Fore!

The first subject I taught had a language of its own with terms like spinnaker, halyard, jib and gybe. I distinctly remember telling my students that they weren’t just learning a new sport, they were learning a new language: the language of sailing. In retrospect, one could call it my first English for Specific Purposes course. At the end of two weeks, and with a bit of good instruction, my students were sailing their way around beautiful Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

This summer, I’ve decided to become a student again, taking up a game that is inextricably linked to business: golf. Why, you might ask, would I be interested in a difficult sport that’s full of hazards, rules and, unfortunately sometimes, cheaters? I honestly don’t know — perhaps because I have friends and family in the US who play golf. In fact, I get the feeling that everyone in the US plays a little bit of golf now and then. It’s the perfect way to get outside, network and, to paraphrase Mark Twain, “ruin a good walk.”

As a beginner golfer, I now find myself faced with the same issues as our business English students: the fear of making mistakes, having to perform under pressure and not knowing what to do and when to do it. My summer trip to Minneapolis, with its beautiful public golf courses, will give me plenty of opportunities to practice my short game. I’ll also be taking a break from blogging.

To fill the gap, follow the PGA Championship being hosted at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota from 10-16 August.

You can also read up on the art of playing golf with the boss and why golf and business make the perfect couple.

I'll be in back in full swing with my next blog on 3 September.