There are six German speaking countries in Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Lichtenstein. Germany is Sweden's biggest trading partner and trade between both countries continues to grow.
"There are about 1,000 German companies in Sweden and 1,300 Swedish companies have subsidiaries in Germany. Trade between Sweden and Germany increased by 7% in 2017."
(https://www.svd.se/svenska-foretag-gar-miste-om-affarer-nar-fa-kan-tyska)
Whether you are an entrepreneur seeking entry into German markets, or are Head of Sales for the German speaking markets in your company or simply seeking to improve your German language skills, we invite you to attend our 5-day course entitled German and Golf.
The combination of golf and German will enable you to brush up on your golfing skills as well as your social skills and perhaps even make new contacts on the golf course.
We will endeavor to facilitate meetings with local companies at the golf club that are interested in meeting our Swedish visitors. The arrival of Swedish businessmen representing your companies will be advertised at the Golf course, (with your permission of course).
We also offer One -on- One courses. These can be tailor made to suit language needs, your level and your social tastes. German language training and cultural insights combines with walks in the beautiful forests of South Germany, spa and relax treatments, beer tasting, jazz and classical music evenings to name a few.
Your language training goal could be to learn or develop your German language skills but your target market might be Austria or Switzerland. The language varies and so does the culture. Please inform us of your purpose when you book and will tailor make a course specific to your language needs. We also include a 30 minute free Skype call with your instructor to gauge your language level.
Language training focus : Business German and Golf
The focus of the course is to refresh your German language skills. Discussions on marketing, meeting with new customers and other common business situations are also included. We will also try to integrate personal requirements as much as possible. A whole morning will be dedicated to the subject of intercultural communication, using case studies, email correspondence and other important cultural issues that arise when Swedes do business with Germans. The content will be decided on ahead of the course through meetings with N.D.V. Advisers. Course content is tailor made. We do not use textbooks or recycled material. Up to date, industry specific education material is used in our language training seminars.
You will receive 20 hours of Business German in the morning or afternoon. Lessons will be adjusted to suit the weather. Lessons and lunch take place at the Golf course, giving all participants a chance to use conversational German with other golfers.
Playing Golf in Germany
“To play golf in Germany, most golfers must possess a license called a “Platzreife” before they can get on the green. To get a license, you can expect to pay at least $300 for a five-day course that involves several hours of training each day. Then you have to pass a series of tests.
The “ Platzreife” is actually a legal requirement to play golf in Germany, instituted over 40 years ago. No other country in Europe requires such a license, but German golfing associations say it is necessary to prevent unskilled players from holding up the games of others. Germany has no courses open to all, like the public ones in the U.S. So, the “Platzreife” is a way to control who gets to play.
The “ Platzreife” requirement is rigorous, and consists of two parts - a written test and a hands-on test. The hands-on test takes you out on a golf course where you have to prove your driving, putting and chipping skills, and then you join a pro to play 18 holes of golf with a maximum of 108 strokes.
The written test checks your proficiency on the rules of golf and etiquette on the course. If you miss six questions out of the 30, you’ve failed. Of course, the test is in German.
The Germans instituted these rules to keep hackers from slowing up play for others. Some players, however, think the “Platzreife” is a method to preserve golf for the elite. Getting it requires a considerable sum when you count up the training fees, hotel costs, and equipment.
German courses will allow foreign visitors to play but usually only if they can produce a handicap card from their home club. German clubs have been known to turn away foreign golfers because they couldn’t prove their level of skill.
Germans have found a way around the strict system by going on golf holidays to other countries like Italy, Austria or Switzerland where passing the tests is usually easier than in Germany. The training courses almost always end with the golfer getting a "Platzreife", a practice that German golf associations abhor.
Some German golfers are trying to remove the "Platzreife" requirement for playing on German golf courses, especially golf course developers who want to grow the sport in Germany. It’s not clear if they will be successful in overturning the law.
In the meantime, remember to bring proof of your handicap, along with your clubs and shoes, for golfing in Germany."
https://smartexpat.com/germany/how-to-guides/lifestyle/sports-fitness/golf
If you are a beginner and do not play golf please contact us.
