Organizing a Successful Golf Tournament
- Step 1: Creating your Plan. Make no mistake; golf tournaments are large, unwieldy beasts that require months of...
- Step 2: Creating your Timeline. Think you’re above planning your timeline? Think again. The number 1 mistake you can...
- Step 3: Building your Committee. Your committee is what makes your tournament go. The people in...
Full Answer
How to plan and run a successful golf tournament?
· Steps Download Article 1. Set a tentative date to hold your event. Include a secondary date in case of rain the day of the event and you cannot... 2. Contact a golf course. Make sure to sign a contract with the course so you know what to expect when it comes to fees... 3. Create a golf ...
How to produce a successful golf tournament?
Before you begin to organize any aspect of this tournament, put together a staff of like-minded individuals such as yourself. Make sure that everybody on your tournament staff is well-informed about their specific tasks and hold meetings regularly to update the overall progress of …
How do you prepare for a golf tournament?
Download the e-book for a full guide to organizing and utilizing your tournament committee. 3. Choosing a Golf Tournament Format. The majority of tournaments opt for a scramble format, as it allows all golfers regardless of their skill to enjoy a day of golf and to compete for the chance to be crowned the winner. This format usually generates ...
How to prepare for your first golf tournament?
· In most instances, scramble is the preferred method, but if you have an elite group of golfers, consider implementing the other three to …
How long does it take to organize a golf tournament?
As a general rule of thumb, you should allow at least six months for planning and promotion. You also want to schedule your golf tournament far enough ahead so that attendees can plan it into their schedules.
How do you schedule a golf tournament?
Establish a TimelineSelect a tournament director.Select golf course.Determine date/time & negotiate contract.Establish a committee, meeting schedule, and duties.Choose a format.Select contests and events.Determine other activities.Research registration sites.More items...
How do you organize a golf tournament checklist?
The Essential Golf Outing ChecklistA golf course.An event team and/or day-of volunteers.A tournament format.One or more sponsors, depending on your event goals.A list of potential golfers for the event itself.A ticket sales and marketing strategy, which will include tools like an event website.More items...
How are company golf tournaments organized?
A Quick 11 Checklist for Planning Your Company Golf TournamentVenue. Consider location, amenities, level of difficulty, and distance away from your office. ... Committee. Don't overlook the importance of a tournament committee. ... Corporate & Vendor Sponsors. ... Date. ... Charity. ... Format. ... Food & Beverage. ... Entry Fee.More items...•
How do I plan a small golf tournament?
If you're ready to plan your charity golf tournament, read on for tips to get you started!Set a fundraising goal. ... Pick a format. ... Find your venue. ... Don't just rely on donations. ... Look for sponsors. ... Build your event website. ... Promote your event. ... During your fundraising event.More items...
Can you make money hosting a golf tournament?
Organizing and hosting a charity golf tournament is no small feat. While there are hundreds of thousands of charity golf outings that take place each year, the average net profit of these tournaments is $5,000, although the big fundraisers can make up to $300,000.
How much does it cost to sponsor a golf tournament?
Sponsoring a regular PGA Tour event costs in the neighborhood of $7 million per year. That money covers a portion of the purse, a television advertising commitment, a fee to the PGA Tour and to the tournament.
How do you get sponsors for a golf tournament?
Who Should I Reach Out to for Golf Tournament Sponsorship? Create a list of potential prospects. Start by having committee members write down potential sponsors in their network including friends, family, and acquaintances. Don't be afraid to reach out to customers and clients to support your event, too.
What should I name my golf tournament?
Some tips for choosing tournament names: Try to convey the purpose of the tournament within the name. Be concise and clear with your choice of words – choose unique over over-used. Think about leaving a lasting impression or image in the minds of your players.
How do you host a golf day?
Quick Guide to Organising a Corporate Golf DayGet Support from your Staff / Events Organiser. ... Choosing a Golf Club. ... Get Assistance from the Club. ... The Invitation. ... The Time sheet. ... Golf Carts & Caddies. ... Gifts and Prizes. ... On the Day.More items...•
How does a golf tournament work?
Traditional professional golf tournaments consist of four rounds. After two rounds of play, the playing field is reduced dramatically. Usually, the top 70 players, including ties, make the cut and go on to play the third and fourth rounds.
What makes a successful golf club?
Successful golf clubs have revealed their methods of recruiting and retaining new members: they're flexible, friendly and they offer low-cost ways to try the game. These key factors have emerged from research commissioned by England Golf to support the development of its new and ambitious Strategic Plan.
How to promote a golf tournament?
Design a media kit and send to various radio, television, and newspaper outlets to promote your golf tournament. Include general fliers and registration forms. If you have an established presence on social media, it is a good idea to use such platforms as Facebook, Twitter or other niche social networks, to promote your golf tournament. If a charity is organizing the golf event, using Kickstarter is necessary.
What is a golf tournament?
A golf tournament is a great way to host corporate clients or as a fundraising event. Work closely with the golf course for your tournament planning, especially if you have never been in charge of a golf event. The following steps will help you run a golf tournament successfully.
How to raise money for an auction?
Collect items for auctions. Auctions are great for fundraising events to increase the total amount of money collected. Purchase a large roll of raffle tickets that participants can buy individually for the auctions or a raffle. The raffle divides money from ticket sales with 50% going to the raffle winner and the rest toward the event.
How many holes does a shotgun start?
Assign starting positions for the teams. Most tournaments have a Shotgun Start; this start has a team on each of the 18 holes and everyone begins at the same time.
How many players are in a group in a game?
Keep track of the groups and payments as they sign up. Typically, groups consist of four players. You may pair individual participants with other single players or groups who do not have enough players. Finalize your order for trophies, prizes, and memorabilia based on your final registration date numbers.
Why do you need to outfit your golf course?
Properly outfitting your golf tournament has multiple advantages, so be sure to not sacrifice quality to get low prices. Benefits include: free advertising on other courses, to connect your charity/business with great memories and name recognition in the tournament.
Why is 18 hole golf good for charity?
The 18 hole format is best for a charity golf event so that the participants will feel they are getting the most for their money, even when that money is going to charity. Plus, it opens up more holes for sponsorship.
What is the most important part of a golf event?
As discussed earlier, players are the most important part of your event. Making sure everything runs smoothly and the players enjoy themselves is crucial to running a successful golf event. Host a quick meeting for volunteers and staff prior to the start of your event to review timelines and objectives for the day.
Why do golf tournaments use scramble?
The majority of tournaments opt for a scramble format, as it allows all golfers regardless of their skill to enjoy a day of golf and to compete for the chance to be crowned the winner. This format usually generates the highest number of participants. However, when selecting your format, it is crucial you take into account the calibre of players, as a tournament full of skilled golfers may be more excited for a stroke event, or even a modified scramble.
What is the best way to promote your sponsors?
The one thing you will want to promote is your sponsors. Making sure signage and displays for sponsors are done correctly is crucial in getting them back in the years to come. Your sponsors are typically happy to give money for a good cause, however, they want to feel like they are getting something in return. Display sponsorships on a website to provide even more value.
What is sponsorship in golf?
Sponsors are a large part of every golf event, so it’s essential that you maintain a strong working relationship with these partners. Registrations: Make sure you assign a committee member to be in charge of registrations.
Why do you want to make sure your goals and objectives are presented to all committee members?
You’ll want to make sure that your goals and objectives are presented to all committee members to ensure everyone is on the same page. Too frequently, I see committee members who are trying to go in different directions. This not only causes more confusion from a planning standpoint, but can cause major setbacks to the overall execution of your event.
Why is setting goals important?
Setting goals are an important step when trying to accomplish anything in life. Running a golf tournament is no different. Once you determine the overall objective of the tournament, you should create goals in order to achieve that objective.
Is it easy to host a golf tournament?
As many of you know, hosting a charity golf tournament is no easy task. Between creating the day’s agenda, tracking down sponsorship payments, and organizing contests, organizing golf tournaments can very quickly become a full time job. We at Event Caddy know how overwhelming this can be, so we’ve put together 7 key steps that will help you with your next event.
How to raise money for a golf tournament?
Your event can raise more money by adding a one-on-one contest or giving golfers the chance to buy unlimited mulligans. Later in this blog, we have added a list of different golf fundraising ideas to include in your golf tournament.
How to determine where to hold a golf event?
When determining where to hold your event, it is vital to find a location that does not make your event ticket price unattainable for most of your donors. Visit your donor database to determine how much people have been willing and able to donate to your organization for an idea of what prices seem reasonable. If you can find a location that will give your organization a discount, that is great, but since so many nonprofits hold golf outings, there is a lot of competition, so many golf courses do not see the need.
How to sell golf tickets?
Most golf tournaments sell tickets as foursomes. The best way to sell these foursomes is by word of mouth and personal invites. It is a lot harder to say no to a friend or colleague than to an email or social media post. Ask your fundraising team to find at least the number of foursomes that cover your event’s cost. This way, your nonprofit’s budget does not suffer if the event is not as successful as you had hoped.
Can you donate to a private golf club?
Pro tip: Golfers love golfing at private clubs. If your event is being held at a private club, ask for a foursome donation to include in your auction. Be sure to ask around at all the other private clubs for foursome donations as well.
How to raise money for golf?
Ticket sales will only cover the cost of the golf course and food, so it is necessary to include several different fundraising games and ideas in your event. If your event includes a dinner or lunch, you can choose this time to have a silent or live auction. These auctions can add hundreds or even a few thousand to your revenue, depending on the items. This is where your fundraising team really comes in handy. Before sending your team out to find auction items, give them a list of items that will have the best chance of raising money at your event.
Can you host a golf tournament for an animal shelter?
For example, if you are an animal shelter thinking of hosting a golf tournament fundraiser within the community, why not make the event pet-friendly? While donors are busy playing, some of your volunteers can take care of the pets. Afterward, both donors and their pets can enjoy a fun-filled evening with dinner and healthy treats respectively. Alternatively, you can also offer your donors the chance to meet your shelter animals for a fulfilling experience.
What is a good theme for a golf fundraiser?
All women golf fundraisers can prefer a chance to feel special and elite with a tea-party or spa theme. Golf fundraisers for the men can get their theme ideas from movies like Caddyshack or Tin Cup. Other theme ideas can be based on your nonprofit’s mission.
How to plan a golf tournament for charity?
If you’re ready to plan your charity golf tournament, read on for tips to get you started! 1. Set a fundraising goal. When planning any fundraising campaign, the first thing you need to determine is how much you need to raise during your event. You’re 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you identify them and write them down, ...
What does hosting a great event take?
Hosting a great event takes money, and your organization wants to make sure donations support your mission. That’s where sponsors come in!
How to help yourself with a caterer?
You can help yourself by making sure you and all participating staff have a detailed schedule that lists everything from when the caterers arrive to what time you expect to be done with cleanup. You should also include who the point person will be for each part of your event, so staff and volunteers know who to go to if something’s wrong.
Is it safe to have an outdoor banquet?
You’ll also want to consider any space you’ll need for a banquet. An outdoor banquet is still your safest option, but you’ll want to make sure your location can accommodate your guests safely in the event of inclement weather.
How to accommodate current course requirements?
You can also accommodate current course requirements by offering tee times over the course of a week and tracking scoring on an app. This allows you to avoid the crowding that shotgun starts require and using a scoring app like Hole 19 eliminates another touch point for a safer event. Allowing more flexibility through tee times can also increase participation, since potential donors have more opportunities to fit your event into their schedules.
What is the most important thing to keep in mind when appealing to your donors?
The most important thing to keep in mind is appealing to your donors’ preferences!
Can you combine two golf courses into one?
You can easily combine both options into a hybrid event by giving golfers the option to complete the course on their own time while raising money via a peer-to-peer golf-a- thon.
DON'T
Don't try and do everything by yourself. That's what your staff is for, delegating specific tournament needs. Nobody likes a burned out tournament director and the likelihood of promoting a successful tournament this way is next to impossible.
DON'T
Don't wait until the week before the tournament to begin securing sponsors, food vendors, or anything that could be hindered by being delayed. Make sure that your tournament is on the tip of everybody's tongue in town for at least 6 months prior to the event.
DON'T
Don't let your players sit idle with nothing to do while waiting for the next tee box. As groups play through, have something to entertain your players such as a game of chance by spinning a wheel for a prize, or a chance to hydrate and snack on something while waiting.
What is an outing for golf?
Outings are a one-day respite from work and responsibility, offer a group dynamic often foreign to the sport and bestow amenities and ancillary benefits that make celebrity gift baskets look like free floss from the dentist.
How many people do you need to play golf?
At minimum, you should have two friends or co-workers assisting with the outing. For those not acquainted with the intricacies of golf, make sure to enlist three or four volunteers, with at least one owning knowledge of the sport.
What are some good rewards for golfers?
Gift certificates to a restaurant, store or to the course' clubhouse are also a popular reward, and don't be afraid to get creative: The last event I was in, the winners received prime-time seats to a baseball game.
What to talk to a course representative about?
Talk to a course representative about what you can and cannot do regarding concessions prior to the event.
Can you grill out at a golf course?
Historically, this has been provided by the course. Nevertheless, some courses allow for grill-outs or barbecues, especially if the money is going to charity. Additionally, outside catering is an oft-utilized option.
What is the chief avenue for profit for golf courses?
Alcohol sales are the chief avenue for profit for courses, as green fees usually cover the cost of course maintenance, so this is one arena where you are at the course's whims. Talk to a course representative about what you can and cannot do regarding concessions prior to the event.
How many groups should you have on a shotgun tee?
The first point is straightforward. I'm of the belief that, if your outing is more than six groups, use shotgun tee times. This means that, instead of going off one group at a time on the first hole, your party will start simultaneously on different parts of the course. The beauty of this setup ensures everyone finishes around the same juncture, compacting the event and facilitating time efficiency, rather than a stagnated closing, which could drag the tournament out longer than need be.
How to give something away for a tournament?
And make it something the person will actually want. People already have plenty of water bottles, bottle openers, and divot removers. Give them something nice, like an embroidered towel, gift certificates to local restaurants, or something else. Granted, these giveaways often cost money, so take that into account when planning. You may be able to get a sponsor for these giveaways as well.
How to coordinate a golf outing?
At minimum, you should have a few friends or co-workers assisting with the outing. For those not acquainted with the intricacies of golf, make sure to enlist three or four volunteers, with at least one owning knowledge of the sport. If you're lucky, the host course will be able to provide tips for getting started. It is often useful to form a committee and assign tasks for certain parts of the tournament such as registration, giveaways, sponsorships, food & drink, course liaison, and any other items your event requires. Having multiple people involved also helps during the check-in process as most people will be arriving about the same time and the more hands available to help the smoother your event will run.
How many groups should you have on a shotgun tee?
The first point is straightforward. I'm of the belief that, if your outing is more than six groups, use shotgun tee times. This means that, instead of going off one group at a time on the first hole, your party will start simultaneously on different parts of the course. The beauty of this setup ensures everyone finishes around the same juncture, compacting the event and facilitating time efficiency, rather than a stagnated closing, which could drag the tournament out longer than need be.
What can a host course do?
It is often useful to form a committee and assign tasks for certain parts of the tournament such as registration, giveaways, sponsorships, food & drink, course liaison, and any other items your event requires.
What do local businesses do for giveaways?
Looking for giveaways? Many local businesses will donate gifts or rewards to use as prizes, awards, or giveaways.
What is hole sponsorship?
Hole sponsorship is the standard, with a company paying a certain amount to advertise on a tee box or near a green. You may also be fortunate enough to find a "Presenting Sponsor," a business who pays a large sum to sponsor the entire tournament.
What is the biggest revenue stream for charity events?
For charity events, the biggest revenue stream is through endorsements and sponsorships. Sign-ups and entrance fees also do their part, but if done properly, these receipts should be just a fraction of the event's earnings.
