If you're one of those golf diehards for whom the fairway is hallowed ground, don't read any further (it might be upsetting). But if you need a good idea for a teambuilding event that blends a golf-crazy CEO with a group that includes people who can't find the right end of a putter, then read on.

That was the challenge for Susanne Marx, owner of Las Vegas-based The Golf Event Co. and a member of CMI's Golden Links Advisory Board. Her client, a large Midwest-based equipment manufacturer, wanted a teambuilding event for 70 sales managers. The budget was modest, and the goal was to have fun and mingle with the CEO. Her solution was a goofy nine holes at Seven Bridges, a public course in Woodridge, Ill.

While players got a taste of real golf, many holes combined golf with more familiar sports, guaranteeing that everyone would feel comfortable and enjoy a few laughs. Two holes were converted to Frisbee golf, where the object was to hit the pin with the disc in the fewest number of shots. On other holes, participants could play with a tennis ball and racquet or a football rather than golf equipment. On one green, croquet mallets replaced putters.

But the most important hole of the day was the lighthearted “Beat the CEO” putting contest at the first hole. Each foursome had 10 to 15 minutes of memorable face time with the CEO, where they competed against him in a putting match and had the chance to win some small prizes. “He loved it,” said Marx. “It was all about having fun. It was casual and silly, and everyone had a great time.”