Karin Seidel has set up the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) here in Belgium, an organisation that brings women golfers onto the tee to socialise, bond and make deals. Editor Paul Morris caught up with her on the 19th...

These days golf and business appear to be inseparable, joined at the hip. As the game’s popularity grows so the business side of things is becoming more refined, honed to the needs of professionals who demand more from their leisure life.

German national Karin Seidel has set up the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) here in Belgium, an organisation that brings women golfers onto the tee to socialise, bond and make deals.

Karin’s background is in sales and event management so she has all the attributes necessary to run what should prove to be a very popular choice among the female professionals working in Belgium. I spoke to her on the 19th…

PM (handicap: 3 figures): Mark Twain said that golf is a waste of a good walk…
KS (handicap: 26): Golf is not just a good walk, it’s a physical and mental exercise.  I see Golf as a reason to go out and have a walk!

PM: Golf and business appear to go hand-in-hand these days. Why do you think they make such a good match?
KS: Golf improves your chances for success by broadening your network. Business Golf is not so much about closing the deal as it is about developing the relationship which gives you the ability to close the deals.

You have a lot of time to talk on the course and you can find out a lot about your potential business partners from their behaviour.  If you are making excuses all the time on the course, you are telling others that you’re going to make excuses in business.

PM: Yours is an all-women club. What does that offer that is different?
KS: Just as men do with one another, women have a different way of communicating. This makes it easier to build up a personal relationship.
Women can compete, but they are more supportive of each other to get the best result. And we are offering events off the green tailored to woman, such as company visits and regular meetings in the spa at Aspria Avenue Louise.

PM: The signs saying ‘No Ladies’ have come down. How has women’s golf progressed in the last decade or so?
KS: The first Golf club for women was founded in 1867, followed by the "Ladies Golf Union" in 1853, quite a while ago!  Today, Golf is getting more and more popular for women as well. In England, they have only 15% of female golfers (over 18), in Belgium the figure is 38%! In the professional game, some female players are invited to participate in men’s tournaments. This is attracting a lot of spectators and sponsors as well.

PM: What advantages are there to being part of a large worldwide club?
KS: There are already 120 chapters of EWGA and the education programmes are already developed, which is an advantage for all members. The EWGA members are welcome at any other chapter and can exchange their experiences and expand their personal network.

PM: Why take this task on, as if hitting a little ball with accuracy isn’t enough of a challenge?
KS: I would like to get more out of Golf than improving my technical skills to hit the ball with accuracy (which I manage only sometimes). I would like to leave the golf course enriched by having met like-minded people.

PM: Finally, for fun… You have to go to a desert island and you are only allowed one club…
KS: Might be a sand wedge as I need some practise with my short game – and with the short shots I can keep the ball on the island!

Interview by Paul Morris

To join the EWGA in Belgium : karin.seidel@valueaddedgolf.eu, Mobile +32 (0)485 266 332

www.valueaddedgolf.eu

Karin is Managing Director of Value Added Golf, networking on and beside the green for the international community.