Golf & The Young Exec

I started golfing when I was 16 years old, and it was the best decision I ever made. Golf taught many life lessons enhanced my character and values. When I graduated from college, I remember going in for interviews looking for a new job to start my post-graduation life. I will never forget the intrigue on the interviewers’ face when we spoke about my golf ability. I’m not saying I got the job because of my golf ability, I certainly hope that wasn’t the reason, but I do believe it set me apart from the others who were qualified.

4 Reasons To Golf If You Want To Get Ahead

1. Stand Out – You will be interviewing for positions with many other qualified individuals and how are you going to set yourself apart? Your golf game can be a great conversation piece for an interview. Many people in business already play and will be happy to talk golf with you all day. Relatable conversation in an interview can help you stand out!
2. Life Lessons – First Tee, a junior golf organization, has a list of 9 core values that they try to instill in all the young players who come through there programs. There nine core values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, judgment. These are not just for junior golfers, if you play golf regularly you will develop these character traits and value. Do you think a hiring manager might be interested in these?
3. Relationship Building & Networking – The golf course is a great place to meet people. When you are on the golf course, you could keep to yourself and not say a word, but that probably won’t last long. Engaging with new people and making new friends and possible business partners or clients seems to happen when you’re in a group of 4 with nowhere else to go. Not playing golf is turning down opportunities to grow yourself as a person and could be holding back your business or career.
4. Closing Deals – I’ve worked at a few golf course both private and public, I’ve also visited many others and one thing constant I see at all of them is business people doing business. Golf is a great platform to take clients where all parties feel vulnerable and create a setting that makes people comfortable. It’s not to “pitchy” and evolves into more of a conversation among friends. If you want to close more deals, there is no better place to do this than the golf course.

To summarize, golf has so much to offer you for your growth as a person, and unlike other sports, you can play for the rest of your life. If you want to become a better person or make yourself more hirable to employers golf might be the answer.