East Orlando Chamber: In Golf Like Life, You Must Play the Ball Where it Lies

By DOROTHY HARDEE, East Orlando Chamber Director of Operations

“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots, but you have to play the ball where it lies.” – Bobby Jones

Golf is a very popular sport worldwide offering a stimulating mental challenge combined with healthy walking, in pleasant surroundings. Whether for competition or casual enjoyment golf can be enjoyed by people of all abilities and ages, especially doctors, right? According to a Harvard Medical Research study this stereotype is not “par” for the course. Of more than one million doctors assessed, only 4.1 percent appear to be golfers. And when it came to specialized doctors, research showed less than 3 percent took an interest in golf. But given the high potential for business & networking available through the sport, should golf be part of your business strategy?

Entrepreneur Media reminds us, golf presents “wonderful life lessons like tenacity, constant learning, honesty and achievement orientation. All these can be tapped to generate sound business acumen.” Golf offers instant feedback and an opportunity to course correct along the way. Those that do well are tenacious, constantly seeking to improve, learn and relearn. Much like business, it teaches us to “shed baggage, re-think, re-invigorate, re-strategize and execute with a hope of success.”

Golf legend, Ben Hogan referred to golf as a game of misses. “The guy who misses the best is going to win.” Brent Beshore (Forbes) analyzed how golf imitates life offering some valuable lesson along the way, like “swinging hard and hoping” to make contact was not always a strategy. Analyzing the game helped him realize that by slowing down his game focusing on solid contact with the ball gave him the distance he sought. Relating it to business he learned to “pull back a little, focus and work on specific objectives.”

He went on to acknowledge that you must embrace failure choosing how to react; either become consumed by it or learn from it…the choice is yours. He adds a few additional words of wisdom:

Like life, the difference between a great shot and lost ball can be a few feet.
All the practice in the world won’t help if you rehearse with bad form.
Lifelong learning is the key to happiness offering new ways to challenge yourself.
Fear guarantees bad results; focus on executing the shot instead of what “might” happen.
“Like golf, life is a humbling game that can only be played well if we understand our own weaknesses and tendencies.”

Teknowlogi CEO, Spencer Askew attributes golf for unlocking hidden opportunities in relationships and entrepreneurship which may have been lost otherwise. He shared four lessons learned in golf that mirror business for him. These included:

It pays to know the course whether in golf or in business. If you don’t have a clear view of your market, audience, and other areas of business you cannot make sound decisions.
Strategy fluctuates based on the information gathered. Collecting data, knowing the hazards, and mapping out a strategy and adjusting along the way is important.
One good hole or one bad hole will not dictate the outcome. Business is similar in that one good day, or one bad quarter does not forecast the end results. Focus on the long term. As Askew says, “Before you rush to catalyze your sales, make sure your supply chain, operations and other internal processes are ready to deliver a true competitive advantage. “

Golf, Business and Chamber engagement really go hand in hand. You get out of it what you put into it. In golf, the more you play the better you become. Consistent, deliberate work pays off in the end. Likewise, success as an entrepreneur is tied to the amount of work you put into it. Being prepared to give a complete effort, identify, and develop strategies to “fix the holes in your game” and devote energy to your business, game, and membership, you will reap the rewards achieving your goals.

Want more out of your golf game? Let’s get physical, benefiting from the many health benefits offered including:

Improved physical fitness means weight loss
Exercise and fresh air are the ultimate recipe for sleeping like a baby
A healthy mind, healthy body. Let those endorphins flow
Golf is a great social event and opportunity to meet with friends
Golf is a game of concentration and memory likely to prevent or reduce cognitive decline
One of the top health effects of golf is an increase in life expectancy.

Are you ready “FORE” fun? The East Orlando Chamber is just what the doctor ordered with our 75^th Annual Commemorative Golf Tournament, October 22^nd at Rio Pinar Country Club. Play as an individual, with your foursome or become one of our Foursomes with Hole Sign teams. Check in is at 7:00 AM with a shotgun start at 8:00 AM. Additional opportunities include Chance drawings, power packs and more. Awards lunch and silent auction follow the tournament in the Club House. A portion of the proceeds benefit the East Orlando Chamber Foundation.

Looking for more ways to highlight your business? The East Orlando Chamber has a plethora of opportunities to get you noticed, connecting you with your next clients and partners, keeping your business healthy. For the health of your business reach out to the East Orlando Chamber for a menu of unique offerings elevating your business’ visibility and connect you with others helping your business thrive. We are the first in the state offering traditional Health Insurance plans, as well as supplemental products including dental, vision, critical illness, accidental and more.

For more information or to register call (407) 277-5951 or visit our website at eocc.org. The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce everywhere East of I-4.

UPCOMING EVENTS

OPTIC (Orlando’s Professional Technology Innovation Council)

September 10, 2021, | 9:00 AM

VIRTUAL

Featuring “Third Party Risk” moderated by

Avani Desai, President Schellman & Associates

FREE- EOCC Members | $10 Non-members

Testimonial Tuesday

September 14, 2021, | 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Live on Facebook

FREE for EOCC members

Coffee Club Nona