IT
CROWD CRASH THE PARTY
It is written that the wind from the East is no good to man
nor beast, but despite this proverb IT recruitment firm “Square
One” managed to freeze out the opposition at the inaugural
EMG Golf Challenge, held at Hemsted Forest Golf Club on 22nd
March 2006.
 It was only July last year while playing in the Pro-Am event
that preceded the Ladies British Open at Royal Birkdale, that
Liz Martinez-Gray finally decided to leave the 9-5 city job
and form her own golf events company. Shortly afterwards the
embryonic form of the EMG Golf Challenge was born, there were
twists and turns a plenty in-between but that is another story
in itself.
Hemsted Forest has been quietly building a reputation for
being one of the finest, and some might say toughest courses
in the South East, a fact born out by its nomination to be
featured in the top 100 golf courses in the UK. It was with
this in mind and with eager anticipation of the task ahead
that the teams gathered early on Wednesday morning with the
banter reflecting on pin positions, strength of wind and whether
survival rations would be required, a fact hinted at by the
resident pro, Mr Karl Steptoe, upon his departure to check
the pin positions he muttered the immortal lines “I’m
just going outside & I might be a while”!
The competition was set up as a team event, based upon the
stableford scoring system, full handicap with the 2 best scores
from 4 on any given hole going towards the overall total. As
an added bonus the par 3’s had the incentive of some
wonderful prizes for anyone risking their amateur status and
getting a hole in one. With all to play for, including the
EMG trophy, the course was at their disposal for the day and
the teams commenced battle at 10:00am from a shotgun start.
Right from the off “Square One” set the pace,
with “Read Plc” the jewellers from Hatton Garden
never more than a few points adrift. As the day progressed
not only did the golf get better & better so too the weather,
with that seldom seen sight, the sun put in an appearance to
light the way to the nineteenth hole. In the end the many facets
of the course proved to be the undoing of “Read Plc” although
it took a count back to decide the eventual winners with “Kent
Messenger Group” taking 3rd place.
As the sun slowly drifted below the horizon the “Square
One” team of, Ian Johnston, Martin Rush, Dom Martinez & Joe
Hancock held the trophy aloft proclaiming that what they take,
they keep & that it will take a good team to see them off
next year.
The EMG Golf challenge will be run in again in April 2007,
venue and date to be confirmed later this year. EMG Golf hope
that next year a team of women will make up at least one of
the 20 teams taking part.
RESULTS:
Winners:
Square One Recruitment - Total points: 77 (on
count back)
Runners Up:
Read plc - Total points :77
Third Placed Team:
Kent Messenger Group - Total points: 65
Nearest the Pin - : Ian Mason
Longest Drive - : Ian Johnston
More
pictures from the day>>
Liz Martinez-Gray, Events Director, EMG Golf.
E-mail: liz@emggolf.co.uk
www.emggolf.co.uk
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