The First Tee with Ryan

In business, trust can take time. Its built through emails, meetings, and repeated interactions. On a golf course, that timeline speeds up. In four hours you can learn more about someone than you would in weeks of sitting across a conference table.

Golf creates an environment where people can’t hide behind titles or rehearsed answers. There’s no script. You are acting in real time. Conversations flow naturally throughout the round. Without the pressure of a formal setting, people tend to be more honest and open.

One of the biggest reasons golf builds trust is because it reveals behavior. How someone handles a bad shot, a bad lie, or a bad round tells you a lot. If they lose their temper, it can be a bad look. You also get to see their competitive side. It can also tell you if they have integrity or not. People who are big cheaters on the golf course might not be people you want to go into business with.

Overall, golf reveals a lot about someone. I know plenty of business men who use golf as a way to find out if they really want to work with someone. The amount of information shown on a golf course about someone’s character is truly amazing. If you are using golf to explore business opportunities, it is important to keep this in mind.