Golf isn’t just a great way to get exercise, fresh air, and spend time with friends… It’s a fabulous way to network, on and off-season. Even if you’re reading this in the midst of a snowstorm, wondering if you’ll ever see a green again, you can make connections through golf all year long.

Here are 10 ways to use golf to get ahead at work and play:

  1. Sign up for lessons. All year long. Golf lessons are great in the summer, but why stop there? Continue to develop your game in the off-season. You can establish a solid relationship with your golf instructor and other golfers by heading to the driving range after a lesson and talking to other golfers who are also working on their game. You can also ask your instructor if they know anyone at your skill level looking for a golf partner. You get the idea. Lessons aren’t just lessons – they’re getting you into the world of golf and keeping you there, where you’ll no doubt meet like-minded people.
  2. Join a league. Say it with me again… all year long.  Imagine how fun it would be to extend your Wednesday night summer league into the fall and winter. With the growing trend of facilities like Topgolf, Five Iron Golf, and the like, plus bars that offer simulator leagues, your options are endless.  Bonus – fresh people might join your fall and winter leagues, exposing you to new friendships and career opportunities.
  3. Golf Travel. Don’t just plan a beach vacation this winter; plan a golf vacation. Travel with your partner or make it a couple’s or girls’ golf getaway. In addition to bonding and creating lasting memories, you’ll play new courses, visit new cities, and have amazing experiences.  All of this opens the door to new opportunities and people.
  4. Volunteer to help with an outing. Why not do good during the off-season and volunteer to help plan an outing? Score points with your boss by volunteering to help with the next company outing or ask your friends if you can help with theirs. It’s a great way to get out of the house, be social, and best of all… help a great cause. You can reap the benefits and feel the satisfaction of a job well done in the summer when you participate in the event.
  5. If you can’t volunteer for an outing, sign up for one. Or several. Signing up for a charity outing does many things – it commits you to a golf event months in advance. What a great motivator to work on your game, right? In addition, you can help a great cause and get a tax write-off in the process. (Maybe you can even make a donation from your personal business or your company – what a great way to gain exposure while doing a good deed.) Finally, when it comes time for the outing, you’ll find yourself with like-minded people who all want the same things – to work on their games, network, and help better the world. That’s what we call a hole-in-one.
  6. Join a club or take your club involvement up a notch. If you already belong to a club, awesome. You know the benefits of club membership – a sense of community, networking opportunities, membership perks, club events, dining, etc. You’ve got “your people and your place” all in one. If you don’t belong to a club, look for one that matches your vibe and life situation, and see how membership can expand your social connections.
  7. Join a gym and focus on fitness for golf. By becoming a gym regular and exercising to make you a stronger golfer, you’ll meet others with the same intentions. And, even if they aren’t golfers, they’re still fitness-minded people who prioritize health and wellness. (i.e., As your mom would say, “They’re good influences.”  Bam! You’re expanding your network with people you relate to. And maybe you can even ask one of your new gym rat pals to play in that outing you’re planning.
  8. Find golf buddies on social networks.  There are so many places online where you can connect with other golfers to talk about golf, golfers, golf trips, golf apparel, or even schedule meetups and tee times. From Facebook and Instagram to unique platforms like Golf Lync or (female-founded) Golfing Buddy, the World Wide Web is your oyster for making new golf connections.
  9. Got a few junior golfers in your house? If one or many of your kids are golfers, chances are you cart them around to lessons, practices, and meets. Try to befriend other golf moms or dads, and maybe even set up your own tee times or social outings.
  10. Speaking of social outings. Remember, bars, restaurants, yoga classes, spa weekends, and hiking trails are great places to connect with your foursome. Take the fun off the course and continue to build those powerful friendships that golf has a special way of creating.

So… whatever you choose to do on or off the course, don’t forget that golf has an amazing power to connect us! It’s truly the game that keeps on giving.