How golf Helps Women Succeed in Corporate Life

Business and golf go hand in hand. It has long been the game of the business people since it has a social cache, while it isn’t too physically challenging. It’s great for bonding, conversing, and creating friendly competition at the root of strong business relationships.

However, more often than not, women avoid golf, hence miss out on the chances that can help them advance in their careers. This often happens because they feel like they don’t belong, but now with the rising clout of women in corporate spaces, it’s time to get rid of that attitude!

What Prevents Professional Women from Playing Golf?

Building relationships with clients and colleagues play a vital role in career success. Nevertheless, it tends to be challenging for women in male-dominated industries. Why? Because men bond over sports and create informal networks, which women are often excluded from. This happens because women often feel like they don’t belong or are uninterested in sports banter.

However, a lot of it comes down to the fear of embarrassment. Women usually feel they have to be perfect before taking risks and exposing themselves and think they have to excel in golf to play it with other people. 

The truth is most men aren’t that good. They know the general rules, but they are not pros. You don’t need to excel, just to get good enough. If you dress for success and aren’t playing terribly, people will take you seriously as soon as you speak, and your experience and knowledge will sell themselves.

How Can Golf Help Women Succeed in Business?

The point is that a lot of business is done on the golf course or in indoor golf clubs. Check indoor golf events in NYC and see their superb offers.

Golf is a great way to form relationships with people within your company and clients. However, conversations at golf facilities don’t immediately focus on work. They often begin with discussing each other’s experiences in golf, gradually easing to more casual talks about family and friends. If you can talk about golf, suddenly, you have a reason to talk to the CEO.

These deeper connections can help better understand your coworkers, thus making working relationships stronger and teams more impactful. The same goes for clients. A better understanding of your clients can immensely boost business.

A golf course is where professionals form friendships and regularly hear about under-the-radar opportunities. Successful people know this and leverage golf for personal and professional success.

Women make up 23 percent of golfers, meaning many are missing out on valuable opportunities to build their networks. However, this can be a blessing in disguise for women who decide to take their chances regarding golf. This is because they will stand out among their male counterparts and may have a better shot at breaking the ice.

Also, statistics support the fact that golf can significantly benefit businesswomen. A survey by Mass Mutual shows that of 1000 women, 73 percent agreed that playing golf helped them form networks and relationships for business.  

Steps to Take

If your work culture includes social bonding, sharing information, and business decision-making in the golf club, then golf can certainly be a way to be engaged and known outside of your formal workplace setting. 

If most of the conference people are on the course, you should also be there, and use golf as a handy tool to boost your business. Here are two simple steps to take to advance in your career by using golf.

Accept the Offer to Play Golf

Don’t hesitate to accept an offer to play golf. Instead, say yes, go out there and form relationships, just like men. There aren’t many other places in the business world where women and men can make valuable connections on a neutral playing field.

At the golf course, tradition and rules blend with casual fun that can nourish business connections, and skill level makes no difference. Nevertheless, getting better at golf certainly helps your confidence.

Practice

If you’re worried about your proficiency on the golf course, take a few lessons on the basics of golf, ideally in a group of other beginners or female colleagues. Learning is more fun within the group. 

In addition, in group lessons, you can already practice your networking skills. Who knows, maybe you’ll even meet business people who can help you advance in your career right from the start.

Benefits Golf Offers

Apart from boosting business, golf offers many other benefits. It can help you uniquely discover yourself and others. Moreover, it opens opportunities to meet people from different places that you probably wouldn’t meet otherwise. 

Also, it challenges you to approach obstacles differently on the course, thus helping to solve business matters efficiently by thinking outside the box. Playing golf also provides stress relief. You can clear your head, breathe fresh air and unplug from technology while having fun.

Final Thoughts

All in all, while playing golf doesn’t promise a golden ticket to the corner office, it is a great way to build relationships and form networks that can advance your business in the long run. The golf course isn’t a boardroom. However, it’s a valuable place where you can connect with those who can help you get there.

Ellie Northcott is a long-time marketer, currently working as a freelancer in Miami, Florida.

Editor at Digital Strategy One.

She is also a passionate writer and loves to explore new, innovative and digital news.

In her spare time, she is an eco-activist.