Satisfying Your Golfers, and Teaching Your Non-Golfers, at Meetings
Yesterday we talked about using "putt-putt" events to get everyone involved in teambuilding through golf during a meeting. But meeting planners can also use the practice range for special events--and use it in a way that entertains veteran golfers while teaching the nongolfers in your group who want to try the game but feel a bit intimidated to be around experienced people. The practice range is where golfers bring all of their clubs and practice their full swings by hitting balls out into a field where there are several flags at different distances that act as targets. It's also a place where golf teachers stand alongside golfers, watch their swings, and give advice. So here's a perfect way to make everyone in your group happy: Set up cocktail and hors d'oeuvre stations at opposite ends of the range. One one side, have a few golf teachers on hand to give beginner and intermediate lessons to those who want them. At the other end, have your experienced golfers hitting at a variety of targets out on the range, with those who hit a target receiving a prize. By splitting the activities, the beginners don't feel intimidated, and the veterans don't get bored. Some ranges are even lit up for night use, so a buffet-dinner setup accompanied by round tables can often be accommodated on the practice range as well. Finally, if you want to use golf in a way that brings everyone together and still has no pressure attached to it, try night golf. The first and last holes of a golf course are generally right next to the clubhouse, so have the pro shop set up strings of lights in the trees along the fairways of those two holes, and get glow-in-the-dark balls, and have bartenders on the tee and at the green of those two holes. You can send people out in groups of 8 rather than the traditional 4 per group, and nobody worries about how badly they swing a club because it's more silly fun than real competition--and it's only for two holes. Each person spends about 40 minutes on the course, and before and after their time on the course, attendees can watch their colleagues swinging at the glow-in-the-dark balls. It gets lots of laughs, and it just might pique the interest of your nongolfers to take up the game.
By Robert Carey
These are some very interesting points. I might have to try out one of you tips sometime. Great read!
Posted by: Orlando Golf Conditions | September 02, 2010 at 01:53 PM