Charity golf tournaments are a terrific way to create community awareness and interest in your cause. Hosting your own golf tournament can also be a significant source of revenue for your organization, but require careful planning to ensure that they are not only fun, but also profitable fundraisers for your charity. The success of your charity golf event revolves around maximizing player turnout and increasing pledge sizes, minimizing overhead and obtaining sponsored prizes/services, and choosing the right tournament play format.
MARKETING & PUBLICITY
To maximize player turnout, you need to get major publicity for your event:
A press release about your golf fundraiser should describe your most noteworthy news angle in the summary paragraph and then get into the who, what, when, where, why, and how aspects of your golf outing. Your first avenue of gaining publicity is to work with the press and local media–but not how you think. Don’t stop at just sending out the customary press release. Talk to local celebrities, popular newspaper columnists, news and sports anchors from the local news show, local politicians, corporate CEOs, athletic coaches and others who are likely to have a large local following. There is certainly a tremendous opportunity for raising big dollars here – and also an opportunity for tremendous publicity. A great advantage of hosting a golf tournament is the connections you make.
More Publicity Tips:
SALES & REVENUE GENERATION
There are several different places you can raise money for a golf tournament. First of all, when you host the tournament, each player will pay a fee to participate. Then, you can also print a sponsored tournament booklet or guide, which you can sell for a couple dollars each. You can sell advertising space in this guide to local businesses as well.
Additional ideas may include soliciting local businesses to be the tournament “sponsor.” The organization would be rewarded for their donation and sponsorship by having the tournament named after their company.
In addition to the primary sponsor or sponsors of the event, additional sponsors may donate lesser amounts to sponsor individual golf holes. Each of the 18 holes could be sponsored by a different local business, who would have an opportunity both to be listed in the program guide, and to have their company name shown near that hole. Still other local companies can be solicited to donate prizes for the winners.
Just like individuals get sponsors for Relay For Life walks, Multiple Sclerosis bike rides, and other types of event fundraisers, so should your players. The key is getting each player to collect a certain amount of pledges. Some groups offer incentives for the top pledge getters. Others seek corporate sponsorships for that firm’s players. Put together a sponsorship form and ask each player to raise at least $100 in pledges along with their greens fees.
More Fundraising Tips:
TOURNAMENT PLAY FORMATS
For those who are participating in your charity golf and fund-raising tournament, it helps to pick a format they are familiar with. The three most common formats are scramble, best ball, and alternate shot.
CONTESTS
Another way to raise more money on the course is through hosting contests at different holes on the course. Here are some examples:
EXPENSES
Greens Fees: Hosting a golf tournament is a big project, and there are expenses involved. First, you will have to arrange with a local golf course willing to host the tournament, and it is very likely that you will have to pay a fee to rent the course for the day. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to ask the golf course if they would be willing to offer you a reduced fee, or even allow you to use it for free, as a way of supporting your cause. The course rental fee will be by far the largest expense. Most golf courses will give you a substantial discount for a large group, particularly if you’re scheduled for a weekday when traffic is low. You can charge the regular price and do quite well. Or, you can pocket the discount, markup the regular greens fee by $10, and do even better.
Food & Beverage: Work with the club to offer a catered lunch to all your golfers or at least a boxed lunch of sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Depending on what you’re offering, markup your costs by $2 to $4 per person and you’ll do well. Overcharging will actually cut into your total profits.
Contest Prizes: Generally speaking, you’ll draw more golfers if you have great prizes for longest drive, closest to the hole, hole in one, lowest team score, lowest actual score, and best adjusted score (handicap). You solicit local merchants to sponsor those prizes. Work with an insurance-related prize company for things like the hole-in-one contest. That way you can offer a bigger prize for a much lower outlay. Aim to get 100 golfers (25 foursomes) and your small group could easily raise $10,000 or more. Larger turnouts will net even more with some charity golf tournaments drawing 500 golfers competing for big prizes.
Gift Bags & Other Prizes: In addition to the traditional winners, award a variety of fun prizes (“Best Dressed Award,” “Oldest Set Of Clubs Award”). Also provide gifts for all participants, regardless of standings and consider gift certificates that can be redeemed at your silent auction for sports memorabilia – a lasting and meaningful award for your players.
Cost Saving Tips:
May 11, 2011 – The Yankees held the inaugural New York Yankees/New Era Pinstripe Bowl Charity Golf Tournament at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, New Jersey. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Pediatric Cancer Center, Public Schools Athletic League, Tourette Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey and the Boomer Esiason Foundation Fighting Cystic Fibrosis.
19-year-old Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa is going to go above and beyond doing his part to try to help his home nation move forward and rebuild after the catastrophic damage done by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami. Ishikawa announced he will donate all of his on-course earnings in 2011 to charities which will provide relief to victims of the disaster. In addition, Ishikawa will donate 100,000 Yen (between $1,200-1,300) per birdie to charity. The teenager has talked about the desire to be a beacon to the world for Japan with his play – and there’s certainly added motivation to provide some pride and relief to the home fans.
2010 Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen is thankful to Ernie Els and the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation for giving him his start in golf. As a farmers son from South Africa with minimal means to continue in the sport, the foundation stepped in and provided resources such as equipment, practice time, travel and housing accommodations for the promising player. With his first Major Championship at the “Home of Golf,” Louis’ name will forever be etched among the greatest golfers in history.
The Mike James Foundation 2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Classic:
All proceeds to benefit the Mike James Foundation’s Scholarship Fund.
Date: 07/29/2010
Start time: 1:30pm
Location: Beth Page (Red Course)
99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735
(770) 222-9983
Education Through Music’s Golf Tournament:
All proceeds benefit ETM’s music education programs in inner-city schools.
Date: 08/02/2010
Start time: 10:00am
Location: St. Andrews Golf Club
10 Old Jackson Avenue, Westchester, NY 10706
(212) 972-4788
Living Water Church Charity Golf Tournament:
The Living Water Golf Classic to benefit the Living Water Community Programs.
Date: 08/02/2010
Start time: 11:30am
Location: Long Island National Golf Club
1793 Northville Turnpike, NY 11901
(631) 615-9686
Painting for Cures Inaugural Golf Outing:
Date: 08/03/2010
Start time: 11:30am
Location: Lido Golf Club
Lido Beach, NY 11561
j.donohue@paintingforcures.org
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County 28th Annual Golf Tournament:
All proceeds raised benefit the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc.
Date: 08/05/2010
Start time: 6:00am
Location: North Hills Country Club
LIE North Service Road, Manhasset, NY 11030
(516) 378-2000
Sean Kimerling 7th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament and Dinner:
Many well-known sports, TV and Radio personalities will be joining the event. Presented by PIX 11, the event features a day of golf, dinner, and live entertainment.
Date: 08/09/2010
Start time: 9:30am
Location; Muttontown Country Club
5933 Northern Boulevard, East Norwich, NY 11732
(914) 332-4772
Catholic Big Sisters & Big Brothers of New York Sixth Annual Golf Outing:
Since its inception, this fundraiser has allowed CBSBB to double the amount of kids served by its programs. This event is vital to the continued success of our mentoring, counseling, and skill based programs.
Date: 08/09/2010
Start time: 11:00am
Location: The Creek Club
1 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560
(212) 475-3291 x200
Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Annual Golf Tournament:
Proceeds generated from the tournament go directly towards the Club’s programs and annual scholarships.
Date: 08/10/2010
Start time: 9:30am
Location: GlenArbor Golf Club
234 Bedford Center Road, Westchester, NY 10507
(914) 666-0066
Golf Fundraiser Honoring Parents of Service Members Killed In Action:
Longwood Lionesses Girls Soccer Travel Team Golf Fundraiser. Sponsor Holes donations on behalf Servicemen to benifit Wounded Warrior Project.
Date: 08/16/2010
Start time: 12:30pm
Location: Mill Pond Country Club
300 Mill Road, Medford NY 11763
(631) 965-2381
School for Language and Communication Development 11th Annual Golf Outing:
SLCD supporters and friends help raise funds that will directly benefit students at both SLCD schools.
Date: 08/16/2010
Start time: 10:00am
Location: The Creek
1 Horse Hollow Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560
(516) 609-2000 ext. 123
Golf for a Cure Outing:
Peter Norwark is a favorite Long Island golf professional, friend and cancer patient. This Outing will help him and others face their most difficult shot yet, beating cancer.
Date: 08/23/2010
Start time: 10:30am
Location: Inwood Country Club
50 Peppe Drive, NY 11096
(516) 698-9590
Human Rights Campaign Tee Off to Equality:
Date: 08/30/2010
Start Time: 12:00pm
Location: Glen Cove Golf Club
Lattingtown Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542
tracieahern@yahoo.com
2010 Roy L. Wines, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament:
Started in 2007, the purpose of our annual event is to raise money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and honor the memory of Roy L. Wines, Jr. – a dedicated public servant.
Date: 09/07/2010
Start time: 11:00am
Location: Sebonack Golf Club
405 Sebonac Road, Southampton, NY 11968
(631) 766-3970
Broadcasters Foundation of America Celebrity Golf Fundraiser:
The mission of the Broadcasters Foundation of America is to improve the quality of life and maintain the personal dignity of men and women in the radio and television broadcast profession who find themselves in acute need. The foundation reaches out across the country to identify and provide an anonymous safety net in cases of critical illness, advanced age, death of a spouse, accident and other serious misfortune.
Date: 09/13/2010
Location: Siwanoy Country Club
Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 10708
(212) 373-8250
AHRC – Association for the Help of Retarded Children Margiotta Memorial Golf Outing:
The mission of AHRC is to teach, support and advocate for children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to make life choices, exercise independence and develop responsibility.
Date: 09/13/2010
Start time: 8:00am
318 Lakeville Road, Lake Success, NY 11020
(516) 626-1075 x1238
AIA Peconic Annual Golf Tournament:
Proceeds of this scholarship fund go to a merit or financial aid applicant currently accepted by or attending an accredited school of architecture.
Date: 09/14/2010
Start time: 11:30am
Long Island National Golf Club
1793 Northville Turnpike, Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 728-7832
Kingsbrook 10th Annual Celebrity Golf & Tennis Classic:
Join 350 corporate leaders and celebrities in a day of golf and tennis in support of community outreach and screening programs through the enhancement of radiology equipment.
Date: 09/15/2010
Start time: 11:30am
Port Washington Boulevard, New York, NY 11050
(718) 604-5479
Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic:
The outing benefits the American Cancer Society and Health Children, Healthy Futures, teaching young people about good nutrition and fitness for over-all good health.
Date: 09/27/2010
Start time: 09:30am
50 Old Beach Lane , East Hampton, NY 11937
(917) 488-1412
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