Frank Adu’s Corporate Golf Style revealed.

In a hyper-connected society, I don't possibly have the 'hole' idea when the game of golf became a key player in a person's professional accomplishment. Successful people do things a specific way, which mostly carries over to the golf course.

In the ensuing interview with Frank Brako Adu Jr, Managing Director of Cal Bank and a renowned golfer with an amazing edge at hitting long and straighter shots, we would appreciate his poise, frankness, pleasant character and emotional intelligence that combine to make him a successful Executive and golfer as well.

He recently hosted a section of the golf fraternity on his 5oth birthday tournament at the premier Achimota Golf Club and together with his team at Cal Bank, delivered an utter seamless golfing experience.

Below is the interview
TheGolfer (TG) After several years of hosting the annual "Frank Adu Birthday Tournament", how expressive are you of the excitement that each year's event unveiled with particular emphasis on your 50th birthday?

Frank Adu (FA) Well after the first two birthday tournaments the third was rather truncated by a corporate action brought around the time of my birthday in that year so the whole birthday tournament thing was postponed and revived this year when I turned fifty. May be just as well, there was a break because this year's tournament was super and significant. The patronage was also excellent.

(TG) As an invitational tourney, is the events able to produce that competitive edge among the golfers and how do you feel when you are not able to 'clinch' the trophy on such a big day?

(FA) First and foremost, in such competitions the host is not allowed to win so I don't go with a mind to clinch the trophy. Now I particularly think invitational tend to be more competitive than the open tournaments because invitational tend to have people with a certain common defining qualification playing in the same competition and that makes it more keenly contested.

(TG) The 50th anniversary golf was laced with high-end performances, in areas of organization, turnout, play and euphoria. The rains preceding the presentation ceremony could not even take the chill factor away, how is Frank Adu able to keep such momentum together? And that awesome Mafia drive as well.

(FA) And you saw for yourself how close the scoring was. My colleagues who put the whole thing together did a great job. A lot of thinking went into the organization. There was refreshment at short distances on the course so although it was extremely hot on the day players were constantly refreshed. The rains came later on in the day but we were not bothered. Golf is played in the rain all the time for as long as there is no thunder and lightening so golfers are used to rain , but it is to the credit of all those who stayed through the rain and long after the rain. They showed their dedication to the game and their commitment to the tournament. The mafia family spirit also came through as all mafia members of all the mafia groupings gave their maximum support through sun and rain.

(TG) You come across as an easygoing fellow with great sense of humor. I know these traits are very rare with your profession as an investment banker. What is that thin link that is able to hold these contrast character traits?

(FA) You must be easy going and have a great sense of humor to make waves in this world. It does not mean you shouldn't take your business seriously, you should. However, you must not be mean spirited; you must be focused on the right things at the right time. Life is not a dress rehearsal, life is live and therefore you must work hard and when you have to play, play hard, but at all times you must be light hearted and light spirited and good natured.

(TG) How long have you been playing golf? How were you introduced to the game and what specific benefits have the game presented to you thus far? Have you had any regrets since?

(FA)Well you know for many years I played cricket and polo and was actually polo captain for three years. Then I had to take premature retirement from polo because of injury. My cousin Daniel then insisted I played golf and the rest is history. I have been playing golf for about 8 years or so, I'm not sure but it has filled my Saturday and Sunday afternoons, made new friends for me, brought me immense business opportunity for the bank and given me the very much needed exercise. My only regret is that I am not quite able to play enough golf.

(TG) You are noted for hitting farther and straighter shots on the course, what other areas of your game have you seen improvement over the years and what will you say is the major challenge with your game?

(FA) I typically would drive my tee shot averagely three hundred yards and these days would find the fairway most of the time. I find that as I get my long game right my short game which used to be my strength and advantage in golf is suffering. I need to start working on it again.

(TG) Cal Bank is credited for its continued support for golf especially in tournament sponsorship. However, with increased interest in Junior and Professional golf with regards to the Olympic Games in 2016 that features golf, we would like to know, how is Cal Bank prepared to tap into this area and help improve these levels of our golf?

(FA) Cal Bank's support for golf will continue in to the future for as long as I stay at Cal and hopefully whoever takes over from me will continue to support golf. Junior golf is something that we should all support. It is the future of competitive golf in Ghana. Pro golf however is another kettle of fish and I feel that the way pro golf has been handled in this country historically has been the downfall of pro golf in Ghana. The irony of it is that those who have made the game their means of livelihood expect you and I to organize it for them. It won't work that way. Pro golf has a lot of potential and can attract a lot of sponsorship, but the pro golfers must show the way.

(TG) Lot incidences invigorate feel good moment on the golf course, what will you describe as your typical feel-good moment on a golf course?

(FA)You have feel good moments on the course all the time, particularly when you hit a dream shot , an exquisite shot. I have to say though that I feel good any time I have called a penalty on myself when no one has seen me commit the infringement.

(TG) What is your personal philosophy on golf?

(FA)My philosophy of golf is simple. It is symptomatic of life and you can really tell a person's character by the way he or she plays golf. My golf personifies my character and my personality and values.

Interview by Collins Oppong
TheGolfer newspaper