Having fun learning

I am in danger of becoming a golf geek – 2 posts on the same topic in a week. Just a coincidence – honest – but yesterday I spent the afternoon playing golf with a group of ladies who range from absolute beginners to relatively experienced and – according to the comments at the time – we had fun. The reason I caviat that is that we played in some of the worst rain I remember for quite some time. If we had not been enjoying ourselves I am sure we would have packed in after the first couple of holes and headed back to the clubhouse.The hosts were a firm of solicitors in Edinburgh and the ladies who organised this ( and previous) events are a credit to them. Their purpose is to encourage ladies to play golf in a business networking context ( as men have done routinely for some time) in an inclusive, fun and friendly way.

For many people  one of the biggest barriers to learning something new is the assumption that everyone else knows what they are doing and that they are doing it well. One lady said that she had decided to have a go after waiting for her partner and his friend whilst sitting at the first tee. After watching several people tee off she realised that there were as many misses as hits and it completely changed her mind about having a go.

One of the ladies in my team was playing her very first game of golf after having a few lessons. If she could reach the end of the round in the conditions we played in yesterday then nothing should stop her now!

We learned a bit about adapting to ( or tolerating) the conditions, giving tips and encouragement and building relationships.

All in all a  very worthwhile way to spend an afternoon.