Brooklyn's Progress
October/November 2007

BY TARA LEVIN

Golf and doing business have been synonymous since the game was first played by noblemen and the privileged on the ancient links of Scotland so many years ago.

Legend has it that Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan came to an agreement for Morgan to buy U.S. Steel from Carnegie in 1901 during a round of golf.

The importance of mixing business with golf, not only on the course but also at the “19th Hole,” has become so vital to the success of major corporations that some, including Marriott, IBM and Merrill Lynch, have sent young executives to “business golf’ experts to learn the art of selling themselves, their company, and its products and services to clients while knocking the little white ball around.

Business and Pleasure
Indeed, many major deals are either initiated or culminated on a golf course or in the clubhouse.

Playing golf with a client or potential client is an ideal way to bond with that person. How many opportunities in the everyday business world are you going to have to spend three to five hours with a client in a laid back environment, free for the most part from cell phones and outside intrusions?

A hint: it’s important to understand and appreciate the game in order to maximize your ability to make deals on the course. A firm knowledge of etiquette, i.e. not stepping in someone’s putting line on the greens, not speaking when someone is hitting their ball, congratulating a playing partner on a well-struck shot, and remaining quiet after a bad one, is essential to having yourself viewed in a positive light.

Still, don’t be intimidated by the game! Most playing partners, even those who are good golfers, will not judge you by your playing ability, rather by the way you conduct yourself during a round and make their day a pleasant and memorable one.

The 19th Hole, what non-golfers know as the pub and/or restaurant area of the clubhouse, is another ideal place to conduct business. After a round, clients are relaxed and can more easily be approached. It may also be advisable to try and nail down the big deal or lay the groundwork for the next one prior to a round. Set aside a half hour or hour before the round, order up some coffee and breakfast and get done what you have to get done. Then everyone can go out and enjoy the day. The round will also provide time to work out details in a more casual atmosphere.

More and more women are finding it necessary to learn the art of combining business with golf. The Executive Women’s Golf Association and other women’s golf organizations, including the Ladies Professional Golf Association, offer seminars and events where everything from the rules of golf to how to win a client over on the golf course are examined.

Consequently, more women are playing golf than ever. You’ll be gaining the chance to earn points with clients and bosses in the “big green office” that your male counterparts have been using to further their careers for so long.

Maximize Your Membership
An ideal way to mix business with pleasure is to take advantage of Empire Golf’s Club Max USA corporate package, which allows a business or organization the advantage of valuable one-on-one time with colleagues, clients and vendors.

When a company joins Club Max, it is entitled to an amazingly flexible “One Membership-Many Clubs” policy that allows the holder to play Branton Woods, Hollow Brook and Minisceongo golf clubs in New York, and New Jersey National, Pine Barrens, Pine Hill and Twisted Dune golf clubs in New Jersey, all located a short drive from Brooklyn.

As a bonus, the Links at Madison Green in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. is also included in the Club Max portfolio of quality, high-end private and semi-private clubs.

With the championship level of the Club Max courses, the exceptional food and beverage operations at each club, and outstanding banquet facilities that can accommodate large gatherings, whether business or social in nature.

A few tips for doing business on the golf course: Never bet with a client on a round (you might win!); turn the cell phone off or on vibration; never throw clubs or lose your temper (many CEO’s say they use the golf course to judge the character of their employees and managers); be generous with tips (it shows you appreciate good service); and dress appropriately (good style and taste never hurts!).

For further information about Club Max USA’s corporate membership packages, call Tara Levin at (201) 420-1445 or email her at tlevin@empiregolfmgt.com.