tournament. This week in Irving Texas the LPGA has launched the North Texas LPGA Shootout. Yes, Irving is also home of the Byron Nelson Classic ,which is a marquee event for the PGA. Fortunately, there is a huge difference in the atmosphere of these two golf events.
Having reported from both the HP Byron Nelson and now the LPGA ShootOut I have to say I am leaning toward the LPGA event as being much more business golf friendly event than the mega PGA tournament. They both have their pros and cons, but it seems the ladies of the LPGA purposefully go out of their way to make sure the business people in their Pro-AM groups have a memorable time. The women professionals do more than just signing off on a few golf balls or shacking hands at the end of the round. Most of them take the time to talk..have a complete conversation..with each player.
Where Business Hits the Road
But, enough said of what goes on during a professional pro-am. What the pro-am and the entire event does to build solid business relationships is in top form at the professional golf event level of business golf. There are also so many places set aside at professional events for people to get away and casually talk. It is in these casual talks where the business relationship is strengthen. The better someone gets to know another the more likely a business deal will eventually be made. Golf tournaments make of excellent ventures to get out of the business environment and into the real world of life.
I strongly suggest if you play golf and are in business you become a sponsor of a professional golf event in your area. It makes for a great place to build business. I can almost guarantee the experience..if done correctly..will pay off in a very short time.
Reporting from the media center at the North Texas LPGA Shootout, let me know how I can help.
(and..no I am not getting paid to say any of this.)
