Leisure & Culture Dundee (L&CD) is an independent Scottish charity that delivers many of Dundee’s leisure, sport, library, cultural and heritage services on behalf of the city. From leisure centres and wellbeing programmes to museums, libraries, events and cultural venues, its services make a positive difference to the lives of millions of residents and visitors every year.
Is Golf Still the Ultimate Networking Move?
Lighter nights are here, it’s Masters week and like a lot of people in my network, I’m excited about the prospect of a post dinner Tee Time – which got me thinking, are Corporate Golf Days still relevant?
Once upon a time, corporate golf days were the ultimate networking flex—sealing deals, building relationships, and giving rather long putts to clients. Then COVID happened, and suddenly, golf days started to disappear. So five years later, is in-person networking back? And is golf still the go-to?
The Comeback of Face-to-Face Networking
Turns out, people missed actual human interaction. A Harvard study suggests 72% of professionals prefer in-person meetings. At Livingston James we’ve got a number of brilliant event series running including our Future CEO series, No Diversity No Deal, CFO to CEO and our NXD events with some great feedback. We love bringing great people together. Companies are returning to in-person, but the question is: has corporate golf kept its VIP status? Yes and no. Some firms are cutting back on lavish outings, while others see golf as a great way to bond—four hours of forced socialising with no escape. Still, the sport is evolving, with beginner-friendly days, shorter games, and alternative outdoor events to make networking more accessible.
Is It Inclusive? Or Just an Old Boys’ Club?
Let’s be real, golf hasn’t always been the most welcoming sport. But businesses are shaking things up:
The Verdict: Keep Golfing, But Read the Room
Networking is back, and corporate golf still has its place—if it evolves. I think it’s about keeping it fun, inclusive, and flexible. For me personally, hitting the course is great for my mental health (usually) and 9 holes at 8am with a client that plays can be much more productive than a Teams call.
At Livingston James a few of us have been thinking again about a corporate golf day in the future which can raise money for charity and offer up great networking opportunities. Who’s up for that? Essentially I just wrote this to see what other golfers are in my network. Get in touch if you want to connect over a game – [email protected].
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