Business on The Golf Course: Never Throw the Game

When you head to the golf course with a partner, client, or other potential business associate, remember: your character and integrity are on display. There are few games like golf that can really expose the inner disposition of a person. So in everything you do, make sure that the person you present on the links is the same type of person with whom others would want to go into business.

As silly as it may seem, one of the first thing a lot of golfers/businessmen ask is: "should I let the other guy win?" On the one hand, it's a logical question. After all, you don't want to leave your fellow golfer so raw toward you that he or she doesn't want to make that deal at the end of the round. But on the other hand, letting your opponent win is not only an entirely impractical strategy, it's bad business as well.

Believe it or not, you can play in earnest without risking harm to the pride of your opponent...er, partner.

In golf, as in business, it's incredibly important to exhibit honesty and fairness in all that you do. The willingness of an individual to intentionally perform poorly in an attempt to garner the respect of a potential business partner suggests serious duplicity and insecurity. If your fellow golfer knows that you'll lie to him to get his business, he may wonder what other dishonest lengths to which you might go in order to pad your profits.

But more than that, it's just pathetic. Don't dumb down your skill. Your potential partner will probably end up respecting you a lot more if you beat him or her up and down the fairways, if you do it like a gentleman (as opposed to rubbing it in his face). And if he or she is the kind of person who throws a tantrum or holds your golf skill against you, you may want to think twice about whether or not you want to go into business with him or her. Remember, this isn't just an opportunity for your fellow golfer to learn about you, it's a great chance for you to learn about them as well.

The best way to deal with golfers of different skill levels is to use the system already in place- handicaps. If you and your partner have calculated handicaps, go ahead and factor them into your scores. In the end, the handicap system used by the PGA transforms golf from a game of competition with others to a game of competition with one's self. Even if you outplay your partner significantly, playing with handicaps gives you both an opportunity to compare your skill on the day to your past performances. Improvement on previous showings should be victory enough for any golfer.

If you still feel awkward, make light of the situation. Tell your partner beforehand, "I have to warn you: some days I'm hot, and some days I'm cold." A comment like this one will open his or her mind to either possibility without putting him or her on the spot.

Getting caught flubbing shots intentionally could be incredibly embarrassing- not just to the person you're playing with, but to the other members of the business community who he or she decides to tell. It's a shortsighted move that may very well leave you with an ugly scorecard, and no business deal to show for it.