Swinging into a new round
More than just a game, The BT Corporate Golf League allows top PMEBs to network on the fairways.
WHEN this year’s Business Times Corporate Golf League tees off at the end of June, a total of 22 teams – some familiar and some new – will be participating in the seventh edition of the competition. Over the years, the league has played a large part in connecting some of the country’s top PMEBs as they chase small white balls across six of the island’s best courses.
Returning teams include presenting sponsor Audi Singapore, defending champions Boustead, Emerio, Citibank and Singapore Press Holdings. New entrants include SAS Institute, Banyan Tree and Edge Golf.
Paul Wilson, Banyan Tree’s team captain, who is also a PGA golfer and group director of golf for Laguna Golf, says his team is excited about its participation, even if its just fielding a social, non-competing, team: “Being a long standing Singaporean hospitality group, Banyan Tree has previously worked with SPH and provided prizes to The BT Corporate Golf League.
After attending our Sir Nick Faldo event in Phuket, SPH Golf kindly invited us to join the final event of 2015 at Sentosa.”
Adds Mr Wilson: “Our participation is really focused on the social aspect of the events and the fantastic networking opportunities the league presents to us. We look forward to the chance to meet and play alongside golfers from around Singapore, from different backgrounds and industries. Furthermore, we’ll be inviting some of our key guests from property, hotels and golf to join us for each event.”
From a team point of view, they are looking forward to networking with the other teams and meeting new golfers, in addition to inviting some of their property owners from Phuket, Lang Co and Bintan to join the team in the league.
The Edge Golf team is also playing in the league for the first time this year, but in the competitive category. Says captain Rick Chan: “We decided to sign up to gain market awareness for Edge as it is a company doing precision club fitting services. I am looking forward to the team having a good result as most of them are customers.”
The six rounds will be played on some of Singapore’s premier courses and that includes Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC).
Explains Ian Roberts, TMCC’s director of golf: “TMCC is very pleased and proud to be associated with The BT Corporate Golf League and it’s really a great milestone to be now reaching into the seventh year. Having a great relationship with the organisers and all parties involved, along with the long standing commitment the staff of TMCC have working for such prestigious corporate events, creates excellent synergies to work with.
TMCC’s Tampines Course is hosting the first round at the end of June, and Mr Roberts shares that course tweaks include fashioning some improved fairway and bunker conditions to add to both the visual and playing feel.
“Tampines is one of the great courses in Singapore with its water and forest nines.
This makes for a combination of a Hawaii-feel with coconut trees and waterways which contain otters, monitor lizards and an array of fish life species down to the majority forest lined fairways of the front nine holes”, he added. “Players are challenged to manoeuvre their shots around trees and water off the tees and further for the shots into the small target but bunker enveloped greens. The recently improved putting surfaces now add to the golfers’ top shelf day outing.”
Participants will have a chance to get together before the first round next Tuesday, May 24, at the Team Briefing and Networking Night at 6pm at the TNP Sports Bar in Clarke Quay.
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