New name, a bigger buzz of excitement for Corporate Golf League

The popular event is still six months away, and already the buzz and excitement of The Business Times Corporate Golf League, which brings together amateur golfers from companies, is being felt at clubs and courses.

To be renamed The Straits Times & Business Times Corporate Golf League because of the great momentum the event has produced, the consensus from participating teams is that the name switch is appropriate to attract a wider audience and fuller media attention.

Single-handicapper Joey Chang, 60, who played in every edition and 95 per cent of the games since the event started in 2011, said: “A perfect move. This is a fabulous tournament for friendship, camaraderie and networking. It has grown tremendously both in number of teams and corporate attention since the inaugural event.”

Chang, founder and former chief executive of AXS Pte Ltd and now retired, has played for Citibank, Singapore Pools, Performance Motors and Singapore Global Trust over the years.

Presenting sponsor Singapore Pools and the two SPH Media newspapers have put together a fabulous programme for the event’s 2026 edition, and already 20 teams have pledged to play in the competitive and social categories.

For next year’s event, teeing off in March at Tanah Merah Country Club, Singapore Pools have cobbled up a powerful combination of staff and guests in a bid to regain the title they won in 2024.

Singapore Pools are determined to bounce back from fifth placing last time and newly-appointed captain Kevin Pang, deputy director of procurement, is putting together a team which will go for rigorous training and probably an overseas trip in preparation for the event.

Singapore Pools’ chief executive officer Lam Chee Weng and chief product officer Simon Leong will provide executive support to their team and bring their omnipresence for all five legs – the other venues being Singapore Island Country Club, Laguna National, Orchid Country Club and Sentosa Golf Club.

No doubt, they face a stiff challenge to their ambitions, with defending champions Orchid Country Club as early favourites with a line-up of serious golfers who turn up for the local Premier League.

Said Melvyn Tan, Orchid CC’s general manager: “Our selection will be based on the members’ performances in the ongoing local league. Our current lady’s vice-captain Joey Tan, who takes over as lady captain in November, will spearhead our ambitions to retain the title.”

Orchid CC showed their vast potential early in the last edition by being among the four teams within four points of the lead after the first round.

With consistent above-par showings in the next four legs, it was no surprise that they won the title by a single point over Singapore Global Trust, with Team Boss a further point adrift in third place in the tightest finish in 14 years.

Over the five legs, there were stellar showings by different players, with national player Troy Storm, 16, of Gayatri, returning the edition’s best performance of a six-under 66 at the very difficult Serapong course at Sentosa.

However, the team to watch could well be Team Boss, who last Wednesday held a dinner and named its team for the celebrated event, with Andre Huber taking over as captain from Marilyn Lum and John Lim assisting him.

Said Huber: “The BT Corporate Golf League is the marquee golf event we support and love. I love this community that Boss has built.

“We are excited to enter the new 2026 season with an expanded team for both competitive and social events with existing and new players who truly enjoy the game. We also want to look good playing it.”