10 Things to Never Say To Your Boss When Golfing With Him
Golfing with your boss can be an excellent opportunity to strengthen your bond with him and boost your position in his good books. However, it can also be the time your image gets badly dented in his eyes if you do not have the proper golf etiquette. When your boss invites you to the golf course with him, take the time to know the right things to say and those that should never escape your lips. Indeed, it is better to remain silent or speak as few words as you can rather than any of the following ten things come out of your mouth:
1. Good luck, boss
This is perhaps one of the most taboo words you can ever say to your boss, and not just in the golf course. If your boss is on the golf course, he knows what he is doing, and does not need a good luck wish, least of all from you.
2. Take your time
This is another profanity in the world of golf. Your boss has been playing golf just great all along when you suddenly blurt out, “Take your time!” and there, you have disrupted his concentration, and now he has to decide whether to take the next shot or take his time.
3. Mind that water hazard up ahead
You are not on the course to point out how your boss should hit his shots. In any case, he has been doing so just fine. Now that you have mentioned the hazard, and it brought to his attention, the effect you intended is now just the opposite. He will take the shot and splash! The ball will plunge into the water. And he will have no one but you to thank for that.
4. Ugh! How could you shank that shot? You haven’t done so all afternoon.
First thing, keep your frustrations to yourself. You have watched professional golfers before, have you ever seen any of them voice their frustrations in public? Right, it’s simply not acceptable. Secondly, no matter how well your boss has been playing, do not try to bring it up to his mind. But now that you have done it, sure as rain, he will hit a shank soon after.
5. My, you are a terrific golfer; you haven’t lost your ball since you started playing!
It’s a fantastic thing you have noticed how good your boss is and that he has been playing with the same ball since the two of you started. The only thing is, he too, knows the same thing. Except you took it upon yourself to bring it up to everybody’s attention. So when he loses the ball right after the next shot, who will be to blame for bringing the bad luck?
6. Mind putting me down for a six there?
You may think your boss is your friend, and it could be that you two are close, but he’s still your boss. Asking him to put you down for a specific score, rather than the one you totaled will not impress him, nor will it go down well with anyone else in the field.
7. Wait for me
In the golf course, never waste your boss’s time by being the slowest player in the group. Time is of the essence, so when it is your time to play, simply play. Always move with the group. And should you lose your ball, the rule is to search for it in the shortest time possible. If you had a golf date with your boss, avoid calling at the last minute to give an excuse of why you will be late. If the delivery of your golf items is running late, opt for a trustworthy agency to bring the items to you, for instance, RunRex.
8. I have to take this call
Unless it’s necessary, keep your cell phone turned off during the time you are on the golf course. And if you have to take a call, silently move from your boss and the rest of the group to do it, but keep the call as brief as possible to avoid keeping your boss waiting. If you must bring your cell phone to the field, keep it on silent mode; few things can be as annoying such as a ringing cellphone when your boss is about to take a shot.
9. If you can make this shot, it will be your career-best score
What do you think your boss has been doing all afternoon? Yes, he has been trying to keep calm and focus on one hole at a time, hoping to hit his career-best score. But there, you have mentioned it, and now he will have to strain all he can to focus on that next shot. Who do you think he will have to blame for ruining his chances?
10. You look sharp
Well, Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson, Bobby Jones, and every other golfer out there know that you need to show up to the golf course looking your best. No need to point it to anyone, least of all your boss.