Picking the Right Playing Partners

Golf is a time-consuming game that makes it all the more important to pick the right playing partners. No wants to get stuck with a dud who isn’t fun and can’t help them in their business. I mean aren’t all relationships for pleasure (friendship, etc.) or advancement in one's career/life?

As a young professional, I made the mistake early on of accepting golf invitations from almost everyone. Here are a few questions to ask yourself, so you don’t make my same mistakes and to help you determine if the people you are planning to play with are worth your time.

To pick the right playing partners, you need to ask yourself a few questions.

1. What do I want to get out of this round? – Do I want to have fun, close a deal, build better business relationships?
2. Is the person I’m playing with a decision maker?

If you are just looking to have fun, then pick a playing partner you consistently spend 4+ hours with. Also, realize that 4 hours of golf can bring the best and the worst out of a person so remember to be patient and have fun.

If you are looking to build better business relationships or close a deal, make sure the person you are playing with is a decision maker or could make your life a lot easier in the office.

If the potential playing partners don’t fit in the 2 categories above, I wouldn’t play golf with them. Set up a phone call or pass them on to the next guy or gal.

Written by contributing author, Jenn Harris, of High Heel Golfer.