“And if you play golf, you’re my friend.”

Harvey Penick
Famed golf instructor

There is no more stunningly accurate quote about golf than this one. But when applied to business, it could just as easily read, “Because if you play golf, you’ll be my client.”

On a large scale, golf is a community of millions made up of individuals coming together for hours at a time, in beautiful environs, appreciating the moment. Friendships bloom. Bonds are formed. Deals are made.

Becoming ingrained in the culture of golf is a terrific way to build rapport with potential business partners, clients, employees, bosses and vendors.

Holding a meeting? Stuffy and almost always rushed. Going to lunch? Most of the time is spent trying not to spill the tea on your tie, or eyeing the day-to-day minutia on your Blackberry. Hosting a nice dinner? A solid touch, but the dinner hour takes people away from their families or from what they really want to be doing. Attending a concert? Have you ever tried making a persuading argument about your quality way of doing business while the lead vocalist hits a high E?

Suffice it so say, all—and others--pale in comparison to the potential that the environment of golf offers as a foundation for good business. In golf, you and your associates are away from the hustle, and enjoying a favorite hobby while creating golf moments that will be cherished. And there are many ways golf can be used to earn share of mind without playing the game, including giving golf gifts, talking about the latest news or sharing the best books.

You owe it to yourself to learn more about this community if you already belong, or you need to get into this community if you don’t. Another fact about the golf community is that its members include many of the most influential and accomplished business leaders found anywhere. A quick glance at the demographic profile for GOLF Magazine subscribers shows that the average household income is $148,000 with a net worth of more than $1 million. More than 30% are top managers while 26% own their own small business. These stats provide a pretty good snap shot of this culture.

They all share the golf bond. Are they sharing it with you?

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Real world situation: A person you want to meet with is too busy to see you, or is apprehensive about taking your calls.

Golf world solution: Through due diligence—talking to the assistant, mutual friends, others—you find out that golf is a hobby for your object of business affection. Immediately, you have a dozen of that person’s favorite golf balls imprinted with his/her initials (several websites specialize in this) and send them off with a nice note.

The result is an important person will now be using his/her favorite golf balls for hours at a time in his/her favorite place, and will fondly remember the person (you!) who made it possible. And you have made a unique and meaningful impression: you didn’t just get golf balls, you got favorite golf balls. You didn’t just get favorite golf balls, you made favorite golf balls better.

A simple golf gesture has shown your new prospect that you are willing to prepare and plan to make an impact, with the end result being the creation of a new golf/business relationship.