Get Over the F.O.G.
Are you a woman who suffers from F.O.G.—Fear of Golf? Or, maybe you know a woman who does. Typically, she is a member of a profession or works in an industry or company where golf is played as a part of doing business. Common examples include a financial advisor, an attorney, someone working in marketing or sales, or other similar professional capacity. She knows golf is used by others (colleagues, and even competitors) successfully for business networking and developing deeper business relationships, but F.O.G. prevents her from playing.
Symptoms of F.O.G. include declining invitations to play a round of business golf with colleagues, clients or prospective clients (although she plays with friends on weekends), glazing of her eyes when the business conversation turns to golf, or simply not knowing where to start to learn the game. F.O.G. sufferers might even resent that colleagues are playing and using it to increase their success, while she and others like her are left out of the business action on the golf course.
As a business golf speaker and author, I strive to help business professionals, especially women, overcome their F.O.G.. I understand the concern about looking foolish in front of colleagues and clients, or the fear of making an etiquette faux pas on the course. These and other concerns that they might have are reasonable and appropriate. With information and a commitment to learning how to play business golf however, women can learn how to golf for their professional enhancement.
The most often stated reason for F.O.G. is that women fear they are not good enough to play business golf. They think most men are very good golfers and would not want to play with them because they’re beginners or are not very good at the game. In truth, if women started to play, they would find most men aren’t that good either. Most men will likely hit the ball farther than they can. But often it’s further into the woods or out-of-bounds.
Women are correct though, that they should wait to play business golf if they play so poorly that they would annoy their more experienced playing partners. First, she needs to take lessons on how to hit the golf ball and commit to practicing as her body learns to move in ways it hasn’t done so before. Then, if she knows how to play with proper etiquette, such as knowing when to pick up her ball and how to keep up with the pace of play, she’ll be able to play with anyone.
In future articles, I’ll share more insights on how women can overcome F.O.G. and use golf to deepen their business relationships. If you’re an experienced golfer and know businesswomen who could benefit by playing golf, but suffer from F.O.G., share this article with them and help them use golf for professional and personal success.
Suzanne Woo, Esq. is a business golf speaker and author. She founded BizGolf Dynamics in 1996 to help business professionals, especially women, leverage the game of golf for their professional and personal success. She is the author of On Course for Business – Women and Golf (Wiley) and 72 Secrets for Successful Business Golf. Suzanne has been featured in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Golf for Women, and a host of other national publications. Clients include corporations like Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, National Car Rental, Harris Nesbitt, and a host of trade associations.
To learn more about how BizGolf Dynamics can help you Drive Your Business Success with Golf,TM call Suzanne at 800.722.8909 or visit www.bizgolf.biz and sign up for BizGolf E-Tips, which is sent bi-monthly on Tuesdays.
