An innovative networking organisation is helping to boost golf club revenues and drive business by using the game as a catalyst for developing new contacts.
“FORE” Business, which launched in Spring 2013, is close to celebrating its second birthday having signed up over 500 members across 26 active groups across England and Wales. More than 500 business men and women have taken part in the events held during the year, which has generated over £250k for the golf industry in additional green fee income.
There will be 32 new groups launching in the New Year and “FORE” Business has now set its sights on having over 100 active groups on board by the end of 2016.
As Sean Fergusson co-founding director of “FORE” Business explained: “Golf and business go hand in hand, as it brings likeminded people together and creates a great icebreaker with the right environment for networking.
“The appetite for networking with golf has even surpassed our own expectations and we are creating a new national community of golfers through this innovative business development concept.”
It’s not what you know, but who you know which is influential in business, and being part of an active group comes an abundance of opportunities, as “FORE” Business member Kevin Carver a business development manager from Accelerate My Sales points out:
“Meeting other businesses is always a great thing to do and networking groups have proved this over a considerable length of time. “FORE” Business allows more time and potentially greater rewards. Building trust to do business with anyone is a key factor and behaviour on a golf course reveals a lot about a person.”
Women are also getting involved as Kay Binns, Head of Marketing and Research at Evolution Complete Business explained: “Business is all about relationships and where better to build them than whilst playing golf in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
“I joined because it’s a great way to improve my golf and meet other business people in the area. Whilst my company is known in London and other cities I wasn’t connected to businesses close to home, but now that’s changing.”
Individuals from small to large businesses, as well as sole traders, are signing up as members in a bid to make valuable contacts and cement relationships with potential clients or partners.
The monthly networking events organised by “FORE” Business provide uninterrupted quality time and a relaxing atmosphere to do business both on and off the golf course.
Co-founding director, Arron Busst, added, “Unlike many other networking events, “FORE” Business, offers a natural way of building relationships and friendships throughout the entire network. It’s not just about the people you meet at the local group meeting it’s about tapping into the national network.
“Via the FREE monthly 4-ball we provide a mechanism for our members to play golf and develop new business opportunities across the entire national “FORE” Business community; so we are seeing members sharing their 4-ball spaces with other members up and down the country. By the end of 2015 our members will now be able to engage with 1500 business owners and senior decision makers and play on 62 different golf clubs!”
Since piloting the initiative in the south east last year, “FORE” Business has attracted golf clubs as host venues across the home counties spreading to Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Norfolk, Leicestershire, Berkshire, Surrey, Northamptonshire, Kent, Essex, East Sussex, Shropshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Warwickshire to the West Midlands, East Midlands, North West and Wales.
FORE Business www.fore-business.com