Holding a Fund-Raising Golf Tournament

A fundraising golf tournament can be a difficult job that will take time and patience, but if done right, you can put together an event that will be truly memorable and rewarding.

The first thing you’ll want to do is create a small committee who will help you put your fundraiser together. You can’t do everything on your own. Also, pick people who are interested in golf and can multi-task.

After you’ve created your committee, you’ll need to secure a golf course. Do this at least six months prior to your event and make sure it is a course that will attract corporate participation.

Next, prepare a tournament brochure. Include sponsorship opportunities and important tournament information. Look for donations that will cover the brochure printing costs.

Once you have set the tournament date, decide on a golf format. You can play “Best Ball”, “Scramble” or numerous other formats. You’ll need to decide if you’ll allow the players to submit their own teams or if you will put teams together based on skill-level.

Sponsorship is the next thing on your “To-Do” list. You need to obtain sponsorship at several different levels. Offer different sponsorship packages that will entice corporations to invest in your fundraiser and don’t get greedy. Get creative - offer inexpensive sponsorships between $100-150 for signage on tee-boxes and greens.

Secure your sponsorship and then think about tournament day items such as prizes, food and goodie bags. The key is to get as many donations as possible. You and your fellow committee members will need to hit the streets and find help from local and national companies. Do whatever it takes to keep costs down.

Next, you’ll need to promote your tournament to the public: place brochures in local stores; contact local media outlets; and if possible, mail your brochures to local neighborhoods. Get the word out there.

On tournament day, make sure there’s a check-in table and continuous general announcements that will help everything run smoothly. After the tournament, serve lunch or dinner and have an award show. Make things light and fun, but always keep in mind that you’re trying to raise funds for some worthy cause. Also, keep some extra awards around to give out randomly. Don’t just give awards to the best golfers.

Holding a fundraiser is a difficult job, but if you have a plan and a supportive group to help you with the different tasks, you can create something magical. Good luck!