GOLFING WOMEN: Taking Advantage of the Powerful Business Benefits of Golf

Golfing Women, a division of Sports Journeys, Inc., was founded in 2002 by Adrienne Wax and Leslie Andrews to “help other women take advantage of the powerful business benefits of golf.”  Adrienne Wax comes from over 25 years in the advertising industry and Leslie Andrews, a Class A LPGA Professional, has over 15 years experience in marketing and events management.  The Fourth Tee recently conducted the following Q&A with Golfing Women.

THE FOURTH TEE:  Thank you to Golfing Women for doing this informative Q&A for our readers, especially our female readers.  Golfing Women was formed, as your company’s bio states, specifically to expose the business benefits of golf to women.  Why do you think it is important for women, especially corporate women, to learn to play golf?

GOLFING WOMEN:   Because success in business is about building relationships.  And there’s no better way to build relationships with prospects or clients than spending a day on a golf course, attending a pro golf tournament together, etc.  Most men do this seamlessly, while women struggle to find a way to incorporate this valuable business tool into their business arsenal.

Photo Courtesy of Golfing Women

TFT:  Since 2002, your founding year, how successful can you say you’ve been in bringing new female golfers to the game based upon the use of your services?

GW:  We’ve had the opportunity to work with thousands of women in financial services, consulting, law, communications and other industries.  And while not every woman we meet embraces golf, the majority has jumped in with both feet.

TFT:  And, based on your experience, are they coming more for the recreational value of the game, or are they coming more from a business advantage perspective?

GW:  Both.  It’s great for business, and it’s a great way for friends and families to connect.

TFT:  Golfing Women offers several programs.  Let’s talk about your “Golf for Biz” program.  First, what are the top 3 must-knows to successfully use golf for business?

GW:  1: You don’t have to be a great golfer to use golf for business.  2: You need to know golf basics—essentially how to get the ball in the air fairly consistently—and the etiquette of how to act on a golf course. 3: If you’re not using golf as a business tool, you are missing out on a powerful opportunity.

Photo Courtesy of Golfing Women

TFT:  Explain how women in Corporate America can build better business relationships through golf.

GW:  I worked in marketing and advertising for years.  I have found that having good client relationships is most important when you face adversity.  The better the relationship, the easier it is to successfully address and defuse problems, which are inevitable.  And building relationships out of the office around a shared passion is a powerful relationship builder.

TFT:  Give an example of how women can use golf outings as a business tool.

GW:  We have a client who holds a yearly golf outing for its female employees and clients.  They invite both golfers and non-golfers, and we hold programs for both.  We end with an hour or so of a networking cocktail party where everyone who attended can share their day’s experiences.  The feedback we get from both sides is that the outing enables everyone to learn more about the other—and tie them closer together in business.

TFT:   Let’s talk about the one-on-one private coaching for business women.  Golfing Women is headquartered in East Hampton, NY, with offices in New York City and Boca Raton, FL.  Does this mean that your one-on-one private coaching services are limited to these cities or states?

GW:  We are based in the northeast the majority of the year and take our business to Florida in the winters.  So we can work with anyone in those areas during those times.  While it is impractical to do 1:1 private coaching in another area of the country, we can easily do full day events anywhere a client wants to hold them, any time of the year.

TFT:  The Fourth Tee is actually very curious about your Tee Off Tomorrow program.  Do you get a lot of requests for this service?  And, are they usually from first timers?

GW:  We designed this program after a client came to us saying they needed to play in an important golf outing in a month, but didn’t know how to play.  While it’s not our most sought after service, it’s really important for those people who need to learn how to get out on the course quickly.  We are re-branding this service FastTrack beginning this season.

TFT:  How long is one FastTrack (formerly Tee Off Tomorrow) session generally and, does it involve on-the-course instruction?

GW:  It’s customized, depending upon how long the person has before they need to be on course.  However, what’s critical is that we spend whatever time it takes to ensure that the person  can get the ball in the air on a fairly consistent basis and knows all the important etiquette.  With that, they’re ready to go.

TFT:  For my readers interested in taking golfing lessons through Golfing Women, are you only based in Florida for purposes of lessons?  Or are there other locations – and if so, where?

GW:  This season, Leslie Andrews, our president and Class A LPGA Professional, will be based at Randall’s Island in NYC the majority of her days, while spending one day a week as well out in the Hamptons .  Visit her new website, LeslieAndrewsGolf.com, where you will be able to book lessons online.  You can also reach her at 917-589-8579.

Photo Courtesy of Golfing Women

TFT:  Golfing Women also offers golf travel as one of its services.  The Fourth Tee has a feature page called Destination Golf and is curious to know what is the all-time most popular golf travel destination that Golfing Women has done for its patrons.

GW: I would have to say Ireland, to which we are returning this fall for a “play with the pro” trip to SW Ireland.  Pinehurst is a great destination here in the US which we have frequented as well.

TFT:  What courses do you expect to play during your Irish trip and, for interested readers, when can they expect to see details about the trip on your site?

GW:  This year’s trip will take us to SW Ireland, where we will play the well-known championship links courses including Ballybunion and Tralee, along with lesser-known local gems including Dingle Golf Links, Ceann Sibeal.  Located on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, this magnificent links course is carved from the natural landscape of one of the most unspoiled parts of Europe.  As you play, the whole panorama of the Dingle Peninsula is revealed:  hidden bays with small fishing villages, glorious hills and mountains.  We should have more information about this trip posted in early summer.

TFT:  The Fourth Tee thanks Golfing Women for sharing their story with, especially, our female readers. To learn more about Golfing Women, visit www.sportsjourneys.com or send an email to info@golfingwomen.com.

MADCAPZ – A Q&A with Carrie Bell, Founder

Polka Dot

The Fourth Tee recently went to an off-course golf event and found a marketing postcard about a company called Madcapz in the event’s goodie bag.  Madcapz.  Definitely an attention-getter.  As Madcapz describes on the postcard it’s “women’s fun colorful caps & visors.”  But it is so much more.  Madcapz is founder Carrie Bell’s own triumph over adversity.  But, we’ll let her tell you all about it.

THE FOURTH TEE: It is an honor to share your story and the story of Madcapz with the Fourth Tee public.  Tell us how you came to create Madcapz.

CARRIE BELL: Madcapz was created from a need I had. I was sick (from Grave’s Disease) and losing my hair and wanted a fun feminine cap to wear to cover my head. I searched in vain and couldn’t find one, so I decided to create them myself – and Madcapz was born!

TFT: How long ago was Madcapz created?

CB: 2006

TFT: What’s in a name?  By that I mean, what is the significance of the name “Madcapz?”

CB: There really is no significance other than it connotes a fun name for a fun product!  When I started to think of a company name, I played around with several names. Madcapz literally popped into my head one night when I was trying to sleep!

TFT: According to your site, Madcapz was primarily created for women suffering hair loss as a result of various medical ailments.  What has been the response/feedback from women so affected?

CB: Well, I’m not sure I set out to create Madcapz just for women with hair loss. I was certainly solving a problem that I personally had. But I did think women in general would love Madcapz – and they do! The absolute best part of my job is having women email us to tell us how much Madcapz has brightened their days while they are experiencing hair loss. We also get emails from people who have given Madcapz as a gift to those going through chemo or experiencing hair loss for other medical reasons – and I just love those emails!

TFT: Tell us about your “Pink” line and how people generally respond to it.

CB: Our Pink line became popular with women walking in various Breast Cancer events. We have teams who order pink Madcapz for their members for special Breast Cancer walk/run events.

Celebration

CB (Cont’d): Just want to mention that we also have a special teal Madcapz that we made for the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation to help them in their fight against ovarian cancer. For every HERA Madcapz we sell, we donate $3 to the HERA Foundation.

HERA

TFT: Your site also markets Madcapz baseball hats as golf or tennis wear – and you even have visors – plus, you are also a licensed vendor of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (“EWGA”).  What was the genesis into the sportswear space? Was it just a natural progression?

CB: Although I started Madcapz because I was losing my hair and wanted a fun feminine cap to wear, I found fairly early on in this business that women golfers loved our caps. So, it really was a natural progression to expand into that market. Women golfers have great style and want to have fun on and off the course, so Madcapz are a terrific fashion accessory for golfers!

TFT: Do you play golf and/or tennis?

CB: I do play both tennis and golf, but am trying to focus my energies on golf. I actually began only a few years ago when I realized such a large percentage of my market are golfers! I love it, but it’s very hard to hit that little white ball where I want it to go

TFT: It’s also clear from your website you offer online shopping, but if my readers want to go to a physical store where they can experiment with, and try on, the various designs you offer, where can they go?  Are you in any major chains?

CB: We are in many small boutiques, hospital gift shops, oncology boutiques, golf retailers, golf pro shops, and gift shops all across the country. If someone wants to find a store near them, her best bet is to contact us and we can point her to the closest store/retailer that carries Madcapz.  I do want to tell you that our caps and visors have adjustable straps so that they fit most women’s heads comfortably.

Midnight Moon

TFT: What would you say is your best selling design?  And do you create new designs each season?

CB: Our animal prints have always been popular, but this season they are really hot! Also, our polka dot prints are always best sellers. We introduce a Spring collection and a Summer collection. Our Spring collection was just introduced this month and can be seen online at our website.

Animal Safari

TFT: The Fourth Tee appreciates the opportunity to have this Q&A with you and is pleased to showcase some of your hats to our readers.  Thank you.

All photos are courtesy of Madcapz.  To learn more about Madcapz visit www.madcapz.net.

Purple Passion

For The Love of Golf, Women Take a Lesson and Change your Life.

Submitted by DGW, Atlanta, GA

I know that it is very hard to find time for yourself in this busy hectic world.  We do not have five minutes for ourselves sometimes.  But I wanted you to think about this at least for the future, or if you can do it now, just do it.

This is not just a game men play.  There are many women out there playing golf but not enough. We have great role models, Nancy Lopez, Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa and the legendary Babe Zharias.

(Image Courtesy of The Fourth Tee Archives)

I remember when I took my first golf lesson.  I took my first golf lesson in 1997 the year Tiger Woods won his first Masters.  My husband had been playing golf for many years before I started playing.  I would listen to his stories with amusement but never felt the urge or need to play the game.  We had just moved into a home which was located near the 6th hole of one of 5 public golf courses in Somerset County, NJ.  Every day, I picked up errant balls and every Saturday watched as players hunted for balls in the bushes behind our backyard.  I was getting curious, something was always happening over at the par 4, #6.

The urge to learn to play really ramped up with Tiger Woods and his appearance on the national scene.  The Masters was the first time I watched golf coverage in its entirety on TV.  My friends and family talked about his win incessantly.  I watched him on Oprah and was truly inspired for the first time to try this game.  His enthusiasm and his gutsy play, his drive and, suddenly, I wanted to play too.  My husband played so it was something for us to do together as a couple.  And I was not alone, a lot of my female friends also started playing golf for the same reason.  I took my first lesson and was hooked.

(Image Courtesy of The Fourth Tee Archives)

I love golf for the chance to be with nature.  I love the trees, the sounds of nature, birds and water.  I appreciate what golf courses have done to preserve nature and to provide a sanctuary for animals.

I love golf because it pushed me to be more independent.  I would go to the course and play 9 holes myself, something I may not have done before.  It pushed me to go further in the game and in life than I had ever gone before.  It provided the ultimate life lessons.

I love golf because it provides me with time for me, just me.  I have a chance to think, I evaluate professional and personal issues.  I am alone with my thoughts and it is incredibly freeing.

(Image Courtesy of The Fourth Tee Archives)

I love golf because it allowed me to meet people from all over the world, from different paths. I may never see them again, but in some small way, they impacted my life and I impacted their lives.

I love golf because it expanded my horizons.  It motivated me to travel to places I may not have gone, just to play golf.

Golf also provides a great opportunity for women to network with fellow colleagues.  All of those corporate golf outings you missed in the past should now be on your schedule.

(Image Courtesy of The Fourth Tee Archives)

Golf taught me how to be more patient.  It forced me to stop, take a step back, and then move forward.  It helped me to relax.

The biggest change?  It taught me how to fight, in both my personal and professional life.  To keep pushing, to never give up.   You cannot give up on the course, you have to make that swing, and if it is bad, so be it, you move to the next one and that one has to be better than the last.

(Image Courtesy of The Fourth Tee Archives)

Golf teaches you how to breathe, to settle and calm your mind.  You have to before each swing or else…..it could be a doozy.

I know everyone talks about the lack of exercise in golf, that it is not a real sport.  Well try walking 18 holes with a bag and no cart.  It kept me slim and trim.  I can tell you that you will exercise the most important part of your body, your mind.

Thank you, Golf, for changing my life.

Please contact any local golf course or Golfsmith in your area and ask about lessons. And get a starter set of golf clubs – no major brand names – just in case it turns out you don’t like golf, at least you would not have wasted your money.

Your life is about to change.

(Image Courtesy of The Fourth Tee Archives)