Simply put, I love Golf Vacations. What is there not to like?
Over the past 25 years, I have taken at least 25 golf vacations. If you are having trouble doing the math, Golf vacations are actually the only kind of vacation I take.
Now, I have gone on hundreds of out of town golf outings…the weekend junket, the 3-day golf schools, and, my personal favorite I nicknamed… Stay-n-Play Skins Gamecation.
But, you ask, what about the Business Golf Vacation?
Yes, I have taken a large number of those. Anytime I am called to go out of town on business I generally, depending on the time of the year, will arrive a day early or stay over another day, or both, to play a round of business golf.
Business golf still is the most effective form of golf to invite someone to play. Generally, I will invite someone I know well, or I met online and want to know better. Sometimes I invite a group or if I know of a number of business golfers in the area I might organize a business networking golf event.
But Wait you say…aren’t those rounds of business golf and not vacation golf? Exactly.
What changes in a round of business golf and a round of golf played on a Business Golf Vacation is in the atmosphere the golf is played in.
I always follow the five steps to playing a round of business golf for every round of business golf I play or organize. The difference is I do not make any kind of sales pitch or hold a formal business discussion after the round. I develop the round golf to have an even more relaxed outing. I might even partake in having an Arnold Palmer while I play.
It is tough for a business golfer to not talk business so I purposefully will restrain my after golf get together to asking one business golf questions which is…how’s your business going? Or, something related to my golf partner’s situation.
Lately, the question I have been asking at some of my more recent business golf vacations is…how is retirement treating you?
Where to Play
Naturally, it is easier to call a Business Golf Vacation a vacation if it is played in one of the many golf playgrounds around the country. The Palm Springs Coachella Valley area works nicely. Scottsdale/Phoneix area is my number 2 place for business golf. There are others that are just as good. Just depends on the season and where you are having a business meeting.
Tagging on a round of business golf to a business trip has proven to be a very effective method of business development. If you one of the millions of people in business who play golf avidly and are looking for ways to add more golf to your life, then taking a Business Golf Vacation should work for you. Try it sometime.
And of course, Let me know how I can help.
