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:
Offering golf lessons for newbies
Mixing in different golf activities like Topgolf
Making it about fun, not just the longest drive
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].
Can we help?
If you are looking for leadership advisory or recruitment support, please get in touch with our team of experts.
Bairds are the largest UK maltster operating five plants, three in Scotland and two in England. Due to retirement, Bairds are now looking to appoint a new Distilling Sales Manager to sell malt into the Distilling sector to meet the company’s future plans, leveraging strong customer relationships, delivered and administered effectively and competently.
Livingston James is delighted to be partnering with The Scottish Parliament on the appointment of a Director of Financial Resources / Chief Financial Officer – a business-critical leadership role at the heart of Scottish democracy.
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].
Can we help?
If you are looking for leadership advisory or recruitment support, please get in touch with our team of experts.
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