The Businessman’s Game
GT’s big cheese, Fran Gallagher, is heading to China for business. He stated he intended to see the sights and get in some golf before his Monday business meetings. This is something I have mostly managed to avoid on business trips.
Not the sights. I do enjoy checking out the sights of a new city (or the new sights of a formerly visited city). Not the business meetings. A business trip without business meetings is pretty pointless.
No, what I have managed to avoid is golf. Okay, I admit it. I hate golf. I hate watching golf. I hate talking golf. I hate golf in its entirety.
I have golfed a few times in my life. The first time was shortly after I graduated from high school. We got a foursome together and played 18 holes. I shot a 130. The highlight was a frog swallowing one of my errant shots.
I don’t just dislike golf because I am not good at it. I am not particularly good at billiards, but I never pass on a chance to play. At least in billiards the balls are confined to a roughly eight-foot-square area (except for really wild shots launched off of the table).
Golfers tell me how relaxing it is or how addicting it is. I just don’t see it. Smashing a ball at the hitting cages is addictive (and therapeutic). For a couple bucks, you can get 40 chances to smash out your aggressions at the batting cages, and it is done in about 15 minutes. This just leaves more time for the proverbial 19th hole (aka drinks and a meal).
It wouldn’t have to be swings at the batting cages. It could be lots of other sports. If a business associate suggested a nice round of bocce before a meeting, I’d be all for it. I’d bring some cannoli (for the group, not just me) and give the pallino a few practice tosses to get the feel of the court. Now THAT would be a great pre-meeting activity.
I guess I can’t change the whole business world (although, if you’ve read some of my previous blogs, I have some suggestions). However, if you’d really like to talk business with me, I’ll be in a much better mood with a Louisville Slugger in hand than a 4-iron.
John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
November 12th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Sounds like sour grapes to me. There is nothing so satisfying as hitting that great shot. Golf is a game of concentration and finesse. I have nothing against smashing a baseball, but you aren’t going to get 4 businessmen to play a quick game of fast-pitch. Golf’s slow pace is perfect for business talk.
Maybe you just need a golf tutor to set you straight. I think you would really enjoy it if you were better at it. From what I have read here, you are pretty competitive. Golf would fit you perfectly.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Hey, whatever happened to the golf challenge between GT’s BMOC Fran Gallagher and GT’s Distribution Specialist Louie Atsaves? Is Francis ducking Louie?
November 12th, 2008 at 10:15 am
With all due respect to Mr. Gallagher, our own Louie A. would beat him cleanly and easily.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
John, you need to stick to Golden Tee. That is more your style (or Ms. PacMan).
November 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I like the batting cages idea. Maybe if everyone hit the cages before a meeting, they would be more relaxed and stuff would get accomplished. Maybe their aggression and testosterone would be diminished enough to allow for cooperation!
November 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Louie tees up every shot, even on the putting green
November 13th, 2008 at 10:13 am
FX Gallagher’s only chance at breaking par is at miniature golf. He does very well at the windmill and rooster holes.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Uh uh…Francis X. riled up the Natural. Time to end the talk and settle it!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I’m not a golf fan either, John. George Carlin once said that he could solve the problem of homelessness in America. Just give them all the premium land currently being used for golf courses. Not a bad idea George.
November 13th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Golfers just like saying they golf. It’s prestige. Oh big business meetings over golf. HA! It’s so expensive and you need to be there so early to get a tee time. Why bother? I just don’t understand the attraction and I have had excellent scores when I golfed. So for me, it isn’t sour grapes.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
John, I once thought as you did about golf. I find it relaxing and a great way to unwind - when I’m playing well. Will you consider taking lessons?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
The Big Cheese versus the Natural. That sounds like one of those wrestling matches from yesteryear. On one hand, FXG spends his time running the magazine, so how much time can he spend on golf? Yet, he does write the column and seems to have a golfer persona. On the other hand, anyone called the Natural must be good.
I say hook it up and let’s hear about the results.
November 17th, 2008 at 12:41 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzz
November 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
BIW-I have considered taking skating lessons, but not golf. I guess that says something about how I view the importance. As long as I have a batting cage nearby or a bowling alley, I’ll be fine.
As for the Fran vs. Louie golf challenge…it’s been talked about for years. Will it ever happen?