Let’s face it. It’s not a logical game at first glance-and certainly seems less so if you’ve had a bad round, as I had on that particular day. Any creature observing from outer space would be convinced there was no intelligent form of life on our planet if they saw homo sapiens spend four hours trying to move a little white sphere as far as possible, while taking as little dirt as possible from a bigger sphere, called Earth.
Since a regulation round of golf consists of 18 holes, here are 18 tips to help you also improve your career scorecard, lower your handicap and play to par…
1. Learn the basic fundamentals. A coach can teach invaluable lessons but those at the top of the leader board-or the board room-ultimately develop and fine-tune their own unique style, with input from trusted mentors.
2. Always get a good grip-on the situation. Be as thoroughly prepared as possible- physically and mentally.
3. Follow the correct set-up, know where you’re aiming and visualise the ball reaching its desired destination. On his way to a tournament, Jack Nicklaus would picture each and every hole in his mind-in full colour-and methodically play each shot from tee to green, without leaving his automobile or airplane seat.
4. Make solid contact-and solid contacts in business. It’s impossible to over emphasise the importance of ‘qual-i-tee’ relationships.
5. Skill, plus strategy, plus tactics, plus lots of drive and a little luck all help. Know when to go for the flag and when to play it safe.
6. Keep you head down. Focus on the ball to block out any distractions. Don’t worry about the gallery but where the ball is going.
7. Allow for changing environmental conditions. Know which way and how strong the wind is blowing and be ready for unexpected headwinds or crosswinds.
8. Try to stay out of trouble and avoid hazards whenever possible but, even with the best intent, accept that you’ll inevitably hit some rough. The founder of Sony, Akio Morita, once compared the volatile Japanese money market to a golf game, in which holes had a different handicap each day.
9. Don’t get greedy in the rough. Know when to pitch, when to lay up and when to run.
10. Have some extra balls in your bag-or extra cash in the bank for those rainy days- when you lose more than you could anticipate.
11. Give it your best shot every time-but remember that few will ever be a hole in one. When a journalist once asked John Opel, if he would do things differently, the former CEO of IBM replied: ‘All of us would- but I don’t carry those things around in my head or it spoils the bigger picture. If you worry about the putt you missed on the third hole, you’ll ruin the rest of your game.’
12. Never lose sight of your drive. And remember to drive for show and putt for dough. Never underestimate the importance of finesse. It’s one thing to start off with a big hit or big mouth-but another to satisfactorily finish the job by paying attention to the little things.
13. Consistency is key. Golf and business aren’t sprint events. Weekend warriors might practice until they get it right. But professionals practice in the hopes they’ll never get it wrong. As Gary Player so wisely quipped: ‘The harder I practice, the luckier I get’.
14. Have decent tools of the trade but we often have more clubs than we need in the bag. And, even the best equipment in the world won’t help if your execution is lousy.
15. Know the rules, use them to your maximum advantage but always play by the book. Stick to fairways and fair ways. If someone cheats in golf, can you trust them in business?
16. And, as you remember the ethics, don’t forget the etiquettes. Be fun to play with and respect your playing partners. I was initially intimidated to find myself playing in a pro am with 5 times British Open champion, Peter Thompson-until he showed what a true world class champion he was by his good manners and relaxed manner.
17. Confidence can cure the yips. Be bold. Be strong-but with a gentleness of grip and demeanour. Because, one of the best things about golf-is that it can keep even the greatest-humble.
18. Always, always, always follow through-on your swing and your promises.
19. Last but not least, don’t forget the 19th hole. Take some time to enjoy the scenery and smell the flowers along the way. We all have those óff days’ but as media magnate, the late Sir Frank Packer, once said: ‘Life is not a practice round’
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