Professional farmers can be golfers and professional golfers can be farmers.
Greg Norman, two-time British Open winner and near winner of two Masters tournaments, is now farming in his home country of Australia and has recently begun marketing a luxury beef brand at some American grocery stores.
Greg Norman Signature Wagyu is a 350-day, grain-fed premium line of beef. The golfer also markets Greg Norman Premium, a 120-day beef line, and has a line of wines.
What does a pro golfer know about farming? Norman’s agricultural success in North America has yet to prove itself, but one could expect it to be at least par, considering the parallels between golf and farming.
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Each pursuit requires the same kind of hat, for example. As for clothing, plaid used to be common in both professions, although golfers have moved away from the pattern.
But green is the favourite colour of both professions, on fairways, fields and the contents of their wallets.
Farmers and golfers share a reliance on herbicides to guarantee optimum field conditions and both constantly check the landscape as they plan their next move.
Weather conditions are crucial to success for both. Wind is always a factor, and when it comes to water, there is either too much or too little.
The proper tools are crucial and every purchase is considered against potential return relative to cost. As both golfers and farmers know, you can’t get anywhere without a good driver.
Even so, members of the two professions frequently encounter the rough and both find themselves putting around on various surfaces during different stages of the game.
Both are frequently teed off and both find their jobs easier if there aren’t any trees in the way.
Careful reading is important, be it greens or the Western Producer.
Patience is required in both the golfing and farming games. Sometimes you have to take chances but in the end it doesn’t matter how good you are – someone else is probably going to handle the marketing.
Still, if you spot the occasional eagle or some other birdie, it’s enough to make you come back and try again the following day, so long as you have enough balls.
Golfers are happy to have 18 holes and farmers contending with gophers or potholes would also be happy with only 18.
In golf as in farming, a good beginning is important. You can’t win on the first day, but you can quite easily lose.
In farming as in golf, there are hours of labour and moments of joy.
That’s what keeps the players coming back to the field.
