Golf: a way of life for a practicing accountant.(Houlihan Asset Management)

When Patrick (Pat) Houlihan, CPA, is not working at his Fort Wayne, Ind. accounting firm, his clients know where to find him. He's on the golf course, working to maintain his 2.0 handicap. Despite the demands of being a principal in Houlihan Asset Management and a partner in his full-service accounting firm, Pat still finds time to relax with his family and friends away from the office.

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Pat's father, James Houlihan Sr., founded the firm in 1952 as a sole proprietorship, and passed on both his profession and his passion for golf to three of his sons. Pat and his brother, Jim, are partners in the nine-person accounting firm, and brother Dennis manages the day-to-day operations of Houlihan Asset Management. The three are partners at the office, but heated competitors on the golf course.

"Jim was always much better than I was when we were kids," says Pat. "He had a scholarship to Indiana University in Bloomington, and I was a walk-on for a couple of years. My game didn't really mature until after college. Dennis is younger and doesn't yet have kids, so he has more time to play now."

Pat doesn't recall a time when he wasn't holding a golf club. The family home was adjacent to a Ft. Wayne park where the kids would go to hit golf balls back into their yard. The boys also dug small holes around the perimeter of the park with a garden spade. They had a junior set of clubs that consisted of 5-, 7- and 9-irons, and they played around their homemade "course" from the time they were five or six years old until they were in their teens.

Jim Sr. was an outstanding golfer, and Jim Jr. and Pat took turns caddying for him. Monday was caddy day at the club, so the boys were dropped off in the morning and played until dark. "Caddying for my dad was a great way to learn the game," says Pat. "He used to tell me that I was going to appreciate golf more as I went through life. That didn't mean much to a 15-year-old boy, but I've grown to realize how true those words were." Jim, Sr., at age 81, still comes to the office every day, and carries a 12 handicap. "It's great to visit with your dad any time, but it's a lot more fun to play golf with him," says Pat.

Since Pat must balance the demands of family and golf (he is married with three young children), he plays less often now and feels fortunate if he manages a couple of rounds per week. "The more days you have a club in your hand, the better you play. You develop a better feel, so that it becomes a game of touch rather than thought." A past regular at the State Amateur and State Open tournaments, Pat now plays with friends most of the time, although he still comperes in the Fort Wayne City Championship.

"Tournament golf keeps your game sharp; it exposes your weaknesses and helps you work through them," he says. "It also establishes confidence. I think you get to the point where you can play your best golf under pressure. For most accomplished players, I would guess that their best rounds have occurred during competition." He obviously misses competing at a high level, but he is quick to add, "I have a family now. I love the game, but my priorities are a little different from my single days."

Pat considers himself fortunate to play at Sycamore Hills, a Jack Nicklaus signature course rated among the top 100 in the United States by Golf Digest. "That's where I lose a lot of balls when I'm not playing well," he jokes. Pat is not a big gambler, playing mostly $2 or $5 Nassaus, or bets on a series of holes. "I find that excessive betting dampens the atmosphere. Regardless of how much money someone has, they can feel bad when they lose. If $25 changes hands, no one cares. Still, I don't enjoy taking money from my friends."

Playing with clients is a pleasure for Pat. "It's a great way to spend quality time together--anything else can feel contrived. My clients get to know me, and I get to know them." Pat believes that you can discover a lot about someone's character by playing golf with them. The game is one of integrity and self-respect, attributes that are impossible to separate from the sport itself.

"There's no comparison with other sports when it comes to sportsmanship," he says. "Almost every other major sport has fights on a regular basis. I can't remember the last time a brawl broke out at the Masters. The discipline required to maintain a positive demeanor extends to everything else in life. I think that's why there are more good role models in golf than in any other sport."

Since Pat is usually a better golfer than the clients he plays with, he takes it as a personal challenge and responsibility to make them feel at ease on the course. Often, the client begins the round feeling a bit intimidated and self-conscious, but Pat says, "I tell them--and I mean it--that we're just here to have fun and enjoy the day. I can find competitive golf any time I want. I'm just looking for good company and I do my best to make it a good experience for the client."

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Pat sees similarities between his profession and the game: They both require hard work and discipline, and the ability to perform when fatigued and under pressure. Golf is an analytical game, and every shot is different.

"It all boils down to problem solving and every day seems to present its own unique set of challenges," says Pat. "Everyone has to play his or her own game. I'm an extremely long hitter, but those who manage their game better often beat me. You don't have to hit it long to play this game well, but it can be a tremendous asset, nonetheless. Everyone has to play to his or her strengths, just like in accounting. You can't be an expert at everything."

When asked why so many accountants seem to like the game, Pat pointed out that it compliments their cyclical schedule. "Up here in Indiana, the weather breaks about the time the busy season breaks. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, our practice is closed on Friday afternoons."

Pat loves his job and he loves golf. "Accounting isn't for everyone, but no job is. When I joined Price Waterhouse out of school, I was auditing big companies and I didn't enjoy that type of work for that size client. Now I work with the owners of small companies. Their problems are real, and I can often provide immediate solutions and impact. I love being able to see the tangible results of my work." After the rigors of a hard day, Pat looks forward to being outside for four or five hours. "It does wonders for my psyche," he says. "Even when I don't play well, I enjoy the challenge, the outdoors and the time with my friends." No one would deny that the life of an accountant involves hard work and stress. Pat finds golf to be the perfect antidote. "Pressure creates adrenaline and adrenaline kills in golf. In football, it makes you hit harder, while in basketball, it makes you jump higher. In golf, it makes you start your downswing early and forces your muscles to fire a little quicker. Ironically, in golf you have to relax to play well. You can't force it."

Just as his father predicted years ago, Pat learned to appreciate the game of golf more each year. "I'm thankful that I play golf. I believe that the game has kept my dad mentally sharp and physically able, and I can't imagine any other hobby or activity being as positive for me." As Jim Houlihan Sr. told his sons long ago, "Golf isn't a sport to a lot of us. It's a way of life." It's a life that has served the Houlihan family well.

Susan Barnett is Special Projects manager for CPA Magazine, and can be reached at susan@cpamag.com.

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