No golfing column on Long Island would be complete without mention of my golfing foibles for I am the kind of golfer who makes fellow amateurs feel really good about their skills. While I have long been involved in small business issues through 27 years of making low cost loans to LI entrepreneurs, along the way, I have been drafted to play in various golf tournaments. Participation in the tournaments has been great for networking with real estate brokers, bankers, and the like, for support of various philanthropic activities, and just because its fun. The result of all these golfing relationships has been more business for my company- Long Island Development Corporation and the rise of my reputation as Long Island’s most sought after and well known bad golfer.

Along with the notoriety has come opportunity- opportunity to promote my business in and around the golf course. Every golfer passing by my foursome receives a business card, and perhaps a chotchka or two. At the inevitable dinner reception, I’m actively networking, spreading the word about low cost second mortgage loans for small business.

All this fun has even lead LIDC to start its own golf tournament- to benefit its procurement technical assistance division- which provides free counseling to entrepreneurs seeking to do business with the government. On May 7, at the Hamlet in Commack, LIDC will be honoring John Buran, President/CEO Flushing Financial Corporation (however, I will not be playing- it would not be fair to the other golfers).

At this point you may be wondering whether my notoriety as a golfer exists only in my mind. Well- let me tell you that, twice, I have won the “ Broken Club Award” at the annual Montauk Downs golf outing of the LI Business Development Council (LIBDC). On a third occasion I was part of the foursome that won the “Broken Club Award.” The first time was due to attempts to move the tee markers (which looked like baci balls in the way of the golfers). The second award was for fighting with the starter who accused my foursome of holding up play- the truth of the matter was that we played faster than anyone else because we were honest about picking up at double par and moving on. It wasn’t until after the tournament that I found out that NOBODY ever does that! The third award occurred when my partner club head went further than the ball and couldn’t be found. Unfortunately, it was a custom made left handed club and cost the foursome a pretty penny to replace.

On another occasion, I won an award for correcting a fellow golfer’s gaffe. My golfing buddy tried to take the pins to put in her golf bag on the premise that “I think you have to take the flag to prove you played the hole.” I knew better (thanks to a six week golf etiquette course) and put the pins back. On my shelf proudly sits a beautiful bronze statue for “Closest to the Pin” awarded by Advancement for Commerce Industry & Technology (ACIT). I received that award by going to the Executive Director at the end of the awards presentation and complaining that ACIT didn’t give out any awards achievable by players like myself- awards like “shortest drive,” “furthest from the pin,” “cleanest balls” (I stop at every ball cleaner -another thing learned in golf etiquette). The director responded by bringing forth the bronze award statue saying- “here, this is an extra- you can have it.”

In addition to being an award winning golfer, I looks the part, with a Masters Golf Bag, towels and covers-won at a conference. People started offering me money for the bag and I asked the guy sitting next to me why. He responded- “don’t you understand- it’s a Masters Golf Bag, sold only during the Masters tournament, on course.” My response:“ that’s great- what’s the Masters?”

In case you’re looking to avoid me on the course, I can typically be seen wearing my signature yellow (bright as a bee) golf shirt with the 10 inch LIDC logo emblazoned across the chest (don’t laugh-that logo once saved my life- a golf ball I hit up bounced back down and hit me in the chest- fortunately the logo material was so big and thick it protected me). The detriment of the yellow golf shirt is that it attracts bees but the benefit is that it makes me visible to everyone on the course. You can’t promote yourself unless you’re visible!

Even the most disheartening of events on the golf course can turn out to be a positive in terms of self promotion. One time, the golf cart ceased moving forward and would only go in reverse. I had to drive in reverse for six holes before finding help from marshals. The good news was that the volunteer marshal was a banker needing a second mortgage loan for his business customer with just 10% down. I was able to structure the deal for him right there. He called his customer and was able to issue the commitment that day.

All of this demonstrates not only my serious lack of golfing ability, but the marvelous opportunities to build relationships and network while having fun Since a golf game typically takes several hours, it’s a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with the other players. The key is putting together the right foursome and following up on those contacts.

So, whether you’re the best of golfers, lousy but award winning (like me), or just thinking of trying the game- consider golf as a sales tool for your business. It will help you develop relationships, sell your products and (hopefully) most of all- have fun while doing business!