I, too, was guilty of judging the sport as a slow, boring, old boys' club. But what was once TV programming to induce weekend napping is now one of my favorite sports to play, and not just for the health benefits. In fact, the greatest driving force behind why women play is for business reasons. There are more than six millions female golfers just in the United States, and here are five reasons why I think you should be one more — for the sake of your career.
说起来惭愧，我也曾认为高尔夫是一项缓慢，无聊，老男人的运动。但是曾让我周末昏昏欲睡的电视节目现在已经成为我最喜爱的运动，而且不仅只是因为它有益健康。事实上商务原因是女性进行这项运动的最大推动力。仅在美国就有超过600万的女性高尔夫球手，下面是五个你也应该加入其中的原因—为了你的事业。
Great networking opportunities. Golfers have a median household income of more than $80,000, and 93 percent of them own at least one home. Those statistics coupled with the fact that golf is a luxury sport (it's about $40 on average to play one round) makes its players generally affluent and successful. In the four to five hours to finish a round, you never know when you could befriend someone with the right connections.
丰富的社交机会。高尔夫球手的平均家庭收入超过8万美元，他们中的93%至少拥有一套住房。这些统计加上高尔夫奢侈运动的定位(打一局平均要40美金)使得球手们基本上都是富裕和成功人士。在一局四到五小时的时间里，你随时都有可能和志同道合的人成为朋友。
Makes a great impression. In my experience, men are generally impressed with women who play well. While golfers are predominately male, having a fluid swing, competitive attitude, and patience under pressure will impress the boys in the boardroom and on the greens. Plus, you'll never be left out of the loop if there's a last-minute game scheduled.
创造好的印象。根据我的经验，男士通常对打球好的女士印象深刻。而男高尔夫球手占绝大多数，拥有优美的挥杆，求胜的欲望和压力下的冷静会在会议室和果岭上给男士留下深刻印象。另外，如果有最后关头的比赛，你绝对不会被排除在外。
Enforces appropriate office demeanor. Golf is a game of etiquette. No matter how competitive you are, how much you dislike the other player, or how foul a situation is, there are rules that dictate "gentlemanly" behavior. You can apply the same rules to your work environment. No matter how frustrated you get, you should work efficiently and skillfully while being able to communicate your issues calmly and with indoor voices.
训练职场风度。高尔夫是礼仪的游戏。不管你有多有好胜心，多么不喜欢其它球手，或者形势多么恶劣，都有决定绅士行为的准则。你可以把同样的规则运用到工作环境。无论你多么沮丧，都应该有效和熟练的工作，能够冷静的和同事沟通你的问题。
Enhances analytical thinking. As much as golf is a physical sport, it is also a thinking one, too. A player must gauge possible yardage, wind factors, breaks on the greens, etc. Your success is dependent on your ability to observe the details, much like in an office environment.
提高分析思考能力。高尔夫既是体力运动，也是头脑运动。球手必须判断码数，风的影响，果岭上的裂缝等。你的成功取决于细节观察的能力，就像在办公室环境一样。
Relieves stress. Not only does golf improve your strength, stamina, and flexibility, but it's good for the soul. When I'm stressed out, there's nothing like taking out all that pent-up energy on some balls. Plus, you can burn up to 1,300 calories during a four-hour round — walking and carrying clubs is a must. No wonder celebs like Jane Seymour and Catherine Zeta-Jones love it so much!
缓解压力。高尔夫不仅可以改善你的力量，体力和灵活性，对精神也有好处。当我有压力时，最好的办法就是把所有压抑的能量释放到高尔夫球上。另外你还能在四小时的比赛时间内消耗1300卡路里—走路和拿球杆是必要的活动。怪不得像珍·西摩尔和泽塔琼斯这样的名人这么热爱它!
