A day on the golf course can be a great way to build rapport with clients — even when their golfing skills are not up to par.
A round of golf gives clients some private time with you outside of the office in a great atmosphere, says Sandra Post, an eight-time LPGA champion, golf instructor and founder of Sandra Post Golf School in Caledon, Ont.
Here are a few suggestions to enjoy the day if you and a client play a very different game of golf:
> Find a suitable course
Choose an appropriate golf course if you know that your client is a little rusty.
“If [your] client isn’t that good of a player, [or] doesn’t play very much, I would pick an easier golf course,” says Post. “I wouldn’t be so intent on taking them to a high-end course.”
> Be polite
Make the best of the situation if you realize your client’s golf skills aren’t what you thought.
“Put on a happy face,” says Post. Don’t say anything if you and your client are holding up other groups behind you. Instead, let the marshall, whose job is to watch the pace of play, handle the problem.
> Try something different
Instead of a full game of golf, consider inviting clients to a clinic.
“One of golf’s enemies is time,” says Post. Many people prefer to spend the little spare time they have with their families rather than a full day on the links.
So, a half-day clinic will give clients an opportunity to improve skills, such as putting or bunker shots, or even learn the basics, says Post. As well, this type of event can be held year-round, both indoors and out.
The event can also include food or a time to talk with your clients about your business, she says. The golf pro/instructor would be the one to arrange details with the golf club for the event.
IE