how to do business on the golf course

How to Do Business on the Golf Course

• Choose your partners wisely. It is very important who you decide to play golf with, therefore, choose persons who can become your possible partners or clients.
• Know your interests. Start the conversations with random subjects, other than business so that you will not seem desperate and overwhelming.
• Be on time. ...
• Don’t be too competitive. ...

Full Answer

Can you get business done on the golf course?

Many businessmen and entrepreneurs not only play golf but also get business done on the golf course. This can give you the opportunity to meet new clients and seal some business deals in a leisurely environment while enjoying this activity.

How to write a business plan for a golf course?

Explain to them the type of golf course business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a golf course business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of golf course businesses? Finish Your Golf Course Business Plan in 1 Day!

What is the point of business golf?

Although the point of business golf is moving the business from formal offices and meetings to a more relaxed environment, you want to keep in mind that you are here primarily for business purposes, and not get too relaxed.

How to get started with a mini golf business?

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mini golf business: For further info, check out these books and products: Build a website in minutes, zero code or design skills required. Strikingly is a feature-rich website builder tool that enables people with no experience to quickly create modern and beautiful websites.

How do you conduct a business on the golf course?

Don't worry; here are seven tips to successfully conduct business during a round of golf.Keep the play fun. ... Remember golf etiquette. ... Save the alcohol for another time. ... Dress to impress. ... Know when to get down to business. ... Take lessons.

Is business done on the golf course?

It's no surprise that a lot of business is done on the golf course. Golf provides the player with an enormous opportunity to build huge networks of friends. From those small circles, you get to know more and more people. You can just show up at a club and get a game.

How much money can you make owning a golf course?

Golf Course Owners make between $30,000 to several hundred thousand dollars per year. However, golf course owners sometimes will lose money if the course has a bad year. Overall, the golf course industry is very volatile, and there is no guarantee that money will be made.

Are golf courses a profitable business?

Profitable golf courses are generally selling for six to eight times EBITDA, while courses that aren't profitable tend to sell at 0.8 to 1.4 times revenue.

How often do CEOs play golf?

We first look at how frequently CEOs play golf, to see if there is any reason for concern. On average, a CEO records 16 rounds of golf per year – a little more than one round per month.

What percentage of golfers are CEOs?

According to Syracuse University's online MBA program: 90 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf. CEOs who regularly play golf are paid 17 percent more on average than those who do not. More than half of business professionals who play golf said the sport is the perfect networking tool.

How do golf courses make money?

Ways To Raise Money For Your Golf Course. The most common income streams are green fees, membership fees, pro shop sales, and food and beverage sales. While increasing membership fees or green fees might seem like a good way to increase revenue, it might put off more golfers than the additional income earned.

How many acres do you need for a golf course?

“This means an 18-hole course of all short par 3s could be built on as little as 30 acres, while an intermediate length or executive course of 18 holes of par 3s and 4s would require 75-100 acres, and a full size par 72 course would need 120-200 acres.

How can I make my golf course successful?

Offer Online Tee Time Booking. Online tee time booking is more important than ever. ... Look at Third-Party Booking Outlets. ... Offer Varying Golf Course Membership Options. ... Add a Loyalty Program. ... Use POS Reporting and Analytics. ... Automate Ordering and Inventory. ... Host Golf Events and Contests. ... Add Time-Based Discounts.More items...•

What is the most profitable business?

Here's our list of the most profitable small businesses:Food trucks. ... Car wash services. ... Auto repair. ... Personal trainers. ... Newborn and post-pregnancy services.

How many gallons of water do golf courses use?

Depending on the location of the golf course and the climate, an 18-hole course can use on average 2.08 billion gallons of water per day. Depending on the amount of water needed, a typical golf course can spend between $7,000 and $108,000 per year.

Are golf clubs a good investment?

They are a worthy investment for most golfers and can help your consistency off the tee. My advice would be to look at upgrading the shaft in your driver as well as looking for a new driver, you may find that this makes a bigger difference for less money.

Pick the Proper Venue

Whether you’re playing with skilled or subpar golfers, pick a course that is relatively easy to keep morale high. You don’t want the person your trying to impress to be digging around in the woods or fishing their ball out of the water all day. That can breed frustration and hurt your chances of productive conversation.

Follow Their Lead

If your boss, guest, or associate picked the course and they’ve neglected the first two rules above, just go with the flow and certainly don’t point out their own poor judgment. The last thing you want to do is insult their home course. That’s a surefire way to damage a relationship.

Use Your Networking Time Appropriately

Wait for opportune times to discuss business (if at all) and always let your guest be the one to bring it up. After all, you invited them for a round of golf, not a captive sales pitch.

Practice Proper Golf Etiquette

If you’re playing an informal round don’t be stickler by being the first to holler about a penalty for taking a mulligan or a “gimme” on a 2 foot putt. Keep your score however you’d like but leave the PGA Tour mentality at home and let your guest play the round they want to play.

Create a Memory of Yourself

If you’re in sales, business cards should always be in your wallet and/or golf bag. A “leave behind” to remind that person of you is a great way to relay your contact information to your guest (s). It also shows that you’re serious about their business.

Have Fun

These rules are a guidelines to keep you looking professional out on the course, but its important to remember to have fun out there as well. Golf, after all, is supposed to be enjoyable. Loosen up and enjoy the day and it will translate into an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

What to do if you don't play golf?

If you don’t play golf, it might be worth to take it up and head to the course occasionally, since the presented business opportunities should be incentive enough. Below are some business golf guidelines, which should help you leave a good impression on your potential business clients and complete the deal.

Do businessmen play golf?

Many businessmen and entrepreneurs not only play golf but also get business done on the golf course. This can give you the opportunity to meet new clients and seal some business deals in a leisurely environment while enjoying this activity.

Is it OK to have a drink while playing golf?

Although the point of business golf is moving the business from formal offices and meetings to a more relaxed environment, you want to keep in mind that you are here primarily for business purposes, and not get too relaxed. Even though having a drink or two might be OK, especially if your partners are also enjoying a drink, you would do well to stay sharp and focused at all times.

Focus on building relationships

The secret to getting ahead in business is all about knowing the right people or having the right connections, whether that’s making a new business partner or just learning something new from someone in your industry.

Never Start Discussing Business Early

Knowing how to do business on the golf course can be a tricky thing. While many people consider it an extension of your work life and therefore a place where talking about business is acceptable, it can often come across as inappropriately heavy-handed.

Dress To Impress

Well, the title pretty much says it all. You may have heard the saying, “Clothes make the man”, but you can’t go wrong by applying a similar logic to your golf game. You’ll want to look your best, whether that’s in a pair of khakis and a polo or a three-piece suit because dressing well can make you feel confident and ready to play your best.

Be Punctual

Punctuality is a great character trait to have in the business world. Not being accurate to meetings can demonstrate a disregard for other people’s time and an inability to prioritize.

Understand Golf Etiquette

Good golf etiquette is an integral part of the game. Golf is, after all, a social game. It is usually played on private courses with groups of four or more players, so it is important to know how to behave. This goes for whether you are just playing a casual game with your friends or playing in a tournament.

Be Polite

Remember the high school teacher that told you that the first impression is the most important thing? Well, that still holds true in the business world. When you are meeting new people for the first time, a good first impression is critical.

Final Thoughts

The golf course is one of the best places to do business. It is a place where you can relax and also take time to socialize with your business partners and other acquaintances. It allows you to build new relationships outside of the office, which can eventually lead to business deals.

Golf Course Business Plan Template

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their golf courses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your golf course business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a golf course, or grow your existing golf course, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your golf course in order to improve your chances of success.

Sources of Funding for Golf Courses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a golf course are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest.

Golf Course Business Plan Template

If you want to start a golf course or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your golf course business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of golf course you are operating.