Play It Forward Returns for Year Six

GolfStatus is teeing up the sixth annual Play It Forward campaign, once again partnering with Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation to spotlight the nonprofits and charity organizations using golf to fuel their missions. 

Every year, thousands of golf tournaments raise mission-critical dollars for causes across the country. Play It Forward celebrates the people and organizations behind those events—the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and golfers who show up to support important community causes through golf.  

From August 1 to September 30, anyone can nominate a charity golf tournament they love for Play It Forward. One deserving golf fundraiser will receive a $10,000 donation, and the person who nominated the event will win a Dormie Network Stay and Play package (good for a two-day, one-night golf getaway at one of its eligible private destination clubs).

Victoria National in Newburgh, Indiana, is one of Dormie Network’s private destination golf clubs.

Eligible events include traditional nine- or 18-hole tournaments, TopGolf outings, mini golf fundraisers, and everything in between that raises money for a nonprofit or charitable cause. 

“Golf tournaments do more than just raise money,” says Steve Mattern, Chief Operating Officer at GolfStatus. “They build community, rally support around a cause, and strengthen community relationships. Play It Forward is our chance to shine a light on all the good golf events do.”

Six Years of Play it Forward

“Every nomination is a reminder of how much good the game of golf can do,” says Brian Schenk, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Dormie Network Foundation. “Six years in, it’s still an honor to help these organizations go further.”

Since launching in 2021, Play It Forward has given $60,000 to organizations across the U.S. that are using golf to power positive change in their communities:

2025: Hope Strengthens Foundation

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Selected from a record-setting pool of nominations, Hope Strengthens Foundation supports patients and families navigating serious illness and long treatment journeys.

“The $10,000 donation from Play It Forward was directly leveraged to provide critical support to three patients and families for transportation costs, a new prosthetic leg, and leukemia treatments.”

Jacob Ferreira, Executive Director at Hope Strengthens Foundation

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2024: Coalition For Kids (C4K)

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C4K supports over 1,200 vulnerable students in northwest Tennessee wth free after-school and evening programs, providing academic, physical, social, and spiritual growth to kids in one of the area’s most underserved communities.

'“The Play It Forward donation directly supported our ability to serve hundreds of children throughout the school year with critical after-school programming and opportunities that keep them safe, engaged, and learning during the hours they are most vulnerable.”

Randy Hensley, Executive Director at Coalition For Kids

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2023: Avery’s Hope

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Avery’s Hope assists families of children navigating rare and undiagnosed GI conditions. Its TopGolf fundraiser showed how non-traditional formats can create inclusive events with real impact.

“We hosted a TopGolf event to be more inclusive for patient families, children, and those who don’t golf. By doing so, the event attracted a number of families who wouldn’t be able to afford or otherwise support a traditional golf outing. The Play It Forward donation was put to immediate use supporting families.”

Caryl Harris, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Avery’s Hope

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2022: Sisters Across America and Make-A-Wish Foundation

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Sisters Across America helps young minority women pursue professional golf, and Make-A-Wish funds life-changing wishes for critically ill children in the Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley regions.

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2021: Cameron Steinberg Foundation

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The Foundation honors the memory of Cameron Steinberg, who passed away at two months old from a congenital heart defect. Her parents launched the foundation and golf fundraiser to support research and families affected by CHD.

“Play It Forward helped jumpstart our work with local hospital heart centers to help improve the journey of kids and their families when impacted by a congenital heart defect.”

Sam Steinberg, Founder at Cameron Steinberg Foundation

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Nominate Your Favorite Golf Event

If a golf tournament has made a difference for a cause you care about, this is the chance to tell its story. Every nomination helps underscore the impact golf has on the work of nonprofits and charities.

key dates

• August 1, 2026: Nomination period opens

• September 30, 2026: Nomination deadline

• December 1, 2026 (Giving Tuesday): Winner announced

The winners will be announced via press release and across GolfStatus’ and Dormie Network’s social media platforms, so follow along for updates.

GolfStatus: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube

Dormie Network: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Mulligans are a low-lift option to add real revenue to your charity golf tournament. They cost you nothing to offer, golfers of all skill levels love them, and they’re one of the easiest add-ons to any golf tournament.

Many golf tournament organizers leave money on the table by either not offering mulligans at all or not pricing, packaging, and selling them effectively. Learn how to leverage mulligans for your next tournament.

What is a Mulligan?

A mulligan is simply a “do-over” or a chance for a golfer to retake a shot without it counting against their score.

Mulligans aren’t allowed in professional or official competitions, but are a staple of charity tournaments. They’re less about strict rules and more about fun and raising money for your cause. Golfers who shank a tee or approach shot are usually more than happy to pay a few dollars to erase it and keep the round moving.

Golfers who hit a poor tee shot are happy for the chance for a “do-over” by using a mulligan.

How to Price Mulligans

There’s no single “right” price—it depends on your tournament, format, competitiveness, and what golfers are used to paying. Here are a few general suggestions:

• Casual charity tournaments: $5-$10 per mulligan. A reasonable price point keeps sales volume high.

• Competitive or higher-end tournaments: $15-$25 per mulligan. Golfers at higher-end events tend to have more discretionary income to spend and can justify the higher cost.

• Bundles: Selling mulligans as a set—for example, three mulligans for $20 instead of $10 each—encourages golfers to buy more than they might as a single.

Whatever price point you decide, think about it the way you think about sponsorship and registration packages. Even though most golfers at a charity event already know they’re there to support a cause, you still want to offer value, and they’re generally willing to spend accordingly.

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Pro Tip: Ask for feedback on mulligan pricing in your post-tournament communications with golfers to help you lock in options for next year.

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Building Mulligan Packages That Sell

Pricing is only half the equation. How you package mulligans can have a big impact on whether or not golfers decide to buy them. Consider these mulligan package options:

• Bundle them into team registration. Consider an upgraded registration tier that includes a set number of mulligans per golfer or team, so those who want the cushion of a mulligan don’t have to make a separate purchase decision later.

• Sell them as a standalone add-on. Not everyone wants mulligans bundled in—and some golfers may want additional mulligans than what’s included with a package. Give them the option to add mulligans à la carte during registration and at check-in.

• Fold them into VIP or premium packages. Another option is to pair mulligans with other perks, like premium parking, extra raffle tickets, or contest entries, to make an upgrade package feel like a deal rather than an upsell.

• Offer tiered mulligan bundles. Offer a “basic” bundle of two or three mulligans at a lower price, and an “upgraded” bundle of four or five at a better price per mulligan to give golfers options without overcomplicating the package.

• Pair mulligans with raffle tickets. Golfers who buy one of these are often receptive to the other, so consider offering a combo package that includes both mulligans and raffle tickets.

List a mulligan package on your event website to make it as easy as possible for golfers to buy them.

The goal with any package for mulligans is to make the decision easy. Keep your menu of options simple and clearly priced on your event website so golfers can make their selection without having to think through a ton of choices.

Where & How to Sell Mulligans

Mulligans sell best when they’re easy to buy in the moment someone’s already thinking about them, so it’s a best practice to offer them before the tournament and at the course.

• At registration. Include mulligan options in the online registration flow so golfers can add and pay for them without a separate transaction. This is the prime converting moment, since golfers already have their credit card out and are ready to buy.

• At check-in. Some golfers wait until tournament day to decide, and others may want to add additional do-overs, so make sure mulligans are just as easy to purchase when they arrive at the golf facility.

• On the course. Consider setting up a mulligan station or two near the tee box of notoriously tough holes. A well-timed mulligan offer right before a challenging hole can be one of your highest-converting moments of the day.

Across all three touchpoints, the common thread is removing as much friction as possible. If buying a mulligan means finding cash, hunting down a volunteer, or filling out a form, you’ll lose sales. A mobile-friendly event website lets golfers buy mulligans (or anything else) right from their phones, wherever they are in the course, keeping the process quick and easy and eliminating the headache of tracking and reconciling cash payments.

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Pro Tip: Post QR codes that link directly to the mulligans package on your event website at the check-in table and any mulligan stations for easy access.

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Direct golfers to your mobile-friendly event website to purchase mulligans at the event, eliminating the need to hassle with and reconcile cash payments.

Communicate Rules to Keep It Fun & Fair

Mulligans work so well because they’re lighthearted, not because they let anyone buy their way to winning a tournament. It’s crucial to set clear limits and expectations up front. A common approach is limiting mulligan purchases to two to four per golfer and specifying where they can be used, such as for tee shots only. Communicate the rules on your event website and again at check-in so there’s no confusion, frustration, or push-back mid-tournament. You might even post signage that explains mulligan usage.

Physical mulligan cards, tickets, or wristbands can help volunteers and other golfers see at a glance who has purchased them and how many they have left, which cuts down on disputes and keeps the pace of play moving.

Mulligan FAQs

Why should we offer mulligans at our tournament?

For nonprofits, golfers’ willingness to pay is a golden opportunity. Mulligans require no inventory, vendors, or setup, beyond deciding your pricing and how you’ll sell them, which means every dollar collected goes straight toward your mission.

Are mulligans allowed at all golf tournaments?

Mulligans aren’t utilized in official or professional competitive tournaments, but they’re standard practice at charity events and other casual formats where the focus is fun and fundraising. As the organizer, you get to set the rules for your own event.

How many mulligans should we let golfers buy?

Most tournaments cap purchases somewhere between two and five per player. Capping the number keeps the format fair and prevents mulligans from feeling like a way to buy a win rather than the fun add-on they’re intended to be.

Where on the course can golfers use mulligans?

Many tournaments limit mulligans to tee shots only to keep play moving and avoid disputes over lies in the fairway or on the green. That being said, you can allow them for any shot—the key is to communicate the expectations clearly before the round starts so there’s no confusion. Mulligans can’t typically be used on hole-in-one contest holes and in putting contests.

Do we need physical mulligan cards?

Physical cards or wristbands give volunteers an easy way to verify purchases and their use on the course. Selling them through your event website ahead of time (or from a phone on tournament day) cuts down on the need to handle cash and makes reporting easier post-tournament. If golfers buy them ahead of time, have them ready for pick-up at check-in.

Should mulligans be included in registration or sold separately?

Both approaches work, and offering them both ways helps you capture the most revenue possible. Bundle a set number into an upgraded registration or VIP package for golfers who want the cushion built in, and offer them as a standalone add-on for everyone else.

What’s a reasonable price to charge for mulligans?

It depends on your event, goals, and field, but $5-$10 per mulligan is typical for charity golf tournaments. Higher-end events may be able to charge $15-$25 per mulligan. Bundling mulligans together at a slight discount usually outperforms selling them individually.

Turn a Small Add-On Into Real Revenue With Mulligans

Mulligans won’t replace sponsorships or registrations in terms of revenue, but they’re an easy win to fold into your tournament. With thoughtful pricing, a simple package structure, and a frictionless way to buy, mulligans can add meaningful dollars to your tournament’s fundraising outcomes, all from something golfers already want.

Mulligans are a great way to build in easy, low-cost revenue drivers to charity golf tournaments. Make it easy to package, list, and sell with a free event website from GolfStatus. Websites are powered by GolfStatus’ golf event management platform, which streamlines and simplifies tournaments to save organizers time and help raise more money for your cause, and backed by a team of golf fundraising pros. Book a meeting to find out more and get started at no upfront cost!

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About the Author

Jen Wemhoff - Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Jen Wemhoff accidentally discovered her passion for nonprofits in college. An internship while earning a degree in Communications from Doane University led to a 20 year career in the nonprofit sector, where she found a strong desire to be part of something bigger than herself. Her vast nonprofit experience includes roles in marketing, fundraising, and direct programming. When Jen came to GolfStatus as Communications Manager in 2020, she was struck by the power of the sport to raise money to power nonprofit missions. She tells GolfStatus’s story across platforms and channels and develops educational tools and resources to help nonprofits tap into golf’s giving power. Jen, her husband, and two daughters call Lincoln, Nebraska home.

With just two months until tournament day, your planning efforts should be shifting into high gear. Many of the biggest decisions are behind you, and now it’s time to focus on execution. The more you can accomplish over the next several weeks, the less stressful the final countdown will be.

Planning should be in high gear at two months before your golf tournament.

This installment of the blog series will walk you through the key tasks to focus on two months before your charity golf tournament, working to fill the remaining team spots, secure sponsorships, outline logistics, and make sure every detail is coming together.

9 Months Post

6 Months Post

It’s important to note that while having more time to plan is usually better, it’s possible to plan a successful golf tournament in a matter of a couple of months.

Free Download:

Golf Tournament Checklist and Planning Timeline

Get a roadmap of every task so you stay on task and on target throughout your tournament planning! Find out what to do and when to do it.

Pre-Planning & Reference

Whether you need a refresher on GolfStatus features, planning best practices, or ideas to raise more money, take advantage of the educational tools and resources available to you. If you haven’t already:

• Get a GolfStatus demo. GolfStatus is the industry’s leading platform for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers. Find out how to save 40+ hours and raise thousands more dollars!

• Get a GolfStatus Education Session. Once you’re on board with GolfStatus, our client success team will walk you through the software’s backend.

• Book a consultation with a Fundraising Specialist. Your dedicated GolfStatus Fundraising Specialist will walk you through opportunities to raise more money and qualify for GolfStatus Rewards.

• Watch a GolfStatus webinar. GolfStatus holds free monthly webinars on topics like sponsorships, planning basics, logistics, marketing, and more. Browse upcoming webinars.

Planning Team & Committee Meetings

Your committee meetings should become increasingly focused on progress and accountability. Review outstanding tasks, celebrate accomplishments, and make sure every committee member knows exactly what’s expected of them between now and tournament day.

• Hold monthly committee meetings. Continue to talk through the budget, sponsorship prospects and outreach, logistics, on-course contests or games, and promotion.

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Date & Golf Facility

Clear communication with the golf facility becomes more important as your field starts to take shape. Keeping staff informed and asking questions helps prevent surprises and ensures everyone is on the same page.

• Share access to GolfStatus’ backend. If you haven’t already, share access with the golf facility so there are no surprises in the weeks leading up to tournament day. There’s no cost to grant staff at the golf facility access to your GolfStatus tournament management platform’s backend.

• Touch base with facility staff with questions. Don’t be afraid to reach out to golf facility staff with any questions or concerns.

Event Website

Your golf tournament website should serve as the central hub for golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters. Keep it current with the latest information so participants can find everything they need to know—without having to contact your team.

• Make event website updates as needed. Continue to add and update information as needed. Common updates include new raffle prizes or auction items, contest or challenge announcements, special guests, and the event’s schedule.

Include the link to your event website in every outreach—texts, emails, social media, flyers, and more.

Team & Sponsor Packages

Now is the time to fill any remaining sponsorships and encourage golfers to register before spots disappear. Consistent follow-up, flexible sponsorship options, and clear deadlines can help create urgency and keep registrations moving.

• Follow up with prospects for each sponsorship. Follow up with prospective sponsors to see if they have questions on next steps or would like to talk about a custom sponsorship opportunity.

• Add custom packages as needed. As you reach out to sponsors, ask them what their goals are for sponsoring your event, and don’t be afraid to create custom packages or modify existing packages as needed to help them get the most out of their investment in your tournament.

• Determine a registration closed date. Decide when you’ll close registration, both for teams and sponsorships. Having a deadline can create urgency for prospective sponsors and teams, and you can always extend the deadline if necessary.

• Order items as necessary. If a sponsorship is tied to any materials, such as golf balls, golf towels, bags, or other items, order them as soon as the sponsorship is sold and payment is received. This gives you plenty of time to deal with any ordering or shipping issues or misprints.

Marketing & Promotion

With registration open and in full swing, your marketing efforts should become more frequent and targeted. Use a mix of email, social media, local outreach, and personal invitations to encourage people to register as soon as possible.

• Send targeted promotional emails. Segment your list and target messaging to past participants (if applicable), donors, and supporters. Send a series of emails leading up to the registration closed date.

• Promote on social media. A combination of organic posts and a modest paid campaign targeted to people in the area can help drive registrations.

• Distribute your tournament flyer. Print copies for every committee member and send them loose, asking them to post them in libraries, coffee shops, gyms, community centers, grocery stores, or any other visible place.

• Send a press release to local media. Send a release to local television and radio stations with information about the event, what it’s raising money for, any notable tournament components, and your organization.

• Submit the event to community calendars. Community calendars are a cheap and easy way to spread the word to potential golfers. You can even use AI to help you identify local calendars and submission instructions.

• Reach out to friends and family. Ask committee members to call, text, or chat with five people and invite them to play in the event. There’s no substitute for personal outreach!

• Refine your promotional strategy as needed. Update and further refine your promo plan as details come into focus and advertising budgets are set, if applicable.

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Helpful Golf Tournament Promotional Resources

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Details & Logistics

The behind-the-scenes work starts to take center stage over the next two months. Staying on top of logistics now gives you time to solve problems before they become last-minute emergencies.

• Determine food and beverage. Connect with the golf facility, a caterer, or an in-kind donor to determine food and beverage needs. Be mindful of allergies or special dietary needs.

• Determine player gifts. Whether you’re selling a sponsorship for player gifts or purchasing them outright, now’s the time to move forward, especially if anything needs to be produced.

• Outline a schedule. Add this information to your event website. Include times for registration, warm-up, shotgun start, and estimates for any post-golf celebrations.

• Determine contests. A hole-in-one contest is an easy and popular addition to a golf tournament. Research and purchase hole-in-one insurance to protect yourself from financial risk. Putting contests, longest drive, and closest to the pin are other popular contest options.

• Determine on-course games or challenges. On-course games have the potential to drive additional dollars for your cause. Keep them simple, easy to understand, and quick to play to keep the tournament’s pace of play moving smoothly.

• Determine raffle details (if applicable). Add a raffle ticket package to your event website, and start procuring donations for prizes.

• Determine auction details (if applicable). Add a link to your online auction listing (if applicable) from your event website, and start procuring donations for items.

Now’s the time to move forward with player gifts, like those from the Max Well For Life Charity Golf Tournament.

What’s Next?

You’re entering the home stretch. By the end of the next two months, most registration should be complete, sponsorships sold, and logistics largely finalized. The more proactive you are now, the more confident you’ll feel when tournament week arrives.

The next installment of the series will cover everything you should focus on during crunch time—the month before your tournament—to make sure event day runs as smoothly as possible. After months of planning, it will finally be time to bring it all together and deliver an unforgettable experience.

Time-Saving Tech & The Support You Need

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Most people register for a charity golf tournament because someone invited them to play. They may know someone who has a connection to your organization, but don’t know a thing about your mission or work.

Tournament day is the first meaningful interaction many participants have with your organization, presenting a huge opportunity for nonprofits to raise awareness and connect with potential donors. Thoughtfully planned mission moments help transform a fun day on the course into an experience with purpose.

Mission moments don’t have to be lengthy presentations or emotional speeches. They can be small, intentional touchpoints that remind golfers why they’re there and how they’re making a difference. While they’ll certainly remember the golf, food, contests, and prizes, they’ll also remember how the day made them feel. Mission moments create stronger emotional connections, inspire generosity, and even help turn first-time participants into long-term supporters.

Here are 10 mission moments to incorporate into your next charity golf tournament.

1. Let Your Mission Shine on Your Event Website

Your golf tournament’s website often serves as a golfer’s first introduction to your organization, so don’t make it all about registration. Instead of just listing the event’s details, answer the question every participant is asking: What difference will my registration make?

Use the site to introduce your mission with compelling photos, videos, impact statistics, and beneficiary stories. Help visitors understand what you do, who you serve, why your work matters, and what tournament proceeds will do. Even a short impact video or photo gallery can create an emotional connection before golfers ever arrive at the golf course.

Your event website is often the first interaction a new supporter has with your organization, so help them understand what your tournament is raising money for.

2. Open the Tournament with an Impact Story

Few mission moments are as memorable as hearing directly from someone whose life has been changed by your organization. Invite a beneficiary, volunteer, family member, client, or community partner to share a brief story during the welcome remarks. Alternatively, or in addition, invite a speaker to share their story at the luncheon, awards ceremony, or banquet.

For example, Riverside Ranch, a therapeutic horse riding program, invites parents of riders to speak at their golf tournament’s luncheon and share what the Ranch meant to their family.

Personal stories like this help golfers connect faces to fundraising dollars, and remind participants that the event is about much more than birdies and mulligans. Keep it conversational and authentic rather than overly scripted, and aim for five minutes or less—long enough to inspire, but short enough to keep the energy high.

3. Put Your Mission on Display on the Course

The golf course itself offers dozens of opportunities to reinforce your mission. Place mission-focused signage in high-traffic areas like registration, driving range, putting green, and inside the clubhouse (near the bar or front door are good choices). Share:

• Impact statistics

• Success stories

• Photos of the people or communities you serve

• Quotes or testimonials from beneficiaries

• Milestones your organization has achieved

Rather than using every sign for sponsorship recognition, dedicate a few to reminding golfers what they’re helping make possible. Add QR codes that link to your event website’s donation page, volunteer opportunities, or a short impact video as a call to action.

Putt Putt Fore Puppies adds information about adoptable pets to its hole signs to add a connection to the event’s mission and beneficiary.

4. Include a Mission-Focused Gift Bag Item

Player gift bags don’t have to be filled exclusively with sponsor swag. Include one meaningful piece in swag bags or on golf carts that tells your organization’s story. This could be anything from a one-page flyer or brochure with photos and outcomes to an annual report summary or beneficiary success story. If your golf facility has carts with video capabilities, inquire about showing a video or photo slideshow on the screens.

The goal isn’t to overwhelm golfers with information, but to provide a memorable takeaway they can read during downtime or take home after the event. Be sure to include a QR code on any printed materials with a direct link to the donation page of your event website, where golfers can donate right from their phones.

5. Introduce Golfers to the People Behind the Mission

Whenever possible and appropriate, invite the people connected to your mission to participate in the event. Personal connections are incredibly powerful, so provide opportunities for them to engage with golfers and sponsors throughout the day.

For example, if your golf tournament benefits a school, teachers, or administrators could greet golfers as they arrive or even be added to teams. A pet rescue organization could have adoptable pets at the golf course and hold an accompanying adoption drive. Or, your nonprofit’s staff members could run an on-course game or contest to interact with golfers throughout the round.

These types of simple interactions often leave lasting impressions and create authentic conversations that no brochure can replicate.

6. Make Downtime Meaningful

Every golf tournament includes natural pauses and waiting—to check in, on the tee box, for a turn on the driving range, for meals, or for final results to be announced. Rather than viewing these as empty moments, use them to deepen engagement with a captive audience.

• Ask your organization’s staff, board members, beneficiaries, or volunteers to mingle with golfers and chat about your mission while they wait.

• Strategically station people on various tee boxes throughout the golf course (perhaps on a par five that typically gets backed up) to talk with golfers and answer questions.

• Display a looping impact video in the clubhouse that golfers can watch while they wait for a drink or dinner.

• Intersperse photo displays that showcase your programs throughout the year among silent auction items or raffle prizes.

These quieter moments during the golf event can lead to meaningful conversations that build new and lasting donor relationships.

Ask staff, board members, beneficiaries, or volunteers to interact with golfers during the golf tournament’s downtime. Chat about your mission, invite them to ask questions, and share stories while they wait.

7. Create an Interactive Mission Experience

Whenever possible and practical, give golfers the chance to experience or see your mission in action instead of simply hearing about it. Interactive experiences create memorable moments that drive home what your organization does and why you do it. These experiences are also good opportunities to involve non-golfers in the event.

Some examples:

• An animal rescue hosts an adoption event alongside the golf tournament.

• A food bank organizes a mini-meal packing activity before play.

• A nonprofit arts organization showcases artwork created by local artists or teaches a painting class.

• A corporate tournament hosts a blanket-tying activity for non-golfers and guests during the round.

8. Share Digital Mission Moments Throughout the Day

If your golf tournament management platform includes a mobile app, use push notifications to share timely mission moments throughout the event. These notifications should be brief, positive, action-oriented, and strategically timed not to interrupt the golfer’s experience. For instance:

• “So far, we’ve raised enough money to provide 500 meals to local families.”

• “Meet today’s featured beneficiary, Name, during lunch!”

• “Help us get to our goal to raise $25,000—we only need $5,000 more! Donate here.”

• “Adoptable pets are in the clubhouse! Meet your new family member after your round.”

Include a link back to your event website, particularly if the message includes a call to action to donate.

9. Honor the People Behind the Cause

Many charity golf tournaments exist because someone wanted to honor a loved one, celebrate survivors, or remember an individual whose story inspired the event. Connect golfers to your mission by creating a dedicated space that recognizes those people.

Display photos, handwritten notes, memorial boards, or tribute signs that explain why the tournament matters. Invite participants to write messages of encouragement or remembrance. These types of displays become natural gathering places and often spark meaningful conversations among golfers who may have personal connections to your cause.

For instance, the Pat Neal Memorial Golf Tournament raises money for brain cancer research in honor of the tournament’s namesake, Pat Neal. A photo of Pat was placed on the course, and golfers were encouraged to sign the photo as a keepsake for Pat’s family. Another example is Project Purple, which includes a hall of fame induction at the tournament’s post-round dinner as a special moment of honor and recognition for individuals who have battled pancreatic cancer. Inductees or their families receive a purple jacket, and their picture hangs in the organization’s offices as a reminder of their fight against the disease.

Project Purple includes a hall of fame induction its golf fundraiser’s banquet to honor individuals who have battled pancreatic cancer.

10. End with a Clear Call to Continue the Mission

The end of the tournament is just the beginning of your relationship with participants. Before they leave, provide them with easy next steps to stay involved and support your mission:

• Set up a donation station where golfers can make a gift before they walk out the door

• Offer the chance to volunteer at an upcoming event or other opportunity

• Have a pop-up shop that sells branded merchandise or products

• Share links to sign up for your newsletter and follow you on social media

• Offer an early-bird rate for golfers to register for next year’s golf tournament

Missions moments are the most effective when they don’t simply inspire people, but encourage action while enthusiasm is still high.

Final Thoughts

Creating memorable mission moments doesn’t make your tournament longer or more complicated. Effective moments intentionally weave your organization’s impact throughout the participant experience.

Technology makes this easier than ever. Your event website, mobile app, signage, online donation tools, email communications, and fundraising platform all work together to help tell your story before, during, and after tournament day.

Golfers that understand the impact of the tournament are more likely to become repeat players, loyal donors, enthusiastic volunteers, and passionate advocates for your organization. The golf tournament may only last a day, but the relationships it creates can help support your mission for years to come.

Your Best Golf Event Starts With the Best Tech—at No Upfront Cost!

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Why the Class 2 Gathering Starts With a Charity Golf Tournament that Raises $100k to Benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

partner snapshot

After nearly three decades with Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta, Kansas, Ashley Bergquist knows charity golf tournaments inside and out. As Promotions, Events, and Entertainment Manager, she’s managed countless golf events at the casino’s golf facility, Firekeeper Golf Course, from VIP outings to charity tournaments.

Today, Ashley also serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, giving her a unique perspective on both the operational and charitable sides of golf fundraising events. And that experience has helped shape one of the most unique tournaments in the tribal gaming industry.

The Class 2 Gathering raises funds to support the Boys and Girls Club of the Potawatomi Nation.

Class 2 Gathering

The standalone Boys and Girls Club event became part of the Class 2 Gathering (C2G), a nationwide gaming conference, held at Prairie Band Casino & Resort. The result is a golf tournament that brings together casino operators, vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors from the community and across the country—all while raising funds for local Boys and Girls Club programs.

The strategy has proven to be a win for everyone involved. The tournament serves as the kickoff to the conference, giving attendees the chance to network on the course before moving into educational conference sessions. The tournament concludes with a combined launch party and awards celebration featuring raffles, a silent auction, food trucks, sponsor recognition, and additional fundraising.

“It’s really a two-for-one opportunity,” Ashley says. “By combining the conference and the tournament, we’re able to bring people together who might not have attended the golf event otherwise.”

the challenge

Before combining with C2G, the Boys and Girls Club held its own charity golf outing. And like many nonprofit golf fundraisers, much of the administrative work was done manually.

Registrations came in through phone calls and invoices, and credit card payments had to be processed individually. Team rosters lived in static spreadsheets, and any changes required updating multiple documents. Tournament materials, like scorecards, signage, and player lists, had to be recreated with every last-minute change.

Ashley says that because of these manual processes, the tournament could really only be managed by one person. “Otherwise, there were too many chances for things to get mixed up.” When the event was paired with the national C2G conference, those manual processes became even more of a challenge.

The tournament’s audience was different than a traditional community fundraiser. Instead of recruiting local golfers, Ashley needed to coordinate:

• Casino operators from across the country

• Tribal gaming vendors and suppliers

• Conference exhibitors

• National sponsors

• Local business partners

Many participants had to travel to attend, so final player names weren’t confirmed until the week of or even the day before the tournament. That meant materials needed to stay flexible.

What’s more, Ashley wanted the event to deliver an experience worthy of the investment people were making to attend. Every detail matters, from the registration experience and pace of play to sponsor recognition and the post-round celebration. “We’re not trying to be the biggest tournament out there,” Ashley says. “We’re trying to be the tournament that people want to come back to.”

the solution

When C2G assumed responsibility for the annual tournament, Ashley was introduced to GolfStatus by the Firekeeper Golf Course’s general manager. The timing couldn’t have been better.

Instead of juggling spreadsheets and manually collecting payments, the tournament could move to one centralized platform where registration, player management, sponsorships, scoring, and administration all worked together.

An event website eliminated manual registration processes and made it easy to manage teams and sponsors.

The results

Fundraising Outcomes

The combination of thoughtful planning, a built-in conference audience, and streamlined tournament management has helped the event build momentum each year. The fundraiser generated more than $129,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, which helps fund:

• Educational opportunities

• Youth trips and enrichment activities

• Scholarships and tuition assistance

• Facility improvements

• Updated equipment and resources

• General operating support that helps local children thrive

Immediate Value

Ashley immediately saw the value in GolfStatus. “Why wouldn’t I use this?” she says. Golfers register and pay online, and update teammates as plans change. “The platform is easy to use. I send the website to people, and they take it from there. I don’t have to take time to enter information.”

For Ashley, one of the biggest advantages isn’t just online registration—it’s flexibility. “If something changes the day of the tournament, it’s easy to reprint signs, alpha lists, scorecards, everything.” Instead of needing to recreate tournament materials manually, the information already exists inside the platform. “It saves so much time, I can literally just click print,” Ashley says.

Each GolfStatus client works directly with a dedicated Client Success Representative and has access to a Fundraising Specialist and live support seven days a week.

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“It’s just so easy. The people are great to work with, they understand golf tournaments, and they can give advice because they’ve actually done it.”

— Ashley Bergquist, Promotions, Events, and Entertainment Manager at Prairie Band Casino & Resort

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Sponsor Opportunities & Management

Thoughtful sponsor recruitment has helped the tournament continue to grow. Rather than cold-calling prospective sponsors, Ashley begins with businesses already participating in the conference. Exhibitors, sponsors, vendors, and longtime business partners become natural prospects because they’re already planning to attend.

Timing also matters. Ashley intentionally releases the event’s sponsorship offerings before companies finalize annual budgets. “By getting sponsorship information to businesses early, they can plan and budget for the tournament ahead of time, giving them a much better chance of securing approval and participating,” Ashley says. This strategy has helped secure significant sponsor commitments, including a five-year title sponsorship from a local Pepsi distributor.

Releasing sponsorship offerings as early as possible has helped the tournament secure sponsor commitments.

GolfStatus simplified sponsor management and elevated the sponsorship offerings with its exclusive Technology Sponsorship, plus a pin flag sponsorship and hole-in-one contest sponsorship.

Custom pin flags are not only used on the course, but also as sponsor recognition pieces. The tournament presents each hole sponsor with a pin flag following the event. Sponsors attending the awards celebration receive theirs in person, while those unable to attend receive their flag in the mail. “Pin flags are a great keepsake!” Ashley says. “I have one hanging on my office wall.”

A Memorable Experience

While many fundraising tournaments focus on maximizing the number of golfers, C2G intentionally limits the field to 144 golfers to create a premium experience. “We could probably squeeze in more golfers, but we’d rather have a great pace of play and have people leave saying it was the most fun tournament they played all year.”

This philosophy has helped the tournament become a highlight of the annual C2G conference. Every player receives high-end gifts, including items like premium sunglasses, Bluetooth speakers, and other golf accessories, plus casino free play and gift cards. Ashley says that in her experience, practical gifts outperform novelty items. “When people actually use your player gifts during other tournaments, it’s free advertising for your event.”

Custom pin flags help elevate the tournament experience for golfers and sponsors.

Fundraising & Engagement

One of the biggest successes has been expanding fundraising opportunities beyond the golf course itself. Because the tournament flows directly into the conference kickoff celebration, participants who only attend the conference still become part of the fundraising experience.

Throughout the evening, attendees purchase raffle tickets, participate in the silent auction, and celebrate tournament winners together. That broader audience of conference attendees creates new fundraising streams and supporters that simply didn’t exist when the tournament stood on its own.

On the course, Ashley looks for engaging activities that everyone can enjoy, including:

• Four hole-in-one contest holes

• A golf ball cannon, which is included in registration

• Closest to the pin competition

• A second-shot hole-in-one challenge hosted by a Charity Golf International professional long-driver (which generated $2,500 for the Boys and Girls Club)

One of Ashley’s goals is to keep golfers there for the post-round celebration. Many tournaments lose attendees immediately after golf ends, but Ashley has built an experience worth sticking around for, with food, drinks, entertainment, and fundraising.

The result? An event that feels less like waiting for scores and more like the official kickoff to the conference and celebration of the golf tournament.

The post-golf celebration and Class 2 Gathering kickoff features performances from members of the Potawatomi Nation.

Advice to Other Casino Operators

For casinos considering launching their own charitable golf tournament or adding one to an existing conference or other event, Ashley offers one simple piece of advice: Play in other tournaments first.

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“Go experience them as a golfer. Figure out what you like and don’t like, then build the tournament you’d want to play.”

— Ashley Bergquist, Promotions, Events, and Entertainment Manager at Prairie Band Casino & Resort

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She also encourages casinos to recognize the unique inherent advantages they have, which naturally support a successful fundraising event:

• Championship golf courses

• Experienced hospitality teams

• Food and beverage options

• Entertainment

• Established vendor relationships

Beyond raising money, a charity golf tournament showcases the property’s amenities, strengthens relationships with vendors and partners, and creates meaningful support for important community organizations. For C2G, that means investing in the next generation through the Boys and Girls Club.

With GolfStatus helping simplify tournament operations, Ashley can spend less time managing spreadsheets and more time creating the experience golfers look forward to every year.

As C2G and the tournament continue to grow, the focus remains the same: offer an exceptional experience, foster relationships across the gaming industry, and generate meaningful support for local youth—one great round of golf at a time.

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Boost Golf Tournament Results With GolfStatus

GolfStatus works with golf tournaments of all types and sizes, from small nonprofit events to massive charity fundraisers. Its tech streamlines and simplifies registration, payment processing, player management, sponsor onboarding, scoring, and much more. The software is backed by an in-house team of golf fundraising professionals, and all tournaments have access to exclusive Fundraising Enhancers and Rewards, as well as consultations with Fundraising Specialists. Get started at no upfront cost by booking a meeting with our team.

Putt Putt Fore Puppies has kicked off planning for year four of the mini golf fundraiser for Capital Humane Society (CHS). The event is planned by the GolfStatus team to bring the Lincoln community together to raise operating funds for CHS and help more pets find families.

2026 Event Details & Goals

📅 Friday, September 18, 2026

🕞 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. (shotgun start at 4:30)

📍 Adventure Golf, Lincoln, Nebraska

🔗 Event website

Goals for 2026 are similar to years past:

🎯 Donate $13,000 to CHS

🎯 Cover tournament costs with sponsorships and in-kind donations

🎯 Sell out all three courses at Adventure Golf (54 teams / 216 golfers)

🎯 Provide a fun community event and a great experience for participants

Swag Sponsor: Raising Cane's

Welcome from Presenting Sponsor Sinclaire Hille Architects

Pin Flag Sponsor: Ross Eickhoff State Farm

Putt Putt Fore Puppies

Putt Putt Fore Puppies

On-course games included Plinko

Putt Putt Fore Puppies

Putt Putt Fore Puppies

Golfers check out the live leaderboards

Winners of the Backwoods Course

Winners of the Red Course

Golfers used pet toys to putt for one of the on-course games

Putt Putt merch for sale

Adoptable friends from CHS joined the fun

Pet Spotlights

Golf Ball Sponsor: Company Cam

Putt Putt Fore Puppies

Golfers check out raffle prizes

What’s New in 2026

Sponsor outreach. We’re leveraging a newly developed GolfStatus resource, the Golf Tournament Sponsorship Pitch Deck Template, to facilitate sponsor outreach with a customized deck with Putt Putt’s brand colors and content. It’s already paid dividends, as Sinclaire Hille Architects renewed their support as presenting sponsor for the fourth year!

New package names. Because we didn’t need to make any fundamental changes to team or sponsorship packages, we decided to have some fun with package names that leaned into the tournament beneficiary: animals. Say hello to the Best in Show Presenting Sponsor, Fetch Champion Golf Ball Sponsor, Hydration Station Sponsor, Tail Wagger Pet Toy Sponsor, and Paw-ty Break Sponsor (and many more). Golfers can choose from an All-Star Pack or Paw Print Team Registrations.

Paws of Fame Pet Spotlight. Every pet deserves to be in the “Paws of Fame,” so this package also got an upgraded name. The pet spotlights were a huge hit with golfers last year, with many oohs and aahs over the adorable pets, and the team is excited about featuring even more furry friends on signage.

Tilly

Pippa

Winston, Honcho, and Koda

Remi, Tilly, and Winnie

Zurich Ann Stahr

Luna and Lexi Prall

Gunner Watson

Piper

Gigi Watson

Rupert

Waffles

Red Willow

New golfer gifts and raffle prizes. To keep things fresh for returning supporters, the planning team is exploring new golfer gifts and finding sponsors to underwrite costs, like hats, tote bags, and pet toys. We’re also connecting with organizational partners and business owners in our personal networks to secure high-value raffle prizes to provide even more value to participants.

50/50 ball drop + sponsor. The ball drop (attendees purchased numbered balls for $10 each, giving them the chance to win half of the total dollars raised from the ball drop) was a late addition to the tournament in 2025, with the planning team deciding to include it just a couple of weeks before event day. It was incredibly popular, but having more time to market it to golfers will be helpful. A sponsorship was added to this fun tournament add-on, and it sold within a few days of registration being opened. Thanks, Belmont Veterinary Center!

Refreshed on-course games. On-course games have been popular with golfers, so this year we’re giving them a refresh and working with sponsors to build a game around their business. For example, the presenting sponsor is Sinclaire Hille Architects, so the team is exploring games that incorporate building.

Merch is back! Ball markers and magnets featuring Pete, the Putt Putt Puppy; stickers with the event logo and likeness of several of the pet spotlight animals; and additional event t-shirts will all be on sale to boost revenue.

New t-shirt design. This year’s tournament t-shirt features the mascot from the Paw-some Partner T-shirt Sponsor, Woof Dog Care Center, along with Pete, the Putt Putt mascot, and a couple of Pete’s friends.

Planning Progress

Planning for year four of Putt Putt Fore Puppies is much different than year one. Instead of building the tournament’s infrastructure as we go, we can simply draw upon what we’ve already established and find ways to improve the experience and fundraising outcomes. We reworked and streamlined our tournament planning project based on the recently revised Golf Tournament Fundraising Checklist and Planning Timeline and lessons learned from the event’s previous years, which has helped clearly define team members’ roles and responsibilities.

The planning team felt like we hit our stride in 2025 and didn’t make any significant changes to the tournament’s core components—time, location, format, main sponsorships, and team packages—for 2026, which made it easier than ever to copy the event and have our event website launched sooner than in previous years.

An important lesson learned so far in planning: Order materials as early as possible. As soon as the tote bag and golf ball sponsorships were sold, those items were ordered. The tote bags arrived with a misprint, but thankfully, we have plenty of time to work with the vendor to get replacement bags printed and shipped ahead of September.

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Learn more about Putt Putt Fore Puppies, register a team, make a donation, or become a sponsor!

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Thank you 2026 sponsors!

Best in Show Presenting Sponsor

Bone Appétit Dinner Sponsor

fetch champion golf ball & treat bag sponsor

pawsome partner
t-shirt partner

lucky dog ball drop sponsor

dapper dog hat sponsor

tail wagger pet toy sponsor

paws & prizes swag sponsor

zoomies dj & music sponsor

paw-ty break sponsor

ink & paws printing sponsor

hole sponsors

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Tournament Results

Three-year Totals

💰 $37,000 raised for CHS

🏌️ 576 golfers

🤝 87 sponsors

♥️ 56 volunteers

Year 3: 2025

• Golfers / Teams: 200 / 50

• Courses: 3 of 3

• Sponsors: 28 (plus 9 Pet Spotlights)

• Outcomes: $13,000 donated to CHS

  • $2,000 raised on tournament day

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Year 2: 2024

• Golfers / Teams: 216 / 54

• Courses: 3 of 3

• Sponsors: 31

• Outcome: $15,000 donated to CHS

  • $5,500 raised on tournament day

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Year 1: 2023

• Golfers / Teams: 164 / 41

• Courses: 2 of 3

• Sponsors: 21

• Outcomes: $9,200 donated to CHS

  • $1,100 raised on tournament day

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GolfStatus’ on-staff PGA Professionals, Cash Dinkel, PGA, and Jason Meininger, PGA share insights into a smooth event day in this installment of the PGA Q&A blog series. From final numbers to who handles what, hear their experiences from running tournaments at golf facilities to help ensure your golf tournament runs as seamlessly as possible.

Q: When does the golf facility need the final numbers for my tournament?

Cash Dinkel: Most courses want solid final numbers about a week out, with a true hard deadline around 72 hours before. This is mainly because of food, staffing, carts, and setup. My rule: give them a strong estimate early, then tighten it up as you get closer so nobody’s scrambling.

Jason Meininger: I would suggest a week out when possible, but understand that this isn’t always realistic. When I was running tournaments, getting the final golfer names and numbers two days before the event was sufficient.

Q: How does purpose-built tech like GolfStatus make this easier, on both the organizer and the golf facility?

Cash Dinkel: It makes it easier on facility staff because they aren’t chasing spreadsheets, random emails, and texts the week of the event. The organizer can see registrations, payments, team rosters, and sponsorships in the software, and when you share access with the golf facility, they get accurate info without having to wait for an email or a text of a player list. It also cuts down on last-minute surprises because updates happen in real time, and everyone’s looking at the same source of truth instead of five different versions of a roster.

Jason Meininger: For the organizer, tech lets them have all of the information in one spot—golfer names, team names, handicaps, sponsor information—along with records of all of the financial transactions. For the golf facility, when they have access to the software, they can quickly check on the number of players registered and plan accordingly. At the end of the round, tech like this also allows scoring and results to be finalized promptly.

Sharing access to your golf event management platform with golf staff lets them access real-time registration numbers and plan accordingly.

Q: What information needs to be confirmed with the golf facility in the days leading up to the event?

Cash Dinkel: Final headcount/number teams, format, contests, start time, check-in schedule, cart/signage plan, sponsor placements, food counts/timing, and the weather plan. If those are locked in, the day runs smoothly.

Jason Meininger: Number of players, count for food and beverage (if handled by the golf facility), contest holes, alpha list of players and pairings, the day’s schedule, and starting hole assignments.

Q: Who typically handles these to-dos on tournament day: the golf facility or the tournament organizers?

	Cash Dinkel	Jason Meininger
Tournament Setup
Greeting golfers	Both. Mostly tournament organizers, but a great facility ensures that all staff members greet players with a smile.	Both, but more so the tournament organizers.
Directing traffic	Mostly the facility staff, but tournament volunteers and facility staff should help direct players as they are checking in for the day.	Both, but mostly golf facility staff.
Prepping golf carts (swag bags, cart signs, etc.)	In my opinion, golf staff should handle this for you—if not, find a new course.	Both
Hole signs	Golf facility staff	Golf facility staff, but organizers often help.
Other signage	Golf facility staff	Organizers, but golf facility staff usually help.
Pin flags	Golf facility staff	Golf facility staff
Registration	Golf facility staff will set up tables and signs, but tournament organizers handle everything else. Organizers check in golfers and teams.	Organizers take the lead, but golf facility staff will usually provide tables, chairs, linens, etc.
On-course games	Golf facility staff	Both
Contests (putting, hole-in-one, etc.)	Golf facility staff	Golf facility staff
Food and beverage	Golf facility staff	Golf facility staff, if they provided it.
Raffle	Tournament organizers	Tournament organizers
Auction	Tournament organizers	Tournament organizers
Add-ons (ball drops, entertainment, etc.)	Both, depending on the specific add-on.	Tournament organizers, in partnership with golf facility staff.
End of Day Tear Down
Hole signs	Golf facility staff	Both
Other signage	Golf facility staff	Both
Pin flags	Golf facility staff	Golf facility staff
Registration	Golf facility staff will take care of their items, but organizers will need to take care of their items that they brought.	Both
On-course games	Golf facility staff	Both
Food and beverage	Golf facility staff	Golf facility staff, if they provided it.

Golf facility staff keep your event running smoothly by handling all the behind-the-scenes tasks.

Q: What main tasks can I expect the golf facility staff to take care of on tournament day?

Cash Dinkel: On tournament day, the facility staff is basically keeping everything running in the background so you and your committee can focus on the guests and fundraising. Most commonly, they’re handling cart staging and cart signs, bag drop, getting the range balls and practice areas ready, and making sure the course is set (pins, tees, pace-of-play setup, proximity markers, etc.). They’ll also coordinate the starter for announcements and the sendoff, manage on-course support (rules questions, medical/safety, weather calls), and keep an eye on pace of play so things don’t go sideways.

On top of that, they’re usually managing the facility-side operations, such as food and beverage execution (lunch, beverage carts, dinner/awards timing), staffing, and interdepartmental communication, plus any last-minute fires that pop up (no-shows, swaps, cart issues, sponsor drop-offs). If it’s a well-run facility, you won’t even notice most of what they’re doing.

Jason Meininger: Scoring, providing gift certificates, and finalizing and announcing winners. They should put out hole-in-one contest signs and custom flags, if applicable. They’ll handle all the behind-the-scenes stuff (that you shouldn’t even notice is occurring).

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Ask the Pros!

Have a question for GolfStatus’ PGA Professionals? Email it to [email protected] with “PGA Pro Question” in the subject line, and it might be featured in a future blog post or an upcoming GolfStatus webinar.

GolfStatus’ golf event management tech helps ensure a smooth, hassle-free tournament day. From tracking registrations and payments to managing sponsors and team pairings, GolfStatus keeps you organized from start to finish. You can get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost and get a free event registration website, dedicated support, access to fundraising tools, and much more. Click the button to book a meeting and learn more!

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Keeping your annual golf tournament fresh and exciting can be a challenge for longstanding events. Returning golfers always look forward to seeing familiar faces and supporting your mission, but offering them a new experience helps keep them engaged year after year.

Trying different golf tournament formats is an easy way to shake things up without completely reinventing the event. A new format can help differentiate your tournament from others in your community and encourage past participants to return. Different formats can also help you attract beginners, who might be playing in an organized event for the first time. The National Golf Foundation reports that more than three million beginners take up golf every year, so choosing the right format ensures they have a great experience.

The right golf tournament format keeps golfers engaged from start to finish. The key is understanding your audience.

Organizers have plenty of golf tournament format ideas to choose from. Some emphasize teamwork, others create more competition, and several invite golfers of all skills.

In this guide, we’ll break down the most popular alternative golf tournament formats, explain the benefits of each one, answer common questions, and share tips for using tech to make implementation and scoring simple.

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Top Golf Tournament Formats

Every golf tournament format creates a different player experience and comes with its own strengths. As you explore the different options for your next golf outing, consider which format best fits your audience, fundraising goals, and golfer mix.

1. Scramble

The scramble is by far the most popular format for charity golf tournaments. It encourages teamwork, keeps play moving, and makes the event accessible for golfers of all abilities.

• How it works: Every golfer hits a tee shot, the group selects the best one, and all players hit their next shot from that location. The process continues until the ball is holed, with the team recording a single score for each hole.

• Benefits: A scramble is one of the most beginner-friendly tournament formats because higher-handicap players don’t have to worry about a single bad shot hurting the team’s overall score. It creates a fun, low-pressure atmosphere that keeps the round moving.

• Best practice: Consider setting a minimum number of shots used for every player, helping everyone contribute more equally to the team.

2. Shamble

The shamble format offers a great combination of team and individual play, and is a strong choice for charity tournaments,

• How it works: Every golfer tees off, and the group selects the best shot—just like in a scramble. But from that point on, each golfer plays their own ball through the hole. Team scores are typically calculated by combining one or more of the lowest individual scores on each hole.

• Benefits: A shamble gives golfers the advantage of starting each hole from a favorable position, while still allowing them to play their own game. Beginners benefit from the team’s best drive, while stronger golfers have opportunities to showcase their abilities. Shambles move at a good pace and create a balance between teamwork and competition.

• Best practice: Before the round begins, clearly explain how team scores will be calculated—whether you’re counting the lowest score, combining the two lowest scores, or another variation.

3. Match Play

If you’re looking to bring a little friendly rivalry to your event, match play is a great way to create head-to-head competition and engagement.

• How it works: Golfers compete hole by hole rather than counting total strokes for the entire round. The player or team that has the lowest score on a hole earns a point, and the player or team with the most points at the end of the round is the winner.

• Benefits: Because the score is based on holes won instead of cumulative strokes, one bad hole won’t ruin an otherwise great round. That keeps players in the moment and focused on the next shot, maintaining enthusiasm on each hole.

• Best practice: Consider organizing your event with a bracket-style draw. Head-to-head matchups and advancing rounds can build anticipation and heighten the excitement and competitiveness of the event.

4. Best Ball

The best ball format is a nice middle ground between individual competition and team play, making it a popular choice for events with a mix of skill levels.

• How it works: Every golfer plays their own ball on each hole, and the team records the lowest individual score as the team’s score.

• Benefits: This format lets strong golfers excel while still allowing every participant to play their own game. It strikes a nice balance between personal performance and teamwork.

• Best practice: When assigning groups for a best ball tournament, aim for a mix of skill levels to create a more balanced, inclusive competition.

5. Alternate Shot

Alternate shot is all about collaboration. It challenges pairs to work together and make strategic decisions throughout the round.

• How it works: Teams of two play a single ball, alternating shots until the ball is holed. One golfer tees off on odd-numbered holes, the other on even-numbered holes.

• Benefits: Since every shot affects your partner, the alternate shot format naturally builds trust and stresses communication. It’s a great fit for corporate golf outings or sponsor-driven team-building events that want to emphasize collaboration.

• Best practice: Pair golfers with complementary strengths to create a more competitive and enjoyable round. For instance, match a great long driver with someone who excels at the short game.

Organizers can choose from a number of golf tournament format ideas to keep the event fun and competitive.

6. Stableford

Stableford encourages bold play while also keeping golfers from getting discouraged after a bad hole, making it an attractive alternative to traditional scoring.

• How it works: Rather than counting the fewest strokes, Stableford awards points based on a golfer’s score relative to par. A common scoring system gives players no points for a double bogey or worse, one point for a bogey, two points for par, three points for a birdie, four points for an eagle, and five points for a double eagle.

• Benefits: Stableford shifts a golfer’s mindset from avoiding mistakes to chasing opportunities. Golfers are often more willing to take risks to hit birdies and eagles to maximize their scores.

• Best practice: Make the scoring system easy to reference by printing a simple point chart on score cards, displaying it on golf carts, or including it in your golf tournament management app.

7. Bingo Bango Bongo

If you’re looking to surprise returning golfers with something completely different, Bingo Bango Bongo is one of the most entertaining golf tournament format ideas out there.

• How it works: Players have three opportunities to earn points on every hole. One point goes to the first golfer to hit the green (bingo), another goes to the player closest to the pin once everyone is on the green (bango), and the final point goes to the first golfer to hole (bongo).

• Benefits: This format rewards several aspects of the game, giving golfers of varying skill levels a chance to succeed. Skilled drivers, precise iron players, and strong putters all have opportunities to contribute, and it works well for both team and individual events.

• Best practice: If you’re running a team Bingo Bango Bongo event, designate one golfer in each group as the official scorekeeper.

8. Chapman (Pinehurst)

The Chapman, or Pinehurst, format combines elements of scramble and alternate shot to create a unique tournament experience that rewards strategy and teamwork.

• How it works: Both partners tee off and then select the best drive. From that point forward, they alternate shots using a single ball until the hole is completed.

• Benefits: Chapman offers more variety without being overly complicated. It’s a fun option for intermediate and experienced golfers who want something a little different from a traditional charity outing.

• Best practice: Walk through the rules before the tournament begins to prevent confusion, and have volunteers available on tee boxes to answer questions once play gets underway.

9. Skins

A skins game introduces a little extra drama by turning every hole into its own competition and creating memorable moments throughout the round.

• How it works: Each hole is assigned a “skin,” and the player or team with the lowest score wins the skin. If two or more golfers tie, the skin carries over to the next hole and increases the value of the next opportunity to win.

• Benefits: The carryover element keeps golfers engaged, even if they have a slow start. A string of tied holes can build anticipation and create high-stakes moments when golfers compete for multiple skins at once.

• Best practice: Keep participants updated by announcing or displaying carryover skins throughout the event to add another layer of excitement.

10. Money Ball (Lone Ranger)

Money ball, sometimes called lone ranger, is a creative team format that gives every golfer the chance to make a meaningful contribution.

• How it works: One player on each team is designated as the “money ball” golfer for a hole, and that player’s score counts as the team’s score for that hole. The money ball rotates from player to player throughout the round.

• Benefits: Because every golfer takes a turn carrying the team score, stronger players don’t dominate the competition, and higher-handicap players still have the chance to shine.

• Best practice: Determine the money ball rotation before the tournament begins and print the order on scorecards or include it in the event website, helping to avoid confusion and keep play moving smoothly.

Make sure every player understands the golf tournament format by reviewing the rules during opening announcements.

Golf Tournament Format FAQs

What should I consider when choosing a golf tournament format?

The best format for your specific tournament depends on key factors like:

• The skill level of your audience

• The size of your field

• The overall goals of your event

For example, a scramble works well for a broad audience because it’s accessible and collaborative. On the other hand, skins and match play can be better suited for experienced golfers who are looking for a more competitive atmosphere.

What’s the most popular alternative tournament type?

For charity events, scramble remains the clear favorite. It accommodates golfers of all skill levels, keeps pace of play moving along, and encourages teamwork.

That said, if you host an annual fundraiser with many returning participants, experimenting with other golf tournament formats can help keep the event fresh. You might even try rotating formats from year to year to create a new experience without changing the overall structure of your event. A good practice is to survey participants to gather valuable feedback about what formats they’d like to see incorporated.

Can you mix different formats within a single tournament?

Absolutely! In fact, some of the most memorable professional events do exactly that. The Ryder Cup is a well-known example, using multiple formats throughout the event. If you’re holding a multi-day or multi-round event, you can borrow from that concept by combining formats like match play and best ball or creating separate challenges that use different scoring systems.

The key here is communication. Provide participants with written rules before the event and review the format during opening announcements to keep everyone on the same page.

Do different formats affect the rate of play?

Yes. Team-focused formats like scramble often move more quickly, while those that involve more individual scoring or point calculations (like Stableford) may require more time.

As you plan your event schedule, don’t forget to factor in the pace of play associated with your chosen format and communicate expectations to players in advance.

Your event website should clearly state the golf tournament format.

Pro Tips for Managing Different Golf Tournament Formats

Once you’ve chosen your format, the next step is making sure everything runs smoothly. Preparation and the right tech can eliminate confusion, reduce your team’s administrative workload, and improve the golfer experience.

#1 Tip: Use Golf Tournament Management Software

Alternative formats can create a lot of manual scoring complexity. Keeping track of points and carryovers and calculating scores with paper scorecards can quickly become a headache.

Purpose-built golf tournament management software like GolfStatus helps simplify this process by handling scores and tracking calculations automatically, while updating results in real time. These features are especially valuable when using alternative formats:

• Live leaderboards: Digital leaderboards let golfers check standings throughout the round from their phones, keeping everyone up-to-date from the first drive to the last putt.

• Handicap integration: Formats like best ball and match play often work best when teams and pairings include players with varying abilities. Software that automatically collects and applies handicaps saves time and eliminates disputes.

• Sponsor visibility: Leaderboards, event websites, and mobile apps create additional opportunities for sponsor recognition across multiple digital touchpoints.

Other Best Practices

No matter which format you choose, a little preparation goes a long way. Helping participants understand the rules before the tournament and gathering feedback after the event will make it easier to offer an even better experience next year. Keep these best practices in mind:

• Communicate the format in advance: Include an overview of the rules in registration confirmation emails and pre-event communications so golfers can familiarize themselves with the format’s rules before tournament day. Consider posting hole signage across the course that clearly outlines the rules.

• Run a practice hole: If you’re using a less familiar format, consider running a practice hole or demonstration before play officially begins. A quick trial run will help golfers feel more confident when their score counts.

• Collect feedback after the event: Send a post-tournament survey to golfers asking what they enjoyed and whether they’d like to see the same format or something different in the future. Their feedback can help guide future decisions and reassure them that their experience matters to your organization.

Try a New Format for Your Next Tournament

The format you choose shapes nearly every aspect of the golfer experience, from competitive and pace of play to teamwork and fun. While the traditional scramble remains a proven, popular option for charity events, exploring new golf tournament format ideas can help your fundraiser stand out, bring new golfers to the table, and keep longtime supporters coming back.

The right choice ultimately depends on your audience. A beginner-friendly scramble may be perfect for introducing golfers to your mission, while Stableford or match play could appeal to a more experienced crowd. You may find that mixing formats or rotating them each year keeps your event feeling fresh.

Whatever you choose, don’t be afraid to experiment. A creative format can be a memorable part of your fundraiser, and with the right planning tools and technology, implementing something new is easier than ever.

Work With the Golf Fundraising Pros

Book a Meeting to Get Started

About the Author

Jen Wemhoff accidentally discovered her passion for nonprofits in college. An internship while earning a degree in Communications from Doane University led to a 20 year career in the nonprofit sector, where she found a strong desire to be part of something bigger than herself. Her vast nonprofit experience includes roles in marketing, fundraising, and direct programming. When Jen came to GolfStatus as Communications Manager in 2020, she was struck by the power of the sport to raise money to power nonprofit missions. She tells GolfStatus’s story across platforms and channels and develops educational tools and resources to help nonprofits tap into golf’s giving power. Jen, her husband, and two daughters call Lincoln, Nebraska home.

Communicating with golfers, sponsors, and other tournament participants is one of the most important parts of running a successful golf event. That’s why we’re excited to share a major update to GolfStatus’ golf tournament management software: a brand new messaging tool.

The messaging feature now gives organizers a more streamlined way to create, schedule, send, and track communications from within the tournament’s dashboard.

GolfStatus’ new messaging tool comes with new capabilities and features to give tournament organizers more flexibility with communication.

Easy Message Management

Messaging is now fully integrated into the platform and is no longer a separate application. Organizers can access everything from the dedicated “Messages” tab inside their tournament in the software, without toggling between screens or systems, where they can:

• Quickly create new messages

• View sent, scheduled, and draft messages

• Search past communications

• Monitor delivery results

Message Types

When creating messages, organizers can choose between:

• Emails, which are delivered to individual golfers, donors, and sponsors' inboxes. Emails are great for pre-tournament updates, announcements, player instructions, or post-event stewardship.

• App notifications, which appear in the GolfStatus live scoring mobile app. These messages are intentionally streamlined for quick updates and reminders, with a simple subject line.

The message types are now managed independently, giving organizers much more flexibility and removing limitations that existed in the previous version.

Choose desired message recipients with just a few clicks.

Reach the Right Audience

Recipients are automatically organized into predefined groups based on your tournament. Available groups may include:

• Sponsors

• Players

• Teams

• Waitlist contacts

• Customers

• Donors

Because every tournament is different, the messaging tool dynamically displays the groups that exist within each event.

Organizers can send messages across multiple tournaments (including past years’ tournaments), to entire recipient groups, or manually select specific individuals. When scheduling future sends, recipient groups remain dynamic, meaning newly registered participants will automatically be included. Current tournament participants can also be excluded from promotional sends.

Another helpful improvement is deduplication. If an individual belongs to multiple recipient groups, they will only receive one copy of the message.

Better Emails With More Flexibility

The updated email experience gives organizers significantly more control over message content and formatting, with these new capabilities:

• Subject lines and rich email content

• A full WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor

• Expanded formatting options

• Attachments up to 25 MB

• No character limits

Tournament organizers now have more control over message content, format, and send date.

Message Creation

Creating a message follows a simple, intuitive workflow that’s designed to help organizers quickly communicate with their audience:

1. Open the “Messages” tab.

2. Click “New Message”

3. Choose “Email” or “App Notification”

4. Select recipients

5. Compose your message

6. Choose “Send Now” to send immediately or “Send Later” to schedule delivery

Schedule Ahead and Stay Organized

Tournament organizers often plan their communications weeks or even months in advance. With the new messaging tool, every message begins as a draft until it’s sent or scheduled. Once your message is ready to go, you can send it immediately or schedule it for a future date and time.

Drafts and scheduled messages can be edited or deleted as needed. Sent messages remain permanent, showing who sent the message and when, providing transparency and accountability for teams collaborating on communications.

See who opened your message, who clicked it, and if any messages bounced or were reported as spam.

Know Whether Your Messages Are Working

One of the most requested messaging improvements was greater visibility into delivery and engagement. Now, after a message is sent, organizers can see the following by clicking into each audience group:

• Who received it

• Who opened it

• Who clicked it

• Bounce activity

• Spam reports

These insights provide much-needed confidence that tournament communications are reaching the right people and generating engagement. Use this data to make data-driven decisions about participant communication and follow-up.

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Easy Communication & Much More With GolfStatus

From registration reminders and sponsorship updates to fundraising campaigns and day-of logistics, communication plays a critical role in every successful golf tournament. The improved messaging tool is another way GolfStatus brings flexibility and efficiency to golf tournament planning, management, and execution.

Learn more about the messaging feature—as well as GolfStatus’ entire suite of tournament management solutions—and how you can get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost by booking a meeting with our team.

already a golfstatus client?

Get in touch with your Client Success representative to learn more about using the new messaging tool for your next golf tournament.