What The 2025 Ryder Cup Taught Us about Business
The Ryder Cup took place the weekend to the excitement and anticipation of every golf fan. The tournament is a bi-annual event in which 12 of the best golfers from both the United States and Europe are selected to form their respective teams representing their nation(s) and pitted against each other for 3 intense days of play.
There are many aspects of the Ryder Cup which are unique as compared to traditional tour play, most notable is the element of team-play. While the last day of the tournament is 1 vs 1; a European player vs an American, the first two days pairs of players from each team play the same hole together. This dynamic presents its own benefits and an element of teamwork at a pinnacle of efficiency and effectiveness we can all learn from.
By playing along with a teammate each golfer has the added benefit of collaboration, motivation, direction and instant feedback during the round. During the round each golfer takes turns hitting their own ball until the hole is finished. Having a teammate play theirs before you is always an advantage. On an approach shot, a teammate can get feedback on how the ball travelled based on wind, angle, club, swing length, and feel and when the second teammate takes their turn to hit, all of that information can be taken into account to sure up their swing. This is especially important on the green when reading puts, the pairs are often seen reading puts together, deliberating in real time and often ending up having a similar line for a shot, where after one player going first, it in turn helps set up the next player with an accurate read, weight and a chance pick up any bite on the way to the cup.
All these factors create huge positives in playing with a teammate. Pairs in 4-ball statistically shoot better vs solo play even though they are still playing their own balls.
So why does this work? There’s one key factor holding it all together: effective communication
None of the valuable and game-changing insights mentioned above would be possible to implement without accurate, clear and concise communication. What is noteworthy in this example these world class golfers give us, is that under the immense pressure of the entire world watching them, representing their countries, with all the mental swings of a head to head tournament vs the best golfers in the world not to mention this year playing at one of the toughest courses in the country, they still hold the ability effectively communicate, deliberate, share vital information and work out solutions in real time.
This is an outstanding illustration of what teamwork looks like and should be an example to draw from within your own business when working with your team, partners and collaborators.
The key here is the calm, efficient and clear communication. One can have all the data, metrics, feedback, ideas and more, however without the ability to effectively convey that message and act on the info shared as a team in a constructive manner leaves any information gathered useless.
Analyzing data and implementing it is crucial. The saying goes knowledge is power, it should be stated knowledge applied is power.
Next time you receive some information a data set, reviews, feedback or a stream of ideas, ask yourself, “how am I going to apply this?” It’s as if your teammate makes a putt on the same line as you and it ends up wide right; how will you adjust your stroke to hole your putt and win the round. Through accurately applying the knowledge available to you.
This all takes practice, no one was born a flawless communicator, or good at implementing change and making decisive adjustments. Just as a golf swing, these essential skills need to be practiced, refined and developed with time.
How do you develop them? The same way you would work to use communication within your business, ask for feedback on your performance, collect data, information and perspective. Are you communicating effectively with your team, sharing valuable data or information, then decisively acting on it? Survey your network, ask their opinion and perspective, then work to constantly refine and tweak your approach as you strive to reach that elite level of teamwork, trust and effective collaboration the world saw on display at Bethpage, NY this weekend.
To gain personalized guidance for your business on this topic and others contact us.
- Vince Calace
Founder - Venture Business Development