ESSA Event Industry Golf and Spa Day Review 2009

On Thursday 20 August 2009, ESSA hosted the ever-popular Event Industry Golf and Spa Day at the Staverton Park Hotel in Daventry. It was an early morning start for thirteen teams as they registered their details in the clubhouse and sized up the opposition. The fifty golfers were then treated to bacon rolls and coffee before limbering up on the driving range ahead of the competition. Weather reports leading up to the day predicted torrential rain of biblical proportions but aside from a ‘light’ drizzle in the morning, conditions were on the golfers’ side.

The good weather was also a welcome change for the Tee Sponsors who took the opportunity to network with the golfers throughout the day, who were treated to a selection of food, drinks and prizes provided by and including Aztec, EC&O Venues, Equinox Design, Event & Exhibition Partnership, Event Production Show, Event UK, Excite!, Exhibition Bulletin, Markey Coffee Communications (fantastic coffee chaps!), Melville Exhibition and Event Services, Octanorm UK, Perton Signs, Reeds Carpets, Towergate Coverex, and headline sponsor, Smart AV.

Hospitality at the tees were enjoyed by all, with one team (mentioning no names) enjoying it more than most by taking an epic six hours to get through the eighteen holes. Once all the teams had completed the course it was left to the ESSA team to work out the professionals from the hackers whilst the guests readied themselves for the evening festivities. 

The evening started with a champagne reception, sponsored by Octanorm UK, on a sun-kissed clubhouse patio and gave guests the perfect chance to swap stories of divots, bunkers and triple bogeys. Following the meal, the awards ceremony got underway and the winners from the day were announced:

ESSA Challenge Golf Trophy
Winner – Graham Stephenson, Business Design Centre
Runner up – John Harrison, Towergate Coverex
Third place – Roy Haslehurst, G Haslehurst Builders

ESSA Shield and Ladies Crystal Trophy
Winner – Sam Herd, Earls Court and Olympia

Team Golfing Trophy
Winner – Towergate Coverex

There were other competitions held including a competition for the best-dressed golfer, sponsored by Excite!, which was won by Andrew Kennedy, whose attention to detail, with a rather stupendous belt buckle and finely applied nail varnish, sealed his victory. 

With the formalities out of the way it was left to the Smart AV and Aztec to provide the evening entertainment. Tish Quinn, Clements and Street Design Build, proved to be the queen of the roulette table by winning the Smart AV Casino Champion title and a 32inch flat screen TV, whilst Exhibition Bulletin’s very own James Barrett was proudly crowned Aztec’s Guitar Hero of 2009 winning a pair of designer sunglasses!

Feedback from the event has been great and we’re already looking forward to making next year’s event even better. Running events that bring our community together and allows attendees to network with each other is an important element for ESSA. We’re delighted to report that even in these challenging times the event also provided some financial rewards for the association which will be used to benefit all members.

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