Getting into the swing of things

It's once again time to sign up to the CRN Channel Golf Challenge. Sara Driscoll looks at what's in store at this year's event

Plus fours, check. Spiked shoes, check. Large, (hopefully) unnecessary umbrella, check. Yes, it is that time again; CRN is launching the CRN Channel Golf Challenge 2007 and we are anticipating another belting day out.

Now in its fifth year, the Channel Golf Challenge has become synonymous with great golfing, great butties and a great day out for everyone in the channel. The standard of golf and temper tantrums aside, the day has proved to be an unmitigated success.

This year, to keep the day as fresh as some of the language used on the course, we have changed the venue. The Channel Golf Challenge will this year take place on 3 October at the Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club in Boxbourne.

The clubhouse is set in an 18th Century Mansion and the course meanders through ancient grounds once owned by The Knights Templar.

The 6,276 yard, par 70 golf course pays homage to its historic background by utilising existing lakes and trees to provide a stern challenge. The Hertfordshire also provides a bar and restaurant as well as changing rooms for all the golfers.

Jack Nicklaus II designed the golf course, which makes full use of the natural surroundings. The lakes and forests in the area, for example, make for challenging natural hazards. With full irrigation cover of tees, fairways and greens, the course stays open all year round. The course is also conveniently located just off the M25.

The day will begin at 9.15am with the usual coffee and bacon or sausage butties in the clubhouse. Then we will have a shotgun start, which means all golf teams get assigned a starting hole from which they commence their rounds. This way it means everyone will end up back at the clubhouse together at the same time at the end of the day for a slap-up dinner and well-deserved beer.

Nick Ewing, Solutions Consultant at Comtec Power, said the event last year was about more than just the playing.

“As a fast-growing VAR and a company that welcomes mutual collaboration, we found the event a great opportunity to network with other channel companies,” he said. “It was our first time attending this annual event and we will definitely sign up again this year. In the meantime, it’s back to the driving range to work on my swing.”

Teams consist of four players and the event has been sold out every year so it is wise to book places early. The event is used by many as a great way to network with peers and colleagues.

Darren Boyce, managing director of VAR Applinet, which attended the Channel Golf Challenge last year, said: “What a day! Good company, good food, good wine – and the golf wasn’t bad either. What better way to spend a day networking and talking business than on a golf course?

“It was great to catch up with so many familiar faces and reminisce about the good old, bad old days. The channel is a very competitive, dynamic and sometimes stressful environment. You need to be able to chill out. The CRN golf day achieves this.”

The gloves are off so don’t get left in the rough – if you have the balls to take on some of the channels biggest swingers, club together with your colleagues to put a team out. It’s going to be a hole lot of fun!