IMPACT Golfer

Interview with Business Professional and Golfer

This article depicts the views expressed to me in my interview with Anchor Bank Branch Manger and Consumer Loan Officer, Joshua Murphy. Mr. Murphy was the perfect candidate for this interview because he has had numerous opportunities to advance his business career through the development of business relationships on the golf course. 

Joshua began playing competitive golf at an early age in which he excelled at the junior high and high school levels. He achieved numerous awards for winning team and individual tournaments as a high school Junior and Senior while attending a small Christian school in Manhattan, KS. While attending college he worked as a golf pro at a local public golf course, in which he encountered many business professionals and other avid golfers. 

In preparation for this interview, I attempted to develop questions which pertain to both business and golf, especially how the two are used to benefit each other. 

Question: What is business golf to you?

Joshua : To me it is any of a number of golf experiences that are intended to affect a business objective. It could be to establish or strengthen a customer relationship, have the opportunity to bond with team member or to uncover potential new business opportunities.

Question: We both share in our push towards bringing business golf to more business people as a way to enhance their enjoyment of the game. What are your thoughts on how can Business Golf help Golf?

Joshua: By making the game a part of their business strategy. Many companies have shied away from golf over the past few years because of the perception that it is a wasteful use of time and money. If they know how to use it the game can be one of the most powerful and cost effective methods of Customer Relationship Management and relationship marketing that there is.

Question: Why do you think golf is not used by more business people?

Joshua: I think it probably boils down to the 2 most common challenges… Time…and Money. Maybe there is some hesitation with regards to skill level but I don’t think that is as much of a factor.

Question: I have found that business people who are finding golf as a great addition to their business networking are trying to determine what to expect as they use it more. To you, what is a perfect round of business golf?

Joshua: Well if there is any such thing… but for me it is when I have picked the right people for the experience and matched it with the perfect venue, and I have managed to foresee all of the potential mishaps so there are no surprises. Oh and at the end we all have agreed to next steps.

Question:  In your view, what does golf need to do better or change in order to encourage more business people to play golf?

Joshua: I really believe that the industry has to do a better job of selling the multitude of ways in which the game can be experienced. Too many people in and outside of the industry keep trying to sell golf as 18 holes and that’s it. That just perpetuates the notion that the game takes too much time. A business lunch at a golf course is a golf experience… a visit to the driving range after work hours to hit a few balls and share a drink is a golf experience… and 9 holes at the end of the day or on a weekend can suffice. We just need to change the mind set of “golf takes 5 to 6 hours to play”.

Question: I am always looking for information to share on how golf can be used as a business tool and ways to discuss in detail how as a business, or recreation, golf has the ability to impact organizations and individuals. Where do you see golf in five years?

Joshua: That is a really BIG question. There are so many things that can affect where the game goes…for the most part I think there will be a resurgence of it’s popularity because it is becoming such a global game…I mean the economy can’t be bad everywhere at once can it? And I hope that people like you and I will have some influence on the strategic benefits of the game as it pertains to business. Ask me again in 2020.