You don’t have to play golf to be good in business, but it doesn’t hurt either

In the world of publishing, I can sense success by what I call the “thud” factor. When I drop a publication onto my pile of newspapers and magazines, how loud is the “thud” when it hits?

One of the more significant “thuds,” for example, was the sound of Westword’s recent “Best of the West” issue. Rather than a “thud,” it was more like a “kaboom.” That 344-page (yes, I said 344 pages) issue, one Westword employee told me at a party, was a record-breaking sales effort.

Through the business downturn of the past few years, several technology or computer magazines, for example, no longer make much of a “thud.” It’s kind of just a “pitter-patter” when I toss them into the stack. Several, in fact, no longer exist.

This is my way of getting to a point about golf and business — something you can read about in our lead story of our annual Links: Front Range Guide to Golf section.

What I’ve come to realize is the more I play golf, the more competitive and hopefully more directed I seem to be in business.

Golf Digest, to me, is a genuine “thud” publication. Not even counting all the golf ball, golf club, golf clothing, golf resort ads, there are always ads from Mercedes, Acura, Porsche, Saab, Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Jeep, Buick, Land Rover, Lexus, MSN, Omega, Rolex and Tagheurer watches, SmithBarney, Charles Schwab, Cingular, Expedia.com, IBM, Cruzan Rum & do I need to continue?

These are all national “thud” factor advertisers. And they know a lot about the demographics of golfers.

While you’ve never been surprised to hear me write about my fishing adventures, I’ve also confessed how I succumbed to giving this strange game of golf a chance. Could I actually learn the game well enough to feel comfortable saying “yes” when a business client invited me out?

Well I’m proud to announce that day has arrived. A great golfer? A damn good golfer? Hardly. But I made a commitment, and after considerable effort — and several private lessons at Flatirons — I can honestly say, for the first time, I’m comfortable on most courses. OK yes, from the white tees, but I’ll play the blues if you insist.

Now after I make this next statement, I know my phone is not going to ring off the hook with invites. That’s OK, too.

I am absolutely confident I will break 100 this summer.

For everyone who’s been golfing since you were teen-agers, the number 100, I realize, is a bit embarrassing. For me, it’s a serious goal. I’ve come close, and almost did it last weekend, shooting a good front nine, then falling apart on the back nine for a 104.

What I’ve come to realize about golf is that yes, there are those who must drive a Lexus and own a Rolex and a nice $350 putter fits nicely with the rest of the expensive clubs in their bag. But they may not hit the ball any better than me.

I watched a few of them tee off last fall at Pebble Beach, where I was sitting near the first tee enjoying the show.

When you know you’ll drop about $500 for a round of golf, you better darn look good on the course. Problem is, as I watched them tee off, several golfers muffed shots onto the cart path or out of bounds. Were they going to break 100? I doubt it.

Earlier this month I flew back to my hometown of Louisville, Ky. and hauled along my golf clubs.

There’s a lot to be said about the cost of living in Kentucky — prices in the Sunday home section make you think you’re reading a newspaper from the ’60s. And the price for 18 holes on public courses, I discovered, is very close to what you pay for a cart out here. Yes, there was one sign outside a clubhouse with a big X through the silhouette of a .45-caliber revolver indicating no firearms allowed, but I was assured it was no more than a two-stroke penalty if they caught you with one.

I also get a kick out of seeing golfers totally content to play the game with what I’m pretty sure are the same clubs they’ve owned since high school. Those persimmon drivers just kind of stand out these days.

Now according Golf Digest, iron-woods or hybrids are the hottest new thing. And I confess I’ve already fondled a few at the golf shop. Is the golf industry about to squeeze another $100 out of me for a new club? As a businessperson, you have to love the way these golf companies think.

Competition, product innovation, goal setting, accomplishment, taking control, back to the basics, team play — is this golf school or business school?

Maybe I’ll figure it all out as soon as I break 100.

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