From strikes to swings: A company day we’ll never forget

Organizing a company event is never easy.

Honestly, sometimes it’s already a challenge just to plan a day out with a few friends, checking everyone’s availability, syncing schedules, figuring out logistics. Now imagine doing that for a whole company. Not simple at all.

This time, things didn’t exactly go our way. In fact, fate seemed to be working against us. But in the end, our desire to spend a day together was stronger than any setback, and somehow, we made it happen.

Let’s rewind a bit.

Our office is in Utrecht, but only a handful of us actually live nearby. Luckily, this is the Netherlands, where crossing the entire country can take just a few hours. And as a company that truly values sustainability, we always try to make environmentally friendly choices, like traveling by train instead of driving whenever we can. It’s part of our daily habits, and part of who we are.

So when Isabelle stepped in to plan our company outing, it was no surprise she made it work around public transport. After a quick poll in the group chat, she picked the date: Tuesday, June 10th. The plan? A round of golf, followed by a great dinner.

Everything was set. Until it wasn’t.

Right before the event, we found out there would be a train strike in Rotterdam, The Hague, and parts of the southwest. That route affected quite a few of us, but we thought, "Okay, some trains are still running. We’ll figure it out."

Then came the next update.

A nationwide train strike. No trains anywhere in the Netherlands. For a moment, we considered postponing the event, but with summer holidays just around the corner, finding a new date would’ve been nearly impossible.

So we rolled up our sleeves and got creative.

Some of us needed more than three hours to get to the office, mixing buses, trams, and car rides. A few colleagues were even coming from outside the country. But no one wanted to miss it, so we started coordinating carpools, sharing routes, and finding common meeting points.

Some of us spent over three hours in the car, just to make sure everyone had a ride and no one was left behind. Pretty special. It’s not something you see every day.

There were definitely some wild journeys involved. One person even biked to the office. In typical Dutch fashion, not even the rainy weather could stop him, right, Ronald?.

Finally, after a whole series of misadventures, we all made it to the office by 11:00. Monday had been a public holiday (Pinksteren), so we kicked off the week together with our sprint review and planning.

After a few meetings and some solid work in the morning, at around 3 o’clock we headed to the golf club, where our in-house golf experts were waiting for us.

Spirits were high, we were all excited to try something new, learn a few golf skills, and maybe even get some friendly competition going.

When we arrived at the venue, we did what any group of professionals would do to prepare for a sports session: we warmed up…with drinks. First round, down. That definitely helped ease us into the mood.

Once our golf pros were ready, we made our way to the bays. Each one was equipped with clubs, balls, and enough space to take a solid swing. There were also cozy lounges with snacks, perfect for quick breaks and energy boosts between rounds.

Before we could start swinging away, our coaches gave us a short but helpful intro to the basics. We learned about the proper stance, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and a firm grip on the club. They also explained the difference between clubs (did you know drivers are for distance and wedges are better for short shots?) and how to choose one depending on your goal.

Then it was time to put theory into practice.

We lined up, took our stances, and gave it a go. Some of us hit the ball pretty well. Others… well, let’s just say we gave the air a good beating. But in our defense, it’s way harder than it looks on TV.

Still, every swing came with laughs, cheers, and the occasional “close enough!” moment. It was about having fun, trying something new, and enjoying the time together. And that, we did.

As I said before, there was definitely no shortage of competition. So, after everyone had a chance to practice (and recover from the occasional air swing), we split into teams and kicked off the real games.

We played two classic golf challenges: Bullseye and Longest Drive.

Bullseye is all about precision. The goal is to hit your ball as close to the center of the target as possible. The closer you get to the bullseye, the more points your team scores. Then came Longest Drive, which is exactly what it sounds like. You grab your driver, take your best swing, and try to send the ball flying as far as possible.

Everyone got really into it—some people even discovered hidden talents, while others leaned into the fun and just enjoyed the moment (and the snacks). The competition was fierce but friendly, and the energy was amazing.

By the end of the games, we had a few standout winners and a lot of unforgettable moments. But more importantly, we had a great time together, and that’s what this day was really about.

After all the energy we spent swinging clubs, laughing, and (sometimes) competing like pros, we had more than earned our reward: food.

We headed to the restaurant, where a long table was waiting for us. Over shared plates, cheers, and lots of laughter, we slowly let the adrenaline of the competition give way to a warm, relaxed evening.

But this dinner wasn’t just about filling our stomachs. It was also a special moment to celebrate something truly meaningful: our CXO’s 10-year anniversary at Prepr.

At Prepr, we like to say we’re more than just a team, we’re a bit of a family. We work hard, we support each other, and we make space for moments that matter. So it felt only right to take a pause and honor this important milestone.

There was a toast (or two), a few heartfelt words, some thoughtful gifts, and a lot of appreciation. Ten years with a company is no small thing, and it was clear how much that journey meant to both him and the rest of us. It was one of those moments that makes you stop and realize how special it is to be part of a place that truly values people, not just their work, but them.

The rest of the evening was filled with stories, second helpings, and maybe one too many desserts. But no one was in a rush to leave. After all the planning, the travel struggles, and the unexpected hiccups, we were exactly where we wanted to be.

All in all, it wasn’t the easiest day to pull off, but it turned out to be one we’ll remember for a long time. To the next one!