Comments on: Must I play golf to get ahead?

By: Art Speck Sunderland UK

Art Speck Sunderland UK — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:22:06 +0000

One of your commentors states: It’s foolish to believe that golfing is necessary to advancing your career.
Well, I agree wholeheartedly BUT it sure doesn’t hurt at all does it?
Art Speck
UK

By: Patrick, Dayton Ohio

Patrick, Dayton Ohio — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:37:58 +0000

The fact is you don’t have to play golf. However, when you are on the golf course you build a relationship over a period of hours. Golfing with the executives who are higher up sure does help.

http://www.buildgolfclubs.com

By: Nick, Ann Arbor, MI

Nick, Ann Arbor, MI — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:03:53 +0000

It’s foolish to believe that golfing is necessary to advancing your career. Establishing friendships with your coworkers and bosses will help your career, but golfing is not the only way to make those connections. There is also a lot to be said for doing your job well. Golf because you enjoy it.

By: Bill; Concord, CA

Bill; Concord, CA — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:34:55 +0000

I have learned, over the years, that the actual golf game is secondary – the primary reason is to understand the personality of the golfer.

When you hit a bad shot – and you will – do you swear, scream and break your clubs… or do you laugh and say something about getting some SCUBA gear to recover it from the water trap?

Rest assured that people would much rather deal with the person where it is not a big deal… So, you get to be outside, away from the office, and chat about stuff outside of work. How bad is that?

By: Phil, Portland, Oregon

Phil, Portland, Oregon — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:21:05 +0000

“Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course – the distance between your ears.”

-Bobby Jones

By: Jordan, Columbus, Ohio

Jordan, Columbus, Ohio — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:28:44 +0000

I HATE golf. I refuse to play golf. But lets be realistic. In certain corporate settings golf is a way (certainly not the only way) that people can showcase who they are outside of work situations. I run my own business, so corporate ass kissing is far removed from my world, but I can’t say there isn’t merit to playing golf with the upper management.

At my office, its not golf, but it is important for my employees to show me why they should be promoted or get a raise. Production at work is the biggest factor, but its not the only one.

I want to see people outside of the office. I want to promote people that can problem solve; who work well under pressure; who are willing to try new things- even if they feel uncomfortable (as I do w/ golf). I want to ensure that the promotion or raise goes to somebody that I think will be a custodian of MY beliefs and my business goals. Often you learn more about people outside of the office than in it- and golf is just one venue. I want to make sure that the people in my organization are of the quality to carry my business forward, even after I may be gone.

By: Hispanic Tar Heel, Chapel Hill, NC

Hispanic Tar Heel, Chapel Hill, NC — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:23:02 +0000

In response to New Hispanic Female Golfer in Chapel Hill: naturally one has to do what they can to get ahead. But what I am saying is that the basis of using golf to promote one employee over another is fundamentally wrong IMO.

Let us not forget that but one hundred years ago, white farmers bought and sold slaves as a commodity to “get ahead” and at that time it was legally within the law.

By: Jennifer Munro, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Jennifer Munro, Palm Beach Gardens, FL — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:03:39 +0000

Because I loved golf so much from my first experience, it upset me to see so many people struggle with it so much. So I wrote a mental golf profile called Golf Mind Rx which can help anyone play better by knowing their own motivations and preferences and it also is the foundation for sales and leadership training, making learning fun and much less threatening.

By: Danny, New York,NY

Danny, New York,NY — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:49:34 +0000

In order to be promoted to a managerial position you have to do a lot more then “get the job done”. You need to be able to deal with all different personalities, handle adversity, deal with failure, and have the ability to socialize with people outside of the regular work environment. Golf allows you to see all these qualities in a potential candidate.

If you fail to see this as requirement for upper management you are doomed to being a grunt or stuck in middle management.

For the record, I am not a baby boomer. I am a 31 year old Gen X guy who learned a long time ago, through mentoring, that there is more to succeeding then completing your work in a timely manner.

By: New Hispanic Female Golfer, Chapel Hill, NC

New Hispanic Female Golfer, Chapel Hill, NC — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:05:28 +0000

In general and in particular response to the Hispanic Tarheel: Do what you have to do to get ahead at work (within the law, of course). Women, minorities – just learn how to play golf if it looks like it’s important for your particular career. You can try to change the system and create other work activities and social structures, but in the meantime get in on the existing one. You’re only hurting yourself if you don’t. If you think it’s stupid that you must learn to play golf to get the edge, either change that at your workplace or get out and find another place to work.

By: Kurk, Linstrom, Minnesota

Kurk, Linstrom, Minnesota — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:52:43 +0000

It is too bad that a manager will promote his golf buddy instead of the guy who can do the job best.

By: Karyl, Newark OH

Karyl, Newark OH — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:39:12 +0000

Judge me by my work performance and how I get along with people at the office, not by how firmly I can plant my lips on your behind on the green.

Especially if these little golf outings are done on MY time. Some of us rather like having a life outside of work.

By: Marie, Cambridge MA

Marie, Cambridge MA — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:05:57 +0000

One way to build confidence in private is to use a golf training system such as the iClub (iclub.net). The iClub can be used with a golf professional, and as an input to Microsoft Golf game — making video games good practice for time on the golf course.

By: Andy, Denver, CO

Andy, Denver, CO — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:50:16 +0000

“You’re drinking buddies aren’t your buddies.” A female partner in a CPA firm once told me this and I believe it. I used to play softball, basketball and get beers with the partners in this national firm. We had a comradery in those settings but in times of decision making, it came down to competence as it should.

I like to golf but as far as business promotion goes, do a great job and promote your achievements in the workplace and you’ll get the recognition you deserve or find it elsewhere.

By: Hispanic Tar Heel, Chape Hill, NC

Hispanic Tar Heel, Chape Hill, NC — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 14:10:32 +0000

I am a rising JR at UNC-CH in the KFBS and while there are free golf/business seminars for select students, other (worse) universities might not offer them.

Seems to me like this is just another way for old, conservative, white, males to keep minorities and women from achieving high ranking corporate positions.

How many inner city kids have access to golf courses or can afford the hundreds of dollars for clubs, balls, etc? Just a thought….

By: Richard S, Tampa, FL

Richard S, Tampa, FL — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 14:08:56 +0000

You don’t need to be good at golf to play. And you don’t need to talk business ona golf course. But golf does develop relationships with other people. It is a way for one to see and be seen if you want to get someplace with the people you work with, especially if they like to play golf. It is a place to get away from it all for a few hours and that can be the best relationship builder one can find in a company. If you are playing with a boss you both will learn much about each other and it may be nothing more than a little more respect for each other which can go a long,long way in a persons’s career. I never taked about business on the golf course but I certainly got plenty of business later on. And you can take it to me, I certained was noit very good at playing golf, but I did play the game.

By: Anthony J. Cartner, Mesa, Az.

Anthony J. Cartner, Mesa, Az. — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:07:21 +0000

I think the author of this article hit the nail on the head with the comment about building likeability. I don’t think it’s so much the sport that matters – at my office it is all about bowling – but the relationships and then the inspired level of commitment it brings about. I know there have been many times I have stayed at work or gone the extra mile just because of the fact I would also have to hear it from my boss at the bowling isles.

By: Rachel Sandy, Ut

Rachel Sandy, Ut — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:38:09 +0000

This is just ridiculous, and sad. Why can’t your success at the office be based on the skills, work ethic, and results you achieve there? And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve never heard one health expert suggest that golf was a good way to get exercise…..it’s a great hobby for some, but completely unneccessary as a business ladder climbing tool…..What is our world coming to?

By: George Smith, New York, New York

George Smith, New York, New York — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:51:18 +0000

Need to “save up” for the clubs, resort, pro lessons? http://www.mutualfundstockcondo.com

By: Danny Lloyd, Sydney AU

Danny Lloyd, Sydney AU — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 07:45:26 +0000

To paraphrase Gayle Moss : April 20, 2007 4:56 pm – to be stimulated by a challenging physical pursuit, while forging and enhancing personal and business relationships and interacting with the natural environment, what could be better than that?
I could see how Jeremy in Ontario feels a bit negative, but when you live in sunny Australia it’s not a problem.