Two of my passions in life are sales and golf, so why not mix business with pleasure? Those of you who are golf fanatics and business men (and women), and you know who you are, probably already know and understand the subtle nuances that the game of golf has in common with the sales process.

The first obvious advantage of taking business associates, customers and prospects on a golf outing is that you can have a captive audience for the 4-5 hours, not including downing a few cold ones in the club house after the round. There is no more acceptable excuse in the business world for spending that amount of time together with your customers than a round of golf. More and more business people are taking up the game and as the average age of this generation of baby boomers continues age, golf is becoming more and more popular. If you haven’t taken up the game yet, you might consider investing in a few lessons just in case. One of the worse things you can do is invite a big customer or a potential prospect who is a serious golfer on an outing, only to hack it around the course for the next five hours. Slow play is a killer on the golf course and there is no better way to try your partners nerves and the nerves of the group of golfers behind you than to take too much time because you can’t keep the ball on the course.

One of the best things about golf is that it can tell you a lot of things about yourself and your partners. It’s easy to mind your P’s and Q’s at a business luncheon or in an office setting, but in the heat of battle, when your focus is diffused and your guard is down and your competitive juices get flowing, then how do you behave? Add that to the fact that golf can be a very confounding game. It looks like it should be so easy, especially if you watch the professionals on television, but in reality, golf is probably the most frustrating activity that you can endeavor. For one thing, the pros that you see on TV probably hit between 500-1000 golf balls a day, everyday! And that’s just practicing. No wonder they make it look so easy. The average businessman/golfer is lucky if they get to hit 500 golf balls in a year. So the most common golf/business etiquette faux paux is the display of excessive anger. Irregardless of your level of skill of play, you have to keep in mind that you are not a professional golfer, you are a professional businessman. Throwing clubs, cursing, yelling and other forms of excessive anger ruins it for everybody else in your group and sends a signal to that you cannot keep your cool under pressure. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you are here to entertain your customer and make sure that he has a good time. After all, you’re trying to build a relationship and don’t need to come off as an ogre.

Golf is also a game of respect, courtesy, fairness and consideration, in addition to being a competitive forum. The rules of golf involve a lot of informal intricacies that can signal where you fall in the rating scale of all of these aforementioned qualities. For example, one of the common unwritten rules of golf is that once you are on the green getting ready to put, you are not supposed to walk between the hole and the other balls on the green. The ideas is that because the greens are so soft, and putting is so critical to the game, walking on the putting “line” could possibly alter the path of the ball as it travels toward the hole. Even when you know the rules, this is a common mistake that you can make if you are solely focused on your own game. Observing this rule throughout the round tells your golf partners that you are not only focused on your self, but also considerate of others.

Golf is also a game of honor and trust because in most cases, you keep your own score. I say in most cases, because if you are an above average golfer, it’s easy for everyone to keep up with your score because if your ball is always on the fairway, it’s pretty easy for your partners to keep track of you. But if you’re like most of us, you occasionally hit the ball in the rough, or out of everyone’s sight. This gives you an opportunity to “shave” a stroke or two off of your score from time to time, since no one is watching. So if you happen to whiff one while you are in the rough, what difference does it make, right? Well, maybe. After all, it’s only a game. But if you get in the habit of shaving a few strokes from time to time, eventually someone will notice and even though they might not say anything to you directly, you just told them a lot about how you might treat them in a business deal. I mean, if you will cheat when there is little or no money on the line, how can they trust you to treat them fairly on a business deal?

These are just a few examples of the way that golf that can provide you an opportunities for you to either bond or repel your business clients and associates. There are so many things that golf can tell you about yourself and about your associates that they are too numerous to name here. But that is what makes golf such a valuable business tool. So if you haven’t already done so, my advice is to take up the game, take enough lessons so that you don’t slow things up, read the rules and more importantly, have fun. Now you only have to worry about whether or not it's more advantageous to beat your boss or your customers. Either way, golf is a great game and great way to do business, to network and to make it all fun. I gotta run, I have a tee-time in an hour.

By: Hector Cadena
Hector Cadena has been a sales professional for over 25 years and an avid hacker for over 10 years. Hector lives in the beautiful Texas Hill country near Austin Texas and has a personal goal of playing every course within a 50 mile radius of Austin. So far he has played on over 40 courses and counting.

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Amateur golfers, to define them in a nutshell, would be among the more complex breeds of athlete because of the general indistinctness of what they are attempting to do. While many onlookers may not grasp the notion of what it means to pursue this passion through the amateur golf tour circuit, others will knowingly look on with an air of familiarity as to the notion of working up in the world of golf to become, one day, a pro.

Amateur golf tours are a great way for one to develop the skill of golf. First, it's important to note that there is an actual definition of an amateur player according to the United States Golf Association. An amateur player reaches that status first by reaching what is known as golf skill. Golf skill is assessed by a player's success at a competitive level. The level of competition can be local or national; the important aspect is that the player is successful competitively. Once a player has success in competitions and is recognized as having golf skill, this is known as golf reputation. Again, a reputation can only be gained through actual playing and recognition of golf skill. Simply being associated with the game of golf, administering tournaments or being an instructor does not gain a player reputation or skill.

After achieving a level of reputable golf skill and establishing a status, an amateur may become an amateur player. This is a player that does not yet play for money and does not accept money for teaching the sport of golf. An amateur player may not claim to be a pro golfer, either, and may not engage in any action that would credit them in the same fashion as a professional player. Breaking this code of ethics would also include accepting any endorsements from commercial groups, allowing names or likenesses to appear for commercial purposes, or entering into professional agreements with sponsors or agents.

Finally, an amateur player is not allowed to apply for membership to any organization for professional players. Of course, there are exceptions for every rule, and amateur golf is no exception. An amateur player is allowed to apply for an assistant professional player. They are also allowed to enter and play in a tournament or competition that will lead to play in a professional competition. The only difference in play between them and a professional player is that an amateur player must forfeit all rights to any prize monies that they could potentially win.

There are many more rules and exceptions regarding amateur golf play. Basically, the important thing to note is that to become an amateur golfer is a simple task. It is only for those who love the game of golf and are serious in devoting their time to playing the game and improving their game. Becoming an amateur golfer isn't for those who would like to create a career in the field of golf. With the rules of payment and expenses in place such as they are, it would be nearly impossible to create a career in amateur golf. Becoming an amateur golfer is more for a player that has already played competitively in a business or school league and is looking for play on the next level. Whatever the reason a player has for wanting to become an amateur golfer, it would be highly recommended that they become familiar with the rules and regulations set up by the USGA before they take that next step.

By: Joseph Wilson
Joseph Wilson is an avid golfer, who offers excellent golf tips at http://www.golfimprovements.com/index.php. You can find a great source of golf related information from help in choosing the right golf clubs to improving your golf swing.

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There are a ton of great golf locations around the country. One of these is Arizona in the Southwest US. Great climate and an abundance of golf resorts are a great combination. If you are planning a golf vacation in Arizona you might find it difficult to decide where to go because of the abundance of options. There are many quality golf courses in Arizona and we would like to mention a few to help you have a great golf vacation.

If you are going to be in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area you should try the Legacy golf resort. This course, designed by Gary Panks, was the site of the 2000 LPGA Standard Register PING tournament. Once a family ranch, this course was created by keeping as much of the original vegetation as possible. You won't feel like you're in the desert on this course and your family will enjoy all that the resort has to offer. This is a great place to take your family and not feel guilty about your time on the course. In between Phoenix and Tucson is another great resort at the Francisco Grande hotel and golf resort. This course is 7,545 yards long and is an excellent challenge for the serious golfer. It also has an amazing hotel with a number of amenities that your family will be more than happy with. Both of these locations offer an option for the golfer who is trying to relieve that guilt over a golf trip.

Tucson offers many courses and golf resorts but we feel that El Conquistador might be just what you are looking for. With the Hilton hotel offering much more than a comfortable stay, the golf course selection is what really draws you here. The Hilton El Conquistador is the largest golf resort in Southern Arizona offering 45-holes of championship golf on three different courses: The Hilton el Conquistador, The Canada and Pusch Ridge. You can golf all day and never feel like you are playing the same holes over and over. What more could you want in a golf vacation? When you are looking for great courses and serious golf time, this is the place to visit.

No doubt Arizona is a beautiful state. And it offers the golfer and his/her family some great options. Enjoy seeing the awesome Arizona scenery as you play the most addictive game on earth.

By: David Stargel
David Stargel publishes several golf related websites in addition to writing about all sorts of golf related topics. Visit Visit The Golf Nut

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A lot of people don't play golf because they have never played before and don't think that they would like the game or that they would be good at it. That is one of the things that I like about golf; you don't have to be a scratch golfer to enjoy the game. If you are looking for a hobby that is good for your general well being then you should try it. Golf is a great sport for nearly everyone. The benefits of the game include exercise while enjoying the outdoors, fun and challenges for every age, and it is a game that all sorts of people play.

You can get great exercise from playing golf. All doctors agree that walking is a low stress exercise for your body. Instead of riding in a golf cart, walk the course! Eighteen holes of walking is an excellent way to work out and feel great. The stretching and moving that is involved is a way to help keep your body limber and strong. Doing something good for your body while having fun outdoors is a great way to enjoy an afternoon.

Another great thing about the game of golf is that you can play golf at any age. Golf is a sport that can be mastered by players of any age. Many teens are beginning to play golf on their high school's team and are discovering an unknown talent. Because golf is a low impact sport, it is also an excellent game for an older person to play. Picking up the game of golf is easy and fun and is a game that if begun at a young age, can be continued throughout your entire life.

Golf is loved all over the world and by all sorts of people. Golf is played in both wealthy and poor countries. Kids in inner cities play golf and so does Donald Trump! No matter where you find yourself, you can usually go to a golf course, find a person to play with and have an enjoyable day. The person who develops his or her golf game develops a skill that translates into both the business world and the sports world and is just plain fun. It is exciting to allow yourself to be matched up with a group for a pickup game. You might have nothing in common with the other players except golf but that's a great place to start.

By: David Stargel
David Stargel publishes several golf related websites in addition to writing about all sorts of golf related topics. Visit Visit The Golfer!

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