Last Updated on August 4, 2023 by Britt Olizarowicz
One of the top reasons to join a country club is to network with other members of the club. Of course, you can network on the golf course regardless of the type of course you play. However, as a former membership director and golf professional, I can tell you that some golfers have a strong country club networking game. If you want to ramp up your golf networking strategies, here are some of my best tips.
What does effective golf networking look like?
Golfers who know how to network on the golf course look like they are playing an average round of golf. They make it through the first few holes, keeping it all about golf and the course, and the experience.
However, when the situation arises to bring in a little talk about business, experts know how to capitalize. A lot of this comes down to reading your golf partner/guest and knowing the appropriate time. Yes, sometimes that time is the 19th hole.
Even more surprisingly, sometimes that time is two days after completing your round. Here are some basics of what effective golf networking should look like.
The First Impression
Networking on the golf course is considerably easier if you have a good golf game. You don’t need to be a scratch golfer or make a run at the Korn Ferry Tour, but you have to have a good understanding of the game and be able to shoot a respectable round.
Why?
The first impression.
You can be the guy (or girl) out there in cargo shorts, an untucked shirt, and a backward hat. When you step up to hit your first drive, you top it and throw down another one calling it a breakfast ball.
Or, you can be the person in neatly pressed clothes, confident in your look and even more confidence in your ability to stripe one down the center of the fairway.
Which person do you want to do business with?
As a golf professional, I started to learn how important it is to have a good-looking golf swing.
People can’t analyze swings and tell you about wrist action, weight shift, and plane, but they can scope out pretty quickly whether you know what you are doing.
Work on your tee shots, work on choosing the perfect golf outfit, and ultimately master the first impression to improve your golf networking game.
Choose The Same Means of Travel
Let’s say you are trying to have more time to talk to player B while enjoying a round of golf. Choose the same way to get around the course that they do.
If they ride, you ride too in the golf cart. If they walk, you walk too.
This is not so you can hound them about possible business opportunities; it just creates more interaction time and a chance for them to learn more about you and how you act on the golf course.
Try to have a sense of humor when riding in the golf cart with another player. Most people use their golf cart time to decompress after a shot and prepare for the next one; keep it lighthearted.
Building the Relationship Throughout the Round
There is so much to talk about on the golf course. Everything from the speed of the greens to the pin location to a great drive by a player in the group. Don’t pressure the conversation to switch to business; if it’s supposed to happen, it will.
Instead, focus on building the relationship throughout the round. Make a real connection with your playing partners and look for commonalities to bond. Casual conversation is the real catalyst here, and you can keep it going with the game of golf.
Get The Etiiquette Part Dwon
One of the least effective networking strategies on the golf course is to have poor etiquette.
Let’s face it, playing with golfers that are not all that great at the game is not an issue. However, playing with golfers that don’t understand etiquette or pace of play is just plain annoying.
Here are some of the biggest pet peeves golfers have on the course; avoid these at all costs.
- Slow play: you don’t need to take 6 hours, especially if you are going to shoot 95; keep the pace of play moving.
- Talking during another persons swing: stay quiet and let other golfers concentrate; even if the round is laid back, talking is distracting.
- Not raking bunkers: bunkers have to be raked every time you go in one; not raking is terrible etiquette and unfair to other players.
- Cell phone usage: keep your cell phone with you to use as a GPS or strokes gained tracker, but don’t make calls and distract other players.
- Not respecting the course: when a 90 degree cart rule is in place, or the course is cart path only, respect the course rules; it says a lot about who you are as a person.
To Win or to Lose
When I was younger, my dad asked me to play golf with a friend of his. The friend was really more like a business acquaintance, and my father was trying to use him to earn some more work and potentially even a new job.
I played as a 12 year old girl in a group with three men. I played better than all three of them.
The man who my father was trying to network with said, “What is wrong with you? You never taught her anything about political golf and the right thing to do on the golf course.”
The right thing to do, of course, was to let him beat me.
The concept to me at the time was a bit ridiculous, and guess what? More than 20 years later, I still find it completely ridiculous. If the person you are playing golf with cannot handle you playing great golf, do you want to work with them?
Networking on the golf course has everything to do with being who you are, showing what you will be like to work within the business world, and ensuring that the people you play golf with enjoy themselves on the course.
Don’t get involved in a match unless you think it’s the right idea, but certainly don’t throw a match. Be who you are, play your game, and it will work out well in the long run.
For the record, as angry as this man was that a 12 year old girl beat him on the course, he still used my dad for some work related projects, and he followed my golf career closely through the years. It worked out in the end.
Sealing the Deal at the 19th Hole
As I mentioned, sometimes conversations don’t happen until the 19th hole, and that is entirely acceptable. Always choose to stick around for a drink or a snack after the round; it’s a great way to casually get involved in other subjects when people aren’t to focused on their golf games.
Again, if it doesn’t feel right, save the business talk for a follow up call a few days after the round.
Golf networking is not just about having business conversations on the course; it’s about developing relationships, creating common interests, and bonding with other players.
Books To Read
If you want to up your networking game on the golf course, here are a few books that you may want to read to help in the process. I’ve used each of these at one point or another, and I have pulled good information from them.
- The 20-Minute Networking Meeting
- Taking the Work Out of Networking: Your Guide to Making and Keeping Great Connections
- Power Networking For Shy People:: How to Network Like a Pro
Frequently Asked Questions About Effective Golf Networking Strategies
Golf networking strategies will vary based on the type of player and the courses you play. However, there is very little doubt in the fact that networking on the golf course is effective.
How do you network while golfing?
The best way to network while golfing is to keep the conversation casual and centered around golf for the majority of the round. Develop a relationship with the people you are golfing with, and it will turn into opportunities for business and career advancement over time.
Why is golf a networking sport?
Golf is a networking sport because of the amount of time it takes and the proximity of your playing partners. During a tennis match, it’s difficult to have a conversation while someone is across the court from you; during soccer or baseball, when will you stop to talk? Golf is a networking sport because it provides ample opportunities to network.
How many CEOs play golf?
In a recent study, 90 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are golfers. This says a lot about the power of knowing how to golf and knowing how to network on the golf course.
Why do business people love golf?
Business people love golf because they can enjoy a game they love and still have some necessary and often difficult business conversations while out on the course. In addition, golf has always been a sport where it is easy for people with money and success to spend time on the golf course; there is quite a bit of that in the business world!
Final Thoughts
Learning the right golf networking strategies may be all you need to take your career or business to the next level. I highly encourage you to put a little time into your golf game, master that first impression, and ensure you are an expert on golf course etiquette.
Ake a few minutes to read the people in the group and ensure you don’t push the business talk before it’s necessary or appropriate.
