5 Business tips for the Golf Course

• Always Give a Firm Handshake: 'If you are going to shake someone's hand, then grab a firm hold and look them in eye," Palmer says. "A man's handshake should be as good as his word. You can throw away all the contracts ever written by the best attorneys. Written contracts can all be broken. All my important deals were done with a handshake." You can tell a lot about a person based on his or her handshake, whether in business or on the golf course. Make sure you leave a strong lasting image.

• Don't Dwell on Yesterday's News: "I have enjoyed every victory and greatly cherish the memories," Palmer notes. "But come Monday morning of the next week, I'm not different than the man who missed the cut last week…So if I am to be competitively ready, I must get my thoughts off yesterday and deal with today. As long as I want to stay competitive, I must never stop and marvel at what I have accomplished—only forward to my next challenge at hand."

• Practice Like a Pro: "To achieve greatness," Brewer writes, "successful people don't just show up, set up and try for the best. The steps in the march toward victory begin weeks—if not months or years—in advance." The same goes in business. You need to pay your dues before you reach higher ground. Don't try to hit the ball before you're ready.

• Use Fear for Fuel: "Everyone wants to win,' Palmer says, "or they wouldn't do what they do. But not many people ever think about it. Many times I would think, I can't lose, I just cannot. Maybe it's an odd way to think, but it drove me to play harder than just 'thinking' about winning…I made a lot of golf shots out of desperation, thinking that I had to pull it off because, frankly, I was afraid to lose." In business, you can't be afraid to take a chance and fail, which makes winning even sweeter.

• Befriend Your Enemy: Stating the long and storied relationship between Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, often viewed as contentious and highly spirited, Brewer talks about the great relationship between the rivals. "The long and layered relationship is a good reminder that just because you're 'enemies' on the course doesn't mean you can't be friends for life off it." The same is true in business. Don't think about your competitors as enemies, but as a challenge for you to work harder.