The Pros and Cons of Organising a Corporate Golf Day

It is common practice for companies to organise a corporate golf day these days, however, while many have great reasons for doing just that, others are unsure of their motivation, and may just be doing it because everyone else is.

There is no denying that there are some fantastic benefits to hosting a corporate golf day, but there are also other things you need to consider. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of organising your own golf day, as well as advice on how to make the most of your event.

First, the Good Bits

In the interests of staying positive, let us take a look at the positive aspects of hosting a corporate golf day yourself.

First, there is the opportunity to meet, and spend time with, your most important clients, suppliers, associates and potential clients. That's one of the reasons why a carefully thought out guest list for your event is so important - everyone on it should be someone who can help your business to grow, whether it's in terms of deals made on the course, or by sharing their expertise with you off the course.

Then there is the publicity and brand positioning that you can gain from a corporate golf day. This comes from indirect means, like the media coverage of the event itself, and from the status you gain from the companies and individuals you invite.

Finally, there is the golf itself. The opportunity to get out into the open, swing a club, compete in a friendly environment, and possibly even to pick up a few tips from your opponents and fellow players.

Now the Down Side

Not every corporate golf day is a huge success, and that could be for a number of reasons.

The first thing you should remember is that corporate golf days take a lot of work to organise, manage, and put together. If you do not have the time or the budget to create a full event, you might end up creating an event that gives prospective clients the wrong impression of your company.

Then there is the guest list. If you do not have enough valuable business contacts to fill up your list, you may be tempted to add a few people who are not strictly business associates, and that may dilute the effectiveness of the event.

Remember that just as a hugely successful business golf event can raise your profile, forge meaningful connections that will serve you for years to come, and create fantastic opportunities, a less successful one could damage your reputation and your prospects.

Hosting a successful corporate golf day is a huge undertaking, and it is not always possible, especially for new businesses and entrepreneurs, to find the perfect balance of players, business, and marketing.

The good news is that there are alternatives, one of which is to attend a third party corporate golf day, hosted by an outside company or person. These days take the planning and organising out of the equation, allow you to hand pick only the most important people that you want to play with, and often incorporate other types of networking and business growth activities.

Whatever you do though, remember that your corporate golf day's success relies heavily on you, to make the right decisions, and to organise a knock out event, so make sure you get it right!