Addison, TX February 25, 2012

Innovative Business Golf Group, LLC, is excited to announce Scot Duke’s appointment to the position of Director of Social Media for eGolfGroup.  EGolfGroup, founded by Dave Bisbee in 2006, is currently located in Sedona, AZ and offers the golf industry a powerful combination of independent companies who have distinguished themselves as market leaders and innovators in their respective fields.  Every member of eGolfGroup shares the same passion for facilitating success in business as well as on the golf course.  eGolfGroup offers programs, training and consulting for a wide range of businesses. From executive business golf programs to consulting for private golf club business development to golf instructor management enhancements.

“Scot will be responsible for the day to day operations of eGolfGroup’s social media efforts.  We have been very impressed with Scot’s presence online over the years and feel his direction will help the group get our message out to business golfers, golf instructors and golf facilities,” said Dave Bisbee.

eGolfGroup offers:

The Business Golf Suite®

• For corporate executives and business golfers who expect more from their day on the course, but sense that golf as a meaningful business tool is as challenging as the game’s fundamentals, eGolfGroup is on hand with The Business Golf Suite®
• Business golf is unquestionably about building strong and lasting relationships. But we take it several steps further, our programs reveal how opportunities are lost or simply missed through the lack of sufficient skills to decipher personal signals that emanate from a golf experience.
• Four engaging business-golf applications provide the “missing link” to positioning the game as a fundamental business function. Conducted separately or in a complete seminar package, each training module equips business golfers to manage their on-course activities with specific business objectives in mind; and introduces self-awareness and management practices to improve performance and achieve goals.

Team Links Challenge®

• The golf course provides the perfect venue to challenge a team to pull together. Communication, planning, execution and support are required. Every team member has something to contribute … and golf skills are only part of the success formula.

Essentials Of Business Golf ®

• For men and women intending to utilize golf to its maximum business potential, the “essentials” teach business golfers to manage themselves as “scratch thinkers” in a golf environment. Rules of Golf, etiquette, and basic to advanced golf instruction round out this comprehensive program.

Executive Golfer Boot Camp

• This program can be held in 1 or 2 day sessions. Hosted exclusively by one company for its own management team and/or invited guests. Your own golf school can be a “new and different” way to get better acquainted with people who can influence your company’s sales, profits and continued growth.
• With more than 35 years of experience Dave Bisbee is renowned for his innovative solutions for helping individuals and organizations gain greater benefits and more enjoyment from golf. Many of the nation’s leading corporations and recognized golf schools utilize Bisbee’s Essentials of Golf instruction programs as their platform to improve individual and organizational performance.

“I have worked with Dave for many years now and for me taking the reins of the social media for his flagship organization is a distinctive honor.  Social Media is not understood by most of the golf industry.  Offering insight for what works, and what does not work, for both the online and offline worlds to the struggling golf industry is what will now be a part of eGolfGroup mission which I am very excited to facilitate for the group,” said Scot Duke.

For more information, or for interviews, email dbisbee @ egolfgroup.com or call Dave Bisbee at 602 549-8194

Having been part of the Social Media extravaganza for the HP Byron Nelson Championship I can honestly say it was good to see the golf fans acceptance of our efforts.  However, there seems to be some concern if the PGA Tour is really ready for what Social Media can produce.  For that matter, is the PGA Tour interested in changing its view on how society has changed around them.   After thinking about it for a week, and asking a few pointed questions to a few people at The Nelson, I found there is still some work to be done on the tour’s part if they really are interested in addressing the next generation’s interest in golf.

I spent a week in the media center of the Nelson soaking in all I could on how what is seen and read in the media is produced.  What I found was simply amazing but somewhat strange to say the least.  Here is a breakdown of what I soaked in. I’ll get the bad news out of the way first.

Professional Looking Cameras? HUH!

The reason you did not see very many photographs of things happening at the Nelson on my blogs is due to my professional photographer not being permitted to use her professional DSLR camera.  Why?

Well according to the PGA Tour, my producer’s DSLR Camera was not permitted because it was “Not Professional Looking” .  OK, there was explanation in the media credentials of what was allowed as far as camera equipment. I understand their requirements works well for the traditional media.  In the graphic the PGA representative showed us was a Old Styled 35mm Film SLR with a very large 500mm zoom lens on one side of the poster and a cellphone with a camera with a huge X thru it on the other side.  We made it clear we had neither of them but a more modern version of the new (very expensive) Digital handhelds with the built in digital zoom and wide angle lens.  I will say the PGA representative was impressed and remarked he had never seen one of them before…but was not deterred to make an exception to their policy.

Yes, there was a lengthy debate which our position was we were there to promote the businesses and sponsors who supported the PGA event. We made it very clear we would ONLY be taking photos in the Hospitality Suites where a Huge Camera would not be appropriate and taking photos way outside the ropes of people who where there for the business golf.  There position was based on the written rules they provided which was it.  So, as a result, we were not able to provide photos for our blog which would have been our way of helping shed a more positive light on the business supporters of the PGA Tour events.

Does the PGA need to change their rules? More than likely.  Do they need to accept social mediaist? Probably.  Do they need to modernize their overall look at who is helping them bring more value to their event? Defiantly.  Will this blog be read by anyone who can make a difference?  Hopefully, but probably not.

Twitter Envy

It is nothing new for people who do not understand Twitter to write it off as a waste of time.  However, when one of the TV media members who was viewing the Twitter feed being produced for the HP Byron Nelson on his Smartphone remarks loud enough so all the social mediaist in the media center could hear that the Twitter feed across the viewing screens on the course was a waste of time could it be it was because the attention of the viewers towards the Twitter feed took away from the TV viewing? 

The attitude amongst most of the traditional media at the Nelson did not seem to be real supportive of the social media efforts being made by a group of seasoned veterans of Golf online.  Is it because they feel if they ignore social media it will go away?  Maybe  Is social media a threat to traditional media? Probably  Will other PGA events use social media to promote the event and entertain the viewers? Only time will tell.

A New Social Awaking

The good news is out of the full seven days of social media efforts I could see first hand an increase in the number of people interested in what I do professionally.  I saw my Facebook Friends requests and Page ‘Likes’ go up over 20%.  I saw my Twitter following go up by 40% though I will have to quantify that with saying 95% of the increase was by people, places and things that have not got a clue how to use Twitter.  I saw my social media stock across the board go up 25% all during the week I was blogging, Twitting and updating my social spaces. 

I would take from what I experienced in improving my online social influence this would be what a business who uses social media effectively would experience.  The keyword in this statement is ‘effectively’.  Setting up a Facebook Page and having no reaction and developing a sterile, non-responsive, Twitter account is not ‘Effective’ Social media.

Should more of the traditional media use a more grassroots style of online social  networking instead of the high dollar journalist to post their wordsmithed thesis in their blogs? It would be a good idea.  Should more of the powers-to-be for Golf look at balancing their marketing with more natural online social networking?  They most likely should.

Still a Long Road Ahead

Change is not an each thing to do for an institution steeped in history over 400 years old.  However, in this case, change in how Golf communicates to the public, participants and fans has got to be made.  If not, PGA Tour events like the HP Byron Nelson will soon be fond  memories for many, if they are not already.

The world of golf, the business and people who are driving it, still have a long road to travel to bring golf back to its rightful place as a sport for everyone and for a lifetime.  Here is to hoping they ‘get it’ and make the change quickly.  Let me know how I can help.

There comes a time in each golfer’s journey to learning how to play golf where they will ask themselves..sometimes several times a day..why am I playing this game?  I know I have asked that question, I have been on the tee where my partner has verbalized the questions and now I am getting emails saying…I am quitting golf because I am not sure why I am playing golf.

Why Do you Play Golf

As I mentioned, this is in every golfer’s mind.  If it has not gotten to you it will and you should be prepared to answer the question when it hits you.  Every one has a different reason for playing.  For most, golf offers them a challenge they cannot get from any other activity.  For others they play golf for the adventure golf presents.  Still, even others play golf because it is in their blood to play golf.

Yet, there are a few golfers who started out playing because of the challenge, who experienced the adventure and have golf in their blood, but they still ask..why am I playing this game?  However, this time they will add to the question…what is the purpose of playing this game?

The answer to the question concerning the purpose of playing golf is not as easy to answer as the ‘Why’ someone plays golf question. The term ‘purpose’ indicates a more rational or logical reason for playing golf is needed.  This question, concerning needing a purpose of playing golf, is not new.  It comes around every time there are outside pressures to playing golf, like the poor economy, peer pressure or waning popularity of the public towards playing golf.   Unfortunately, the golf industry deals with this question far to lightly and will write it off as something that is part of doing business.  Seems when the ‘purpose needed to play golf’ issue comes up the Golf industry just shrugs and says, ‘I’m sorry’.

It is clear, once a golfer starts asking themselves..and others..what is the purpose of playing golf they are getting to the verge of quitting golf. To many there just is no justification to playing golf that satisfies their concern.  This is one of the unfortunate phenomena’s occurring in the golf industry today.  Fortunately, there is another answer to the question the golfers who need a purpose probably have not heard or if they did maybe needs to be revisited to highlight the alternatives to consider.

The Real Question

The real question golfers on the verge for quitting golf should ask is..How can I get golf to work for me.  The answer to this question offers the purpose so many golfers feel they need to continue to play golf.  The answer is..business golf.  Unfortunately, when golfers hear the answer..business golf..they shrug off the solution or feel strongly they know what business golf is all about.  To most golfers the term business golf means a six hour sales pitch, which they do not want to be part of and neither does anyone else.

This reaction to business golf as being something of no interest due to it implying to something that is to them a waste of time is another natural reaction. This reaction comes from most golfers not completely understand what business golf offers. 

Many golfers who feel they understand business golf base their knowledge on an experience which usually was not good.  They either were on the end of an all day parade of being pitched a futile deal or where the person pitching all day to no avail.  Both incidences are common and are part of the worst experience anyone can have on a golf course…and is not business golf.

Lack of Understanding

What most golfers do not understand and have not experienced is the true form of business golf.  Business Golf, in its purest form, has nothing to do with business being talked while on the golf course and everything to do with building trust.  Trust building in business has been long seen as a waste of time and reacted to with remarks like…

“What does trust have to do with making a profit?  Someone does not have to trust another if someone has a product the other needs.  Business is based on selling a product and has nothing to do with trust.”

Obviously, these types of remarks are as old as business and fortunately are ingrained into many of the businesses today attitude toward the consumer. With the onslaught of new technology changing the way business is done today, this way of how business is done is dead.  Business people with the attitude that trust does not matter are in business to go out of business in today’s consumer savvy economy.  Finding out who you can trust and who you cannot is the game being played today which makes playing business golf more prevalent than in any other time of history.

Trust Improves Business

So why aren’t more golfers playing business golf?  The answer is simple..they don’t know how.  Many business people try to, again, adapt the fast pace work place to playing golf.  What they find out quickly is their attempts to hurry up golf..or hurry up their efforts to build trust..just does not work.  Since they can’t force golf to work at the pace they are forced to live they give up golf and go around telling people how much they ‘Hate’ golf. Trying to force golf to be something it is not is one of the major reasons more people do not play golf..even recreationally.

Trust building is now the core of a business’ mission and it is more than taking someone else’s word that someone else is trustworthy.  The consumer…or the business person..today demands to find out for themselves if the person they are going to do business with is someone they can trust.  This cannot be done in a few minutes or in one hour.  Trust is developed over time and the more time spent the more trust can be developed.  This again plays well into how business golf can build trust that equates, in today’s economy, to developing solid business relationships.

So can golf work for you?  The short answer is Yes.  The solution to many problems in life and business can be found during the journey to learning how to play golf. Learning how to play business golf adds another dimension and greater depth to why you play golf.  Where do you go to learn to play business golf?   Well, you are reading this blog on a site catered to business golfers and that offers a number of programs and golf schools that fit every need conceived you would have towards teaching you, and your entire business, how to use golf as a business tool.

Take the jump to finding a greater purpose to playing golf.  Learn to play business golf and you will have all the bases covered for a lifetime of fun and profitable business endeavors.  Let me know how I can help.

February 14, 2011- Addison, Tx. Innovative Business Golf Solutions announces the launch of the New Mr Business Golf site at the url http://www.mrbusinessgolf.com. 

Now there is a place for golfers, business people, business golfers, golf instructors and golf faculties…along with anyone else in the golf industry..to learn more about what really is going on around the world of Business Golf.

Business Golf has been around since Golf started.  It is no surprise to golfers how impacting a round of Golf can be to building business relationships.  Unfortunately, about every 50 years or so, the economy moves people to feel Golf is a frivolous endeavor and has no business applications.  This attitude results in a down turn in the interest of playing Golf by business people who stand to benefit from golf the most.

The new Mr BG site will continue to publish the blogs written by the Mr Business Golf creator, Scot Duke .  The Mr Business Golf site will focus  improving the image of Golf by offering information on the advantages business golf presents to business.  Blogs, Vlogs and guest interviews, produced on the ClamBake Cafe site ,all will be featured on the Mr BG blog.

“Dave Bisbee and I are taking Business Golf to the next level”, said Scot Duke, CEO of Innovative Business Golf Solutions, and author of the Mr Business Golf blog.  He continues, “There has always been some a general misunderstanding amongst of business community of business golf being a term associated to a 6 hour sales pitch on the golf course.  The Mr BG site will be dedicated to changing that attitude and present to viewers exactly what business golf can do for business.”

A number of services will be offered viewers who are looking to learn golf, expand their business golf knowledge or are looking for effective ways to improve business while improving their golf game.

More than a Game

In order for golf to survive, the business world has to survive.  The Mr Business Golf site will from time to time feature articles on the latest in business trends and operationally sound processes developed to help businesses improve.  Several subjects will be featured on the Mr BG site including Social Media for Golf and Business Golf Essentials.  Announcements will be made on golf schools, seminars, conferences and other gathers of golfers.

As far as social media for the golf industry…well, buckle up your seat belt, the Mr Business Golf site will be offering insights to the REAL way to use social networking to improve business.

Mr Duke reports..” Separating the Mr Business Golf site from my personal blog will allow me to focus the site to better helping Golf.  The new site will be a place business people can come find real information on how to use golf as a business tool.”

All this and more will be on the New Mr Business Golf site.  For more information contact Scot Duke through this site.

Addison, Tx – January 14, 2011

Innovative Business Golf Solutions, LLC, (IBGS) announced today the launch of the Business Golf Advisory Group.

The Business Golf Advisory Group, (BGAG) is a strategy and solution advisory group of executives and golf business luminaries who know the consumer driven golf market intimately. The BGAG helps golf companies, country clubs and golf professionals who aspire to be successful, want to re-address achieving their potential and in so doing maximize their business’ value.

The BGAG indentifies underperforming and undervalued assets of a business’s operations then offers real solutions for the reconstruction of the business model and organization which delivers value to shareholders.

“Over the past several years ago I have seen a large number of golf businesses and golf executives struggling to understand their rapidly changing market.  Over those same years I developed a number of relationships, in and out of golf, with business people who see clearly where many golf businesses, country clubs, golf facilities and golf professionals should change in their business operations to meet these challenges.  I created the BGAG in hopes many of these golf business people will bring their business plan so we can offer sound advice on what needs to be changed and where those changes need to be made to meet their goals.”, said Scot Duke, CEO of Innovative Business Golf Solutions.

The BGAG is a new breed of Business Development Company combining years of experience in a broad base of industries, relationship-building, networking, and proven achievements.  The BGAG offers a complete line of operationally sound approaches to business development and marketing.

“The golf industry is in need of learning how others see them in their market.  The BGAG offers golf business owners and executives an opportunity to hear how the golf consumer, the potential country club member or prospective golf student view them, their product or service in order to improve their business.”, said Mark Neace, Owner of Keyimage Media Solutions and President of The Caddie Club.

Recognizing the effects of economic pressures in in the golf industry for that past recent years, the BGAG’s was formed to meet the growing need for advanced business development support for golf businesses.

Anticipating these needs, the BGAG established a strategic, tight-knit organization of business people capable of assisting golf businesses in finding new and more productive directions.

“ As private clubs and public access courses endure yet another year of financial uncertainty it will be the operators who not only think “outside the box” but build completely new boxes that will survive. Innovating new ways to engage the golf consumer, creating unique networks to share ideas and look for solutions, forming a community that shares in the common goal of keeping the game relevant during challenging times, those are the operators who will survive then thrive in the new golf economy.” Dave Bisbee President of eGolfGroup.

BGAG’s focus on finding ways for golf businesses to develop stronger ways of growing business through incorporating sound operations and business plan strategies as the way a company does business.

BGAG’s goal is to help businesses gain a better understanding of their challenges facing their business in these changing times. Developing a better solid business plan will allow businesses to move quickly, nimbly and effectively through their dynamic marketplace.

The BGAG will focus on the golf industry but is able to help any business who needs an outsiders look at their issues.

How it is done:

A business owner or executive brings their business’ challenges to BGAG for review. The BGAG review panel listens to all concerns and aspects the business owner has towards meeting the challenges. Each member of the BGAG review panel will provide feedback and, as a team, offer solutions and direction on solving the business’ issues.

“We want to bring in the new year with offering golf businesses somewhere they can go to and get straight honest input to what they need to do to survive in the golf business world”, added Mr Duke.

“The future is brighter for those golf business owners who reach out to learn the direction they should take”, said Mr Neace.

The BGAG offers:

• Key Personal Compatibility Evaluations
• Operations and Sales Management Consulting
• Social Media Strategies
• Broadcast Media Production and Consulting
• Sports Industry Marketing
• Business Development Strategy
• Digital Strategies and Marketing

The BGAG web-site is at http://www.bgag.com More information can be obtained through the Contact Page of the BGAG website.

The ClamBake Cafe has really taken off.  As the media outreach arm of the Business Golf Country Club one of its primary functions is to work for the members of the Business Golf Country Club as a vehicle to bring attention to who they are and what they do to the market using Social Media tools.  The CBC features the Video Chat as a way to offer the greatest impact.

Why Video Chats?

As most consumes and business people know, Trust plays a huge part in what is required to do business today.  If trust is not demonstrated or earned then business will never be done.  The Video Chats show people there is a Real Person involved with the business and someone they could talk to.  The interviews provide an opportunity to outline what business the person is in or what the business the person works for offers to the market.

How to Be Considered for the Chat

First, you have to be a member of the Business Golf Country Club.  Then once you are a member you can ask to be interviewed.  We do ask for you to be patient since it will take a while to do 10 minutes recorded interviews with over 640 members.   Send your request to Scot Duke through the BGCC.

More is coming for the ClamBake Cafe..so stay tuned.  Advertising space is available on the CBC Site.  Information on being a sponsor can be obtained my contacting Scot Duke.

I see it every time I attend a business networking function.   There are more people who was laid off or decided it was time to find another job.  A college graduate eager to find their place in the business world.  A retiree who decided to pass on their vast business experience.  All hit the business networking groups and have NOT a clue what to expect or do. 

This makes it tough getting started.   Everyone who is in business has experience the feeling of awkwardness when they attend their first gathering of other business people.  Sometimes dealing with un-hosted gatherings or gatherings where there is not anyone or leader who makes an effort to meet everyone at the door, it can be a daunting experience.

Though I now do most of my business networking after a round of golf, I do get out to different groups from time to time to see what is happening in other markets and to LEARN new things..yes, even I can learn a thing or two.

My mission has always been to do what I can to help people do a better job in developing business and in an effort to help those here online who need to get offline to survive, here are 21 tips to use when attending a business networking function.

1. Carry a pocket full of Business Cards.
2. Bring everything required to leave a great impression.
3. Be positive and volunteer in talks, but don’t over talk.
4. Ask open-ended questions when discussing an issue.
5. Be as much of a listener as a talker.
6. Be approachable.
7. Visit as many groups of interest as possible.
8. When joining a group commit to help the group grow
9. Make your first impression the best impression.
10. Understand the law of successful giving and thankful receiving.
11. Think about perfecting your handshake.
12. The goal is in developing relationships.
13. Attempt to be at the right place and at right time.
14. Follow up quickly and efficiently.
15. Cultivate an endless referral network
16. Aim to highlight what you do for your business
17. Become someone others come to for knowledge on a subject.
18. Never miss a scheduled meeting or introduction.
19. Put the person you are talking to first and You second
20. Make sure to collect cards from all contacts made.
21. Never miss a networking event.

I know there are more and when I come up with them I will let you know.  This should get you started on a sound foot so Get Out there and build solid business relationships.  It more than likely will pay off more than a Facebook Fan Page.

Let me know how I can help.

So where are Private Golf Clubs and Private Country Clubs going?  The first reaction to this question would be they are going the way of the Pet Rock. Being a member of a private golf club was something that was fun while it lasted but you really can’t figure out what to do with it now that the fantasy has worn off and rationalize the costs for the membership.

Yaw, OK, that was a crappy analogy, but it gave me an opportunity to think about this stupid Pet Rock that is sitting on my desk that I paid like $25 for 20 years ago.

Memberships at private country clubs and golf clubs is not stupid.  For many it is a much cheaper alternative to playing daily fee golf.  But still, the price tag is high and many people are going to question….

“are private club membership fees a valid household expense”

Jim Dunlop, has an interesting article in Golf Inc Magazine on Private Club Survival Strategies .  What made the article on this very important issue a bit more intriguing is how they buried it at the end of the magazine.  Nonetheless, there were some interesting and potential solutions to keeping the mainstay of quality golf going.

Here are some interesting stats:

Source: National Golf Foundation: “The Future of Private Golf Clubs in America”

Solutions:

The issue here is costs and what is driving the pricing private golf clubs are pushing out to potential and current members.  It seems the mission for some private golf club environments I have been associated with over the years was to charge the members for the ‘Air” they were breathing while they were at the club.  Now, it seems the smarter thing to do is charge for what a member actually uses.  If they use the facility for golf..then just charge them for golf..if they use the entire facility for everything..then charge them for the full service.  Smart move, but falls short of what else can be done to cut costs.

I liked the suggestion of taking wasted portions of a golf course and make it into something usable like small Par 3 executive courses or some sort of short courses for the juniors and spouses to use if they find the full scale course to challenging. 

I like the marketing to the member’s interest instead of the marketing to the open market approach.  Still, more clubs need to look close to home for potential revenue instead of trying to offer members who live miles away from the club offers that even if they was FREE they would think twice about taking the time to use.

There were some good suggestions made in this article.  However, there is still room for improving the viability of being a private golf club member.  One of the statistics above was, to me, shocking to a point…”For Business/Networking”.  Could it be that the percentage of usage of the private golf club for business purposes by members is low because the members, nor the club management, know how to use golf as a business tool or promote the use of the club as a business tool?  Hummmm, I wonder who could help them out there?

The show on this issue has just begun.  There will be more thoughts given to what can be done and there will hopefully be the meeting of minds in some kind of summit of people to hammer out what needs to be done in the Private Golf Club and Country Club arena to keep this very important part of the golf economy going.

I’ll be back to report on other finding I make and provide my thoughts on what else can be done to save golf.  Until then, Let me know how I can help.

For the past few weeks many of the people I meet ask…

So, where is golf heading?

Since most of the content of the conversations I am having recently are concerning the economy I am getting this questions asked of me a lot. Many golfers, country club members and golf professionals are looking for the answer to this question also…so am I.

Mark Frost’s article in the Wall Street Journal did an excellent job of outlining the history of golf and where Business Golf was originated.

Golf’s Crash Course in Humility

Its legacy as an indulgence for the wealthy is back in play. How did that happen?

By MARK FROST

Golf Journal – WSJ.com

Since the last economic slowdown of golf in the 1970′s and with the recent emergence of Tiger Woods, business golf has taken on a different form than what history has prescribed it to be in the past. With the deluge beginning in the early 90′s of millions of small businesses hitting the world’s business stage more business people are using golf as part of their business than ever in the history golf. Now what has to take place is for today’s business golfer to find more effective ways to use golf as part of doing business.

Mr Foster mentions…

Corporations will no longer have the same discretionary funds to express their affection for golf. The image of the game itself has taken a hit from these cautionary tales of executive excess. The number of amateur golfers has flat-lined and with an injured Tiger on the sidelines, so have TV ratings. …..

And I totally agree with him when he completes this thought by saying..

… A path forward can be found in the recent victory of the U.S. Ryder Cup team; a group of untested kids and seasoned veterans putting their egos aside, and playing their guts out for nothing but pride. Captain Paul Azinger borrowed a page from the Scots, who still play golf the way they’ve always done on their local, minimal masterpiece tracks. Their game, taken to heart, teaches discipline, equilibrium, modesty, moral rectitude and the lesson that any player forgets at their peril: Golf, like life, is a humbling game.

The image of golf has changed to include the everyday small business person. There are millions of “Joe or Jane the Plumbers” out on the golf course meeting people and letting people meet him or her. These same people are also members of country clubs and golf clubs around the world. And yes, unfortunately, there are those bastions of facilities hanging on to the ‘class distinctions’ that was established hundreds of years ago. The good news is, the weight of the number of today’s New Business Golfers is going to force many of these stuffy golf facilities to embrace these new business thinking golfers.

There is still good in golf and their is still extreme value in business golf if you know how to play it correctly. Golf is going to go through some rough times over the next year or so. If you love golf then every golfer needs to do their part to supporting golf as much as they can…business golf is something to consider.

Let me know how I can help.

Every once in awhile I get someone who, because of their position in world of business or society, wrangles with me on the worthiness of golf being used for anything other than a frilly game. Admittedly, golf can be whatever a person wants it to be, however, many of these top level misinformed business people take an adversarial attitude against golf. It generally only takes asking them two questions to find their attitude is based on something other than fact.

Statistically, six out of ten business executives today play golf regularly. That number has grown in the past five years and according to the studies I have done within the past three years shows golf being played by seven out of ten business people.

So, there is usually three or four people out of ten people I speak with who take a rather dim view of golf as being much more than a incredible waste of time. Unfortunately, these people hold a position of control in their company and their attitude towards golf suppresses a huge group of men and women who do play golf avidly and work for them or are customers of their business.

Generally, the anti-golf executives I meet will hammer golf’s image in business based on what they have read or heard about recently on a Fortune 100 company’s abuse of their business’ funds by taking congressmen out for expensive rounds of golf. True, there are those over zealous corporate executives who take pleasure in spending stockholders funds on expensive golf excursions. These few incidents makes my job a challenge. However, on the most part, these occurrences represent a microscopic percentage of how golf is really used in business.

Many business people I talk to see golf as not being something they interested in using for developing business, but when I drill down to find out what they do use for their clients’, employees’ and vendors’ gatherings I find they will spend thousands of the company’s funds on other activities that take up the same amount of time as a round of business golf and receive less of a return on developing business.

During a recent gathering I was invited to attend, I spent a hour of my time visiting with a gentleman who was quiet giddy about inviting his clients to his quarterly afternoon brunch and two hour lecture on bird watching. Another executive I visited with uses yachting for his client appreciation gathering. Of course, with the crowd I some times run in, there are the few who host a night at the Opera for their business’ gatherings. And, OH, yes, living here in Dallas, there is no getting around running into those executives who want spend the time or money on golf but will quickly fork over millions on a suite at the new Dallas Cowboy Football stadium or Mavericks American Airline Center.

Participation Factor

What I find interesting is the customer participation or interest levels towards those activities these business people sponsor. When I ask them..

Out of all of the customers you invite to your customer appreciation or business gathering function, what is the acceptance or attendance level from the total number invited?

Reality Check

Here is where the conversation I have with these business people sometimes turns to them clinching their jaw. It seems, on average from the people I have visited with over the past three years, their non-golf activities have about a 30% to 40% attending from the total number invited. When I point out that the golf functions, golf tournaments, or one-one golf outings, I have have been involved with over the past 15 years have a 75% to 80% attendance factor the conversation changes to a…”Oh, Really?” moment.

Granted, I have not set up a controlled test to see out of the same list of invitees who prefers golf over bird watching, but I can extrapolate from my experience of being invited to both of these type of functions which I would prefer, and I am in the 60% of business people who play golf. I would say that would make golf better than a 60% bet for increased attendance.

Of course there have been the few executive who quickly caught on to where I was going with my questioning and politely excused themselves to go freshen up their Shirley Temple to keep from them having to admit that their activities usually are driven by their personal interests. Again, I concede to the fact that my use of golf as a business tool is based on my personal interest. However, my interest in business golf is back up with several years of using other activities to create a good opportunity to get to know who it is I am working for or doing business with.

What Works and Doesn’t

I have used everything from Bass Tournaments to Cooking Schools as activities to gathering people together in an attempt to get to know them better or as a business development activity. I can factually confirm none of them worked as well and is as complete in finding out the real person you are dealing with in business, than playing a round of golf with them. I will not argue the fact that personal interest is what floats many people’s boat and drives what activities are used in a business. I encourage business people to use what ever activity that interests them to bring their customers, employees and vendors together. In today’s economy I highly recommend every business consider doing something to gather their stakeholders in their business together to get to know them better.

I also recommend every business look for ways to find out who the person is they are doing business with. Trust is going to be a huge factor going forward in today’s business world and trust is a two way street in business. If you trust the person who comes to your bird watching just for the drinks, then go for it.

BOTTOMLINE:

Don’t wave off things you do not understand as being worthless or trivial. Business people need to take their blinders off and start looking around for things to use to build business while keeping the business they have spent years building. To survive in the economy that is developing today businesses of all sizes, in all industries, need to get back to the basics of doing business. Get to know who it is you are doing business with and you will discover their needs and wants. Once you have that valuable information doing business with them should be that much easier to do.

Don’t discount the value of golf because you do not understand golf or have a misperception of what golf really is about. Golf is more than a game or a sport, it is a tool to use to get to a person’s true self and this cannot be experienced or understood by watching golf being played or listening to someone else who does not understand golf describe it. Try golf out either by learning to play or hiring someone to produce a business golf outing for you.

Learn how to play Business Golf then determine if it works for you or not. Either way, after learning what golf is about I am certain you will then understand why so many business people are playing golf. Golf is good for business and is one of the best investments a business can make towards developing new business and keeping the business you have.

Let me know how I can help