The best way to understand a concept like corporate golf is to, first, understand the pieces of the puzzle. When people think of "corporate" they most often have a business organization in mind. Usually, this business is large, in comparison to local stores and offices most of us are familiar with. The dictionary defines "corporate" as "pertaining to a united group; united or combined into one." Of course, this refers to corporations, large businesses that manufacture, sell or service something in the world economy.

Golf in Mauritius That said, what about the second part of the title? Golf is a rather old game, probably first played by gentleman farmers in Scotland. These fellows used hard wood sticks to hit round stones or primitive golf balls along cleared paths. The object was to get the "ball" into a hole (usually a rabbit hole). Over the centuries, changes and improvements in technology and transportation have turned the game of golf into a billion-dollar industry itself, with manicured playing grounds and luxurious accommodations. Putting these two pieces together creates a whole other world, really. The general idea is to combine business with golfing pleasure, in order to accomplish both business and social goals. The corporate way of golf is now a major industry, with several distinct pieces that make a unique whole.

• There are golf service companies that specialize in arranging business-oriented golf trips to hundreds of destinations in the UK, Europe and the United States. These companies will arrange nearly every detail to fit the budget, the desired destination and the level of golf skill of a particular group. Many of these specialty companies have been in business for 15 or 20 years.


• Other specialists in this corporate golf field focus on golf merchandise, providing top-shelf golf apparel, equipment and accessories as part of an overall business plan. These items are almost always among the best available, and are often used as gifts to encourage a business relationship between two companies. Marketing and public relations professionals who work for these corporate service providers can often arrange appearances by celebrities, an idea that adds interest to any business gathering.


• Some companies have combined the love of golf, the corporate world and the World Wide Web to create a service that operates almost entirely through what is known as cyberspace. These companies help arrange a large tournament sponsored by a company, a golf retreat for company executives or potential clients, and many other variations of golf-related activities. In many cases, the person in charge of arranging the event simply chooses a golf resort and possible dates, then turns it over to the corporate golf arrangement specialists. Having a well-known golf pro appear at the event is just one of many possibilities.

Those who hold business meetings at the country club find that this option is generally quite rewarding, since it provides both clients and staff a comfortable atmosphere for discussion. Most companies have found that injecting a bit of fun and excitement into the company operation generates excellent results. The combination of business with pleasure has spawned a new industry and the early returns look very good.