Are you a golf enthusiast and you want to make money off your passion for golf? If YES, here are 4 steps on how to make money playing golf. In the United States, the golf industry is worth about $25 billion, as it rakes in money from a variety of avenues—club memberships, selling cleats and plaid shorts, and other related products.
Now, you might think all the money in the golf industry is made by only pro golfers like Tiger Woods and those big companies that manufacture golf balls, golf clubs, and golf kits. But that’s not true. Anyone can get paid for playing golf—even you.
No, it’s not a joke. You can actually make some money playing golf even if you are not a professional golfer. Though you won’t make six-figures like Tiger Woods and others, you can make a little cash on the side that can be enough to pay some bills. If you are passionate about golf and are interested in making some money from this business of a game, then you need to read on to discover how to get into the game.
How to Make Money Playing Golf Tournaments Even If You are Not a Pro
1. Put golf into your schedule
If you don’t play golf very often or don’t know how to play at all, you won’t be able to exploit the profitable opportunities available in the golf industry. It’s like playing a lottery—even if you don’t know Jack, you must know how to buy a ticket, or you will never win a jackpot.
One challenge many people face is that they believe they don’t have the time to play golf. They have busy work schedules and other commitments that seem to fill up their whole day and leave nothing for activities like playing golf.
If you are in this kind of situation, you need to schedule for a reasonable number of rounds or golf practice sessions you want to have in a month. Perhaps, you want to at least one business gold round per month (if the weather allows for that) and spend 45 minutes to one hour at a driving range.
A smart way to put golf in your schedule is to put a few irons, your 3-wood, and putter in the trunk of your car. The next time you are stuck in traffic or have some minutes of free time, stop at a nearby golf course or driving range to have practice sessions. This trumps sitting in the traffic all day and getting road rage.
2. Establish connections
The beauty of golf lies in the fact that you can get to meet fellow golfers on a personal level. Each golf round presents an opportunity to soft sell who you are, your company, and what you know. Ironically, each golfer spends only a few minutes actually hitting the golf ball. The rest of your time at the course or range will be spent on meeting other people, knowing their background, personality, and character in a relaxed atmosphere.
In games like tennis, you and your opponent are standing at opposite sides of the court, separated by a net. But in golf, you are allowed to stand side-by-side with your playing partners. This provides better relationship-building opportunities because you are not hitting a shot for your opponent to miss.
3. Give a good account of yourself
When playing golf with other people, be sure to play with proper etiquette and by the rules of the game. Remember, your conduct at the course or range can send signals of your business conduct and etiquette. You need to really watch it since you will be playing amidst potential clients.
During the time you are playing, you and your playing partners have a chance to watch each other in action. If you cheat at any point during the game, you are sending signals that you are likely to cheat in business as well.
So, to make a positive impression about yourself and the company you represent, play your business gold rounds with strict adherence to the rules of the game. You don’t want to sabotage potential business relationships when you’re trying to solidify them.
4. Look out for opportunities
Each time you go to the golf course, you have two missions: to play the game as a form of relaxation and to scout for opportunities to make money from the people who also come to play there. This is where your knowledge of other people’s personal backgrounds and preferences will come to play.
For example, if many of your playing partners are having difficulties buying their golf clubs, balls, and kits, then you can consider starting a small side business that sells these items. Similarly, if many of your playing partners are potential clients for your business, then you can leverage that opportunity to attract them to your business.
Even though they got to know you outside the business world, they will be willing to do business with you—provided you have not put up some conduct that might make them think twice. Aside from starting a side business or leveraging the connections you establish at the course, there are other opportunities.
For example, you can make money by acting as a mystery shopper for companies manufacturing or selling golf kits and balls. These companies need players who can try their products and give them valuable feedback. There are many other opportunities in the world of golf. It’s just a matter of being smart and figuring out what will work based on the type of people you play with.