20 Answers
We asked 20 Las Vegas professionals, "How much business do you conduct on the golf course?"
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“I play golf as much as possible, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at my game.”
Adam Sperling, tournament director, Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
“I use the golf course more for strategic–planning meetings than anything else. It’s a great opportunity to get three or four hours of dedicated time in on a particular subject.”
Steve Flynn, partner, Langdon Flynn Communications
“In our line of work, most of our customers don’t have time to play golf. Our golf outings center around community events for various charities. It’s a great way to give back to the community, and it gives our employees a chance to get out and have fun for the day.”
Greg Schenkel, food service sales manager, Meadow Gold Dairies Las Vegas
“Not as much as I would like to. I use golf to get away from the office with partners and clients as an opportunity to build camaraderie with them.”
Mark Haley, president, Smart City Networks
“Business is all about relationships. Golf provides the opportunity to spend time with people, one-on-one, and to discuss life. It’s a way to build lifelong friendships.”
Renee Hale, president/CEO, Always Creative
“I seldom conduct business on the golf course, but I’ve found that golf is a great instrument for determining whether you want to do business with a person.”
Bob Faiss, chairman, gaming & regulatory law department, Lionel Sawyer and Collins
“By incorporating golf outings into many of the meetings packages at Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, business professionals are easily able to take their work out on the course for a change of pace.”
Cherylanne Thomas, director of sales and marketing, Ravella at Lake Las Vegas
“20 percent.”
Doug Sipe, pro shop assistant, Desert Pines Golf Course
“I don’t technically do any business on the golf course.”
Kyle Helms, tournament director, JMA’s Troops First Foundation
“A lot. It’s a great way to judge someone’s character and to build relationships. A lot of my business, right now, is building relationships for our program.”
Christopher Cain, director, PGA Golf Management Program, UNLV
“A fair amount. Golf is a good measure of how people conduct themselves when dealing with competitive situations.”
Mike Randall, vice president/COO, Silver State Schools Credit Union
“It’s difficult to quantify. I’ve done business on the golf course and it usually results in a contract. The atmosphere puts clients at ease.”
Joseph M. Vassallo, president, Paragon Pools
“I’m in real estate sales. Those playing a lot of golf tend to be people who are able to afford houses.”
Lee Winston, real estate agent, Horizon Realty Group
“None. I go to the golf course to get away from work.”
John Anderson, receiver, Smith’s
“I don’t trade stocks or anything while I’m out here, but we do talk a lot about school.”
Mallory Swenkins, UNLV student
“I’m always on the phone with clients out here. It’s like they all know when I’m off golfing.”
Yesenia Hernández, personal shopper
“30 percent.”
Mario Arceo, sous chef, garde manger at Aria
“None. I’m a teacher. We talk about classes and such.”
Todd Knowles, teacher, Desert Pines High School
“None. This is strictly recreational.”
Jason Metsker, construction foreman, Southern Nevada Storm Drain
"Golf is a powerful relationship tool, specifically in the early stages of any business relationship. I can learn more in a four hour round of golf than I can in several boardroom meetings and the ending relationship is deeper.
Dan Savage, vice president of marketing, Bally Technologies