The Unexpected Career Advantage: What Golf Taught Me About Business
When people think about career growth or opportunities, they usually think about degrees, internships/apprenticeships, or hard and soft skills.
Golf rarely makes the list.
But for me, golf has played a pivotal role in shaping my career, long before I fully realized it.
It Started Before My Career Even Did
I didn’t pick up golf to “network.” I played because I enjoyed spending time with my dad. He handed me my first club at age 3, I started practicing in the backyard at age 4, and by age 5 I was allowed to play in my first 3 hole tournament (which I won). This led to junior leagues all throughout my early childhood and into high school. Sadly, a shoulder injury shelved my collegiate career hopes, but I still stayed close to the sport.
But what I didn’t understand at the time was that golf was quietly opening doors.
Growing up playing golf was not "popular" for girls, like volleyball, dance or soccer. I was often the only girl at summer golf camps surrounded by boys, or having to pair up with boys to play in a tournament because there were no girls to compete against in local junior golf leagues.
What this taught me was to be adaptable and mentally strong. I was often teased for playing golf, or picked on by the boys for being the only girl. Little did I know that later on in life, those same girls that picked on me would end up wanting to play golf too; I just got the head start.
Through the game, I built relationships that led to internships with the First Tee, HGA and then TCU Athletics. Those internships turned into connections. And those connections ultimately helped me land my first job out of college at Topgolf.
Not because I was the best golfer, but because I was in the room (or more accurately, on the course).
The Course Is a Different Kind of Boardroom
There’s something about four hours on a golf course that you just can’t replicate in an office or on a Zoom call.
Conversations are more candid. People are more relaxed. Hierarchies disappear. The course becomes a level playing field. I found myself invited to rounds and tournaments with leadership (mostly because I could tee off from the ladies' tees to give them a better shot)—listening, observing, and learning.
Not through formal training, but through proximity.
I heard how decisions were made. How partnerships were evaluated. What mattered to leaders behind closed doors. I observed how a change in scenery can impact tough conversations. Those moments gave me a level of business exposure that most entry-level roles or internships simply don’t offer.
Access Is Everything
Golf gave me access.
Access to conversations. Access to decision-makers. Access to opportunities I didn’t even know existed yet.
And here’s the reality: many of those opportunities were never posted online.
They were discussed on the driving range, between holes in the carts, and at the clubhouse for after round drinks. Mentioned casually in conversation. Or sparked by simply spending time together.
It Was Never Just About Golf
The biggest misconception is that golf is about the sport. Or that it's only for men in business.
It’s not.
It’s about:
Building relationships, both professional and personal
Showing up consistently
Learning how to read people
Knowing when to speak, and more importantly, when to listen
And women most definitely have a place on the course.
Golf taught me how to navigate professional relationships in a way that directly translated into my career.
Why This Still Matters Today
In a world where so much of our work is digital and at times impersonal, spaces like this matter more than ever.
Not because everyone needs to play golf, but because everyone needs a relationship-building environment.
Golf just happens to be one of the most powerful ones I’ve experienced.
18th Green Thought
Some of the most important moments in my career didn’t happen in a conference room.
They happened on a fairway, in the rough, and on the green.
So if you’re early in your career, or even looking to grow into leadership, don’t underestimate the environments that give you access, visibility, and connection. You never know which conversation will change everything.
So grab a colleague and hit the driving range. You can thank me later. See you on the course.
