Caddying - The Most Important Job

 The most important job of any caddy is watching where her/his golfer hit their shot. The most frequently asked question on any golf course is, " Where did my ball go? " Thus, the most important job for any caddy is to be in the best position to follow his golfers ball from start to finish. Listed below are some helpful hints:

1. If you are a new caddy follow the more experienced caddies to the area of the tee box where it is easiest to follow the ball
2. If the ball goes in the rough mark it with an object. The golfer may ask the caddy, " Where did I end up?" The caddy will answer, " About 10ft. to the right of the Oak tree."
3. If the golfer is going to hit a blind shot, the caddy should line up the golfer with the target. 
4. If the golfer is going to hit a bind tee shot the caddy should provide the golfer with the club he is going to hit then go to a spot where he can observe the golf ball.    

Business Golf - Tips for the Beginner - How to be a Better Executive II

 According to Syracuse University's online MBA program: 90% of Fortune 500 CEO's play golf. CEO's who regularly play golf are paid 17%  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. 4/28/2022       

Business Golf - Tips for the Beginner - Words of Advice

 The late Mark McCormack, author of the book, " What They Don't Teach You At The Harvard Business School", has said he can tell more about how someone is likely to react in a business situation from one round of golf than he can in a hundred hours of meetings. "It's astonishing", he says, "How so simple a game can reveal so much".   

Business Golf - Tips for the Beginner - A Good Instructor

 I went to a golf instructor the summer before I went to college. The professional I went to fixed my grip, helped my alignment, and he gave me some assistance with putting. But the professional I went to knew I had a lot of experience before I went to him. For the beginner the instruction should simply be: 

1. Keep your head still
2. Keep your eye on the ball
3. Maintain a slow back swing
4. Balanced finish  

Business Golf - Tips for the Beginner - Intimidation - The Largest Mental Hurdle

Many professionals will not play golf because they are simply scared. The best method to get over the fear of hitting a golf  ball in front of other people is to find a good instructor. The teaching professional will help you :   

1. To become mentally prepared to play the game
2. Establish a suitable swing
3. Provide you with a grip that is comfortable and reliable
4. Establish good foot work
5. Show you how to properly read and line up to putt  
6.  Feel comfortable with the game of golf

Business Golf - Tips for the Beginner - Practice

 The best way to improve your comfort level on the golf course after working with your mentor / instructor is practice. Your practice sessions should be more than just hitting a bucket of golf balls. Have a goal in mind before starting your practice session. You may want to work on a grip, stance, or alignment issue. You may also want to improve your comfort level with a particular club or resolve a recurring  problem with your swing. The practice tee is the ideal environment to experiment and improve. Listed below are some suggestions for a practice routine:

• Focus on a desired landing area for each shot
• Check your grip, alignment and stance before each shot
• Begin each session by hitting 5-10 shots with your pitching wedge to help establish the rhythm and timing of your swing
• Work with the 8 iron to improve the accuracy of your short game over 100 yards
• Concentrate on accuracy and distance with the 6-5-4 irons
• Do not hit more than 10 shots with the driver. There is a tendency among beginners to develop bad swing habits by over working the driver at practice

Business Golf - Tips for the Beginner - Mentor / Instructor

 One of the best ways to gain confidence and a comfort level with the game of golf is to work with a mentor and or professional instructor. I have been approached by several people in places where I have worked with a simple request, " Can you help me get on the golf course?" Their request was not to learn to be a weekend golfer. Their intention was to feel confident and comfortable enough with the game to invite a client, prospect or associate to play a round of golf. 

My approach was simple. I would take the individual to the local golf course or driving range to hit golf balls. I would first help them with the fundamentals of the golf swing. I would correct their swing mechanics as they hit their shots. After 2 weeks of this exercise I would take them out to play 9 holes of golf. During the time I was with them on the course I would stress etiquette and pace of play. After playing 72 holes in that environment the individual was usually comfortable and confident enough to invite an associate, client or prospect to play a round of golf.

If you choose to work with a mentor and or professional instructor these fundamentals should be included:

• Proper grip, stance and alignment
• Swing tempo
• Fundamentals of the short game
• Putting technique including how to read a green
• Sand bunker shots
• Proper club selection
• Rules and etiquette
• Pace of play