Following is a little teaser of the interview I did with my business partner Dave Bisbee.  The full interview will be published tomorrow on Mr Business Golf and the Biz Golf Guru sites. Enjoy!

Dave Bisbee – Biz Golf Guru Founder

Meet Dave Bisbee who runs the ultimate in comprehensive game improvement center at Sedona Golf Resort, Sedona Arizona and provides the only integrated system combining golf instruction, custom club fitting, and mental  conditioning available today.

Anchored by Dave Bisbee the Center provides an environment that welcomes new golfers to the game, helps the seasoned golfer achieve higher levels of performance, and offers a unique series of programs for business executives.  A proprietary “Mental Game” program helps golfers gain a deeper understanding of self which leads to a clear cut plan for setting and achieving goals

With more than 35 years of experience Dave is renowned for his innovative methods and easy going style helping thousands of golfers gain greater satisfaction through improved performance.  Known by his peers as a teacher of teachers, Dave has pioneered an integrated system linking mind, body, and Golf. This holistic approach connects the dots that lead to achieving goals.

Dave has authored several books, articles and instructional videos as well as many innovative programs for Fortune 500 companies that combine golf with executive development.

Following is my interview with the Biz Golf Guru.

Mr Business Golf: We have been out talking a lot about business golf over the years but I have never asked you straight up What is Business Golf to you?

Dave: To me it is any of a number of golf experiences that are intended to affect a business objective. It could be to establish or strengthen a customer relationship… or to have the opportunity to bond with team members… or to uncover potential new business opportunities.

MBG: We share in our push towards bringing business golf to more business people as a way to enhance their enjoyment of the game. What are your thoughts on How can Business Golf help Golf?

Dave: By making the game a part of their business strategy. Many companies have shied away from golf over the past few years because of the perception that it is a wasteful use of time and money. If they know how to use it the game can be one of the most powerful and cost effective methods of CRM and relationship marketing that there is.

MBG: You and I have been round and round with thinking out are joint approach to helping Golf find solutions to what is keeping it from growing, Why do you think Golf is not used by more business people?

Dave: I think it probably boils down to the 2 most common challenges which you and I have talked about so often… Time…and Money. Maybe there is some hesitation with regards to skill level but I don’t think that is as much of a factor.

MBG: I am asked by business people who are finding golf as a great addition to their business networking what to expect as they use it more.  To you What is a perfect round of Business Golf?

Dave: Well if there is any such thing… but for me it is when I have picked the right people for the experience and matched it with the perfect venue, and I have managed to foresee all of the potential mishaps so there are no surprises. Oh and at the end we all have agreed to next steps.

MBG: We both are contacted by golf courses, private golf clubs and other golf related business people asking for our advice on possible solutions we see they should consider to get through the slumping economy and grow their business.  In your view What has Golf need to do better or change to encourage more business people to play golf?

Dave: I really believe that the industry has to do a better job of selling the multitude of ways in which the game can be experienced. Too many people in and outside of the industry keep trying to sell golf as 18 holes and that’s it. That just perpetuates the notion that the game takes too much time. We need to develop a more a la carte approach. A business lunch at a golf course is a golf experience… a visit to the driving range after work hours to hit a few balls and share a drink is a  golf experience… and 9 holes at the end of the day or on a weekend can suffice. We just need to change the mind set of “golf takes 5to6 hours to play”.

MBG: We talk nearly daily hammering out are approach to enlighten more people to how golf can be used as a business tool and discuss in detail how as a business, or recreation, Golf has got to change to survive.  Where do you see Golf in Five Years?

Dave: That is a really BIG question. There are so many things that can affect where the game goes…for the most part I think there will be a resurgence of it’s popularity because it is becoming such a global game…I mean the economy can’t be bad everywhere at once can it? And I hope that people like you and I will have some influence on the strategic benefits of the game as it pertains to business. Ask me again in 2017.

Dave and I will be having our annual summit meeting this Spring out in Phoenix, Arizona.  I hope to be able to expand upon these and more questions with Dave while I am out there so I can bring to this forum more insight into what Business Golf can to do help the golf industry.  Big thanks to Dave for taking the time to provide you his views and until later, let me know how I can help.

No this is not an update on Hurricane Irene that is spinning around off the the East Coast of the USA like a sharply struck Balata golf ball hitting a very tight green.  This is an update on what is going on here with me and IBGS.

As all you business golf fans probably have noticed I have diversified my blogs sites into the different markets IBGS covers.  You probably have been following the changes being made in the IBGS organization.  If not, well that is what this update is for..to bring you up to speed.

Pull Back of Business Golf

If you have been wondering where Mr Business Golf went, well, he is still here sitting on the bench reviewing the new game plan for 4th quarter 2011.  As we left it, the Mr Business Golf Show had added Krista Hartman and Dave Bisbee as co-hosts  It did not take us long to quickly see from the gracious responses from reviewers we needed to include more mainstream business coaching to what we offered.  This required us to focus on the business economy around us taking away from the production of the Mr Business Golf Show.

The good news is, the Mr Business Golf Show is coming back in October 2011.  The show will be produced a little differently since it will be broadcasted from the newly remodel ‘Bagroom Studio’. More news on the MBG Show will be provided as it develops.

Blogging Rules

The Mr Business Golf, She Kan Golf and the Biz Golf Guru blog sites also are under review for further development.  All of these ‘pull backs’ being made are the result of some very positive energy developing from the responses we were getting from the blogs posted.  The subject of Business Golf is now becoming more mainstream in what business golf can offer businesses and we are preparing to launch a few initiatives to validate business golf’s value to anyone interested in playing business golf.

As we have mentioned a number of times, our mission is to do whatever we can to help the business world..golf industry included..to learn better methods of doing business.

Business Strategy Will Be Needed

As the golf economy starts to bottom out we have been preparing to put on our business suites and step in to offer struggling businesses our cumulative 75 years of mainstream business experience to anyone needing advice or a voice of reason on how to deal with the new economy.  Change is very hard for businesses to make on their own.  The best directions to take usually comes from someone who is outside the companies build during a crumbling economy.

You will here more on what Krista, Dave and I will be offering as it develops.

Standing On the Edge

IBGS’s Broadcast Media division is developing a New Internet Radio Station.   A wide spectrum of formats will be created.  Everything from Talk Shows on Business Issues to Indi Music Bands reviews.  The IBGS BMD  internet radio offers another way to reach more people and create a larger digital footprint.  Advertising and sponsorship programs will be offered.

Getting After 2012

The IBGS team is looking to 2012.  Plans are being made to launch a few more New initiatives to help business in the Golf industry get a better grasp of knowing what the golf consumer is REALLY wanting or needing.  Stay tuned..we will be talking much more about this as we work on the plan for 2012.

Let me know how I can help.

Can you believe we are almost 90 days into the New Year.?  I think it is time for a break. Naturally, when I think of taking a break I am thinking of loading up the golf clubs and heading to Arizona or Southern California…if not both.  Why don’t you join me?

I am going to meet up with my friend and business partner, Dave Bisbee, out in Sedona, AZ for a three day weekend outing.  Those who join us will be treated to some very special pricing and an opportunity to either play a couple of rounds of golf or have Dave take you through is Two Day Complete Golf School.

Opportunities Galore

Maybe you are one of the many business focused peopled who need to find out within the first three sentences of a Blog on ‘What’s In It For Me’ and need a ‘Solid Purpose’ more than Golf to attend.  Hey, we totally understand and we have you covered.

For those who are looking for a business reason to attend a golf outing, Dave and I will offer you the Business Golf Camp. The BGC is delivered in a two half day session on the essentials of business and golf.   Dave and I are introducing the Business Golf Camp at this gathering for those who would like to attend.  The BGC is a separate function of the Clambake Cafe and advance registration to this session is required since there are a few prerequisites to the sessions.

The two sessions are set in a business seminar environment and covers a variety of subjects related to increasing productive in the workforce, professional awareness, business operations style of social media and, of course, new ideas on how to make your business more profitable.  Plus a few other surprises thrown in for good measure.  We will guarantee for those who attend the Camp you will leave Sedona with more than a relaxed attitude and a better golf game.

If you are interested in attended the camp, send me an email through this site with the Subject: Camp, and I will send you the details.

Golf Heaven

But, lets not forget what you are Really going to the golf outing to do…getaway.  If you have been to Sedona then you know I am not exaggerating any when I say playing golf in Sedona is like being in Golf Heaven. If you have not been to Sedona, well, you have got to go.  Sedona Golf Resort is rolling out the red carpet and really set to show you the best of the Sedona area.

We have two choices for your golf outing interest:

1. Two rounds of Golf at Sedona Golf Resort, including Breakfast, or
2. A Two Half-Day Sessions Complete Golf School conducted by Dave Bisbee, Breakfast and Lunch, along with Two rounds of golf on the Sedona Golf Resort Course.

There are a number of things that are of non-golf interest available to explore in Sedona everyone has an opportunity to enjoy if they choose.  Dave and I are just hosting this opportunity and offering the experience to you at below costs so you can get away, golf, learn and have fun.  Everything has been discounted so there is no excuse to not attend.  And Hey..guess what…we will doing another Clambake Cafe but you have to come to Golf Heaven to find out when and where.

Plus, for those of my close friends who know me well, there will be something going on each day after the golf has been played that generally turns into a party.  So, come join in the fun.  Space is very limited..so do not delay in signing up.  Let me know how I can help.

I was out in the garage yesterday reviewing all my pending Spring projects and guess who I ran into? …my Golf Bag.  Even though it has only been a few weeks since my last round of golf it seemed like a year.  I am not one to go very long without playing at least nine holes, but this year the weather was different which could be what causes me to feel like it has been a long time since I have played.

Since I don’t put much value in what the groundhog says I usually just plan on Spring arriving here in North Texas around April.  Actually, we Texans treat any day over 65 as a Spring Day which we have a lot of these days…but, not always in a row.  Getting back to my golf bag and playing golf..Spring also is great Golf weather.  And Spring in different parts of the country where great golf is played presents itself differently than it does here in Dallas.  I guess that is probably due to me seeing Dallas everyday and overtime just take for granted that we go from Spring to Summer in what seems like a few minutes. 

The change from dusty gray to vivid green takes place on the golf course more dramatically than most places.  If you are a fan of the Masters you get to see on TV how that transition looks when it is complete.

All this talk about Spring and Golf is causing a bit of Spring fever.  As a result, the call of the wild to get back to my routine of playing golf twice a week (plus the nagging of all my golf partners out in Scottsdale to get out there for golf) is pushing me to put my event planner hat on and produce another out of town golf outing…or ClamBake as I call them.  Gathering up all my golfing friends for a road trip is something I like doing and this year just seems to be the year to make it happen.

To make a ClamBake happen I do what I always do when it comes time to think golf outings and that is to call my good friend Dave Bisbee to see what he thinks.  Naturally, Dave is ready for game at the drop of a hat and usually carries a hat in each hand.  This year makes for a great opportunity to have the ClamBake at a new venue since Dave has relocated his golf instruction operations to the Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona, AZ.  If you have never been to Sedona, AZ., you have never seen desert golf at it’s best.  Sedona is simply a wonderful relaxing environment I fondly call ‘Golf Heaven’.

Just thinking about the possibility of getting back out on the golf course resulted in me bring my golf bag into the office as a visual to keep me moving to quickly organizing a ClamBake.  It is a good possibility it will happen so I’ll be back soon to fill you in on what I have going in case you want to join in the fun and games in Sedona.  Plus, I have been known to throw in a pick-up Skins game in Scottsdale before I climb the mountain out of the Valley of (surface of ) the Sun to cool off in Golf Heaven (Sedona).  So..stay tuned..there is no telling what I come up with but I can be guarantee it to be FUN..why do it if it is not..Right? 

Let me know how I can help.

I am exited to pass on this announcement on behalf of my company.

Addison, Tx – January 14, 2011

Innovative Business Golf Solutions, LLC, (IBGS) announced today the launch of the Business Golf Advisory Group.

The Business Golf Advisory Group, (BGAG) is a strategy and solution advisory group of executives and golf business luminaries who know the consumer driven golf market intimately. The BGAG helps golf companies, country clubs and golf professionals who aspire to be successful, want to re-address achieving their potential and in so doing maximize their business’ value.

The BGAG indentifies underperforming and undervalued assets of a business’s operations then offers real solutions for the reconstruction of the business model and organization which delivers value to shareholders.

“Over the past several years ago I have seen a large number of golf businesses and golf executives struggling to understand their rapidly changing market.  Over those same years I developed a number of relationships, in and out of golf, with business people who see clearly where many golf businesses, country clubs, golf facilities and golf professionals should change in their business operations to meet these challenges.  I created the BGAG in hopes many of these golf business people will bring their business plan so we can offer sound advice on what needs to be changed and where those changes need to be made to meet their goals.”, said Scot Duke, CEO of Innovative Business Golf Solutions.

The BGAG is a new breed of Business Development Company combining years of experience in a broad base of industries, relationship-building, networking, and proven achievements.  The BGAG offers a complete line of operationally sound approaches to business development and marketing.

“The golf industry is in need of learning how others see them in their market.  The BGAG offers golf business owners and executives an opportunity to hear how the golf consumer, the potential country club member or prospective golf student view them, their product or service in order to improve their business.”, said Mark Neace, Owner of Keyimage Media Solutions and President of The Caddie Club.

Recognizing the effects of economic pressures in in the golf industry for that past recent years, the BGAG’s was formed to meet the growing need for advanced business development support for golf businesses.

Anticipating these needs, the BGAG established a strategic, tight-knit organization of business people capable of assisting golf businesses in finding new and more productive directions.

“ As private clubs and public access courses endure yet another year of financial uncertainty it will be the operators who not only think “outside the box” but build completely new boxes that will survive. Innovating new ways to engage the golf consumer, creating unique networks to share ideas and look for solutions, forming a community that shares in the common goal of keeping the game relevant during challenging times, those are the operators who will survive then thrive in the new golf economy.” Dave Bisbee President of eGolfGroup.

BGAG’s focus on finding ways for golf businesses to develop stronger ways of growing business through incorporating sound operations and business plan strategies as the way a company does business.

BGAG’s goal is to help businesses gain a better understanding of their challenges facing their business in these changing times. Developing a better solid business plan will allow businesses to move quickly, nimbly and effectively through their dynamic marketplace.

The BGAG will focus on the golf industry but is able to help any business who needs an outsiders look at their issues.

How it is done:

A business owner or executive brings their business’ challenges to BGAG for review. The BGAG review panel listens to all concerns and aspects the business owner has towards meeting the challenges. Each member of the BGAG review panel will provide feedback and, as a team, offer solutions and direction on solving the business’ issues.

“We want to bring in the new year with offering golf businesses somewhere they can go to and get straight honest input to what they need to do to survive in the golf business world”, added Mr Duke.

“The future is brighter for those golf business owners who reach out to learn the direction they should take”, said Mr Neace.

The BGAG offers:

• Key Personal Compatibility Evaluations
• Operations and Sales Management Consulting
• Social Media Strategies
• Broadcast Media Production and Consulting
• Sports Industry Marketing
• Business Development Strategy
• Digital Strategies and Marketing

The BGAG web-site is at http://www.thebgag.com More information can be obtained through the Contact Page of the BGAG website.

Business Golf Country Club CLOSES

This morning I had to do what a lot of businesses are doing in this economy.  I had to send a letter to the members of the Business Golf Country Club announcing the demise of the club’s existence as a business networking club on NING.  Of course, I understand most of you, and the rest of the world interested in where the golf industry is economically heading, will want to know why the BGCC is closing, so here is why.

Lack of Effective Communication

To keep from going into the long draw out breakdown of the five year trek the BGCC has taken through La-La-Land, I will keep it simple.  Since the BGCC conception and the Alpha launch on the LinkedIn Groups the lack of being able to effectively communicate the BGCC’s Business Plan to the business golfers joining the club has been the major cause for today’s issues.  The concept has always been to first build the business golf community of dedicated loyal golfers and then bring to them product/services that would improve their golf and business development.  Due to the ineffective email services used by LinkedIn and Ning the informational emails, newsletters and other related communications detailing what the BGCC is ALL about was only received by less than 1% of the membership.  As a result the only way to communicate with the over 700 BGCC members was by phone..which has proven literally impossible.  Seems we can write up 90% of reason for the BGCC’s demise to member’s spamware.

Network Burn Out

Over the years both Dave Bisbee and I have been able to develop from the BGCC membership a circle of solid contacts.  This circle of real live people have provided us with immense information for which offered us the ability to keep our finger on the pulse of the club and other golf social networks that are still around.

One of the unfortunate by-products of the lack of being able to clearly communicating the BGCC business plan to the membership was to them the ‘Club’ was nothing but another social network group for golfers.  As many social networks are seeing..are will start to see REAL soon..uncontrolled groups open to the general public for social networking are quickly losing the interest of golfers.

Some of our supporters who have joined a few of the newer more critically acclaims golf group sites are coming back to say they are really bored with the groups since they really do not offer what they really need.  Added to the distaste these golfers had for these social networking sites was the constant hounding of the groups members with promotional emails and Twitter posts.  All this lower level of social media was generating was is now growing in La-La-Land as ‘Social Network Burnout’ (SNB).

Unfortunately, due to the lack of being able to get the message out to 90% of the BGCC member on the fact the private club was not just a social network, the BGCC was looked at as ‘just another social network’ which lead to the growing apathy towards the club being able to offer anything of value.  SNB is economic driven and over the next year is going to be dealt with by all social networks..yes, even the almighty Facebook.

Confirmation of the Plan

That one key link to the BGCC membership..email communication of the business plan… really became a problem we were fighting daily.  All of our social media efforts fell to deft ears since the set up for the BGCC’s SM efforts was made via private email to the members. However, as we continued to move forward in securing the strategic partners and business services that played important rolls in the final phase of the business plan (that never was launched) we were able to confirm where social media for golf, for business and for recreation was headed.  This confirmation of our predictions on how the economy would drive golf consumers towards looking for more than Tee-Time services gave us a few more months of optimism that support would be found and the club could be rebuilt in another safe environment.

Need for Greater Purpose

What was also confirmed from the many, many hours of offline and online discussions Dave and I had with dozens of people in the golf industry was the predictions made in the BGCC business plan showed the downturn in the economy would bring about the need for golfers to find a greater purpose to playing golf.  We also were able to confirm from meeting with our key contacts of current and former private club managers that their needs were going to change drastically towards providing more than lush golf courses for their membership to enjoy.  They all confirmed they needed to incorporate ways for members of private golf clubs to improve their businesses’ revenue flow in order for them to remain a members or continue to afford their private golf club memberships.  Again, all of how the BGCC was going to solve these problems was going to be addressed in the final phase of the BGCC business plan.

Missing Link

The secondary reason, which overall was the main reason for closing the BGCC NING site, naturally had to deal with the lack of funding through the adverting packages developed for the BGCC site.  This was the kingpin of the business plan and would have provided the hinges needed to swing the door open to the membership to reveal the final phase we felt would really offer the value and purpose for being a member of the BGCC.  Of course, if we were able to get the email messages out from the very beginning and throughout the site’s existence of the built in benefits of the advertising packages I more than likely would not be closing the NING site.

Why So Few Members

As we made our pitches to the outside business for the advertising opportunities we offered we ran into the ‘same-ol-same-ol’ ‘old school’ attitudes towards the need to broadcast advertising to the masses online.   The question we would be asked over and over..why does the BGCC have so few members?

There were several reasons why the membership did not get to the thousands most social networking groups strive to achieve.  Most of these were by design.  First..the BGCC was not a social network..it was a club. So, we expected that we would not reach the hundreds of thousands of members other groups have due to the concept of an online club was too foreign for most ‘Interneters’ to get their arms around.

Second, it was a private club meaning ONLY real people were going to be allowed into the club.  The business model of accumulating thousands of ‘Names’ like other social networking groups employee was never part of the BGCC plan since that model has now been confirmed to be what is causing advertising apathy for online marketing.

The final reason for the BGCC membership to be small was due to phase-in approach we designed into the business plan.  Keeping the membership small reduced the cost and stress of moving a large membership to another platform.   The real marketing for the development of the larger membership would start once the final phase was launched on a social networking platform that allowed us to monetize our efforts.

So, as you see, there were several reasons for stopping the bleeding of IBGS’s funds and to move on to wherever the economy was going to drive us.  Dave and I really wish there was another direction to take instead of closing the club, but until we can find the funds significant enough for use to manage the business plan to its conclusion we felt it was to shelve the BGCC until things change.

I really look forward to keeping in touch with the members and continuing to help them through my mentoring or business coaching business.  There is always the possibility of rebuilding the the BGCC..so keep in touch and let me know how I can help.