How to Use Golf Tournament Raffles to Raise More Money
As you well know, charity golf tournaments are the ultimate way to raise funds for worthy causes, while enjoying a day with friends, family, or colleagues on the golf course. But to truly maximize a golf tournament’s fundraising potential, creative strategies are necessary.
This blog series continues to explore ideas and add-ons for golf fundraisers that boost revenue. This post will take a deep dive into an easy tournament extra that comes with a ton of income potential: raffles.
What is a Golf Tournament Raffle?
A raffle is a fundraising add on to your golf tournament fundraising where participants purchase tickets for a chance to win prizes. Winners are typically selected through a random drawing, with the proceeds from ticket sales going towards supporting your specific cause or nonprofit.
The Ultimate Toolkit for Raising More Money at Your Charity Golf Tournament
How Does a Golf Tournament Raffle Work?
Participants purchase tickets, each of which equals an entry into a drawing. Raffle prizes should be on display, with a container to collect tickets or digital means of recording entries for each specific item. At the chosen time, a random drawing takes place to select the winners of each item.
When organizing a raffle as part of your charity golf tournament, it's crucial to understand that each state has its own laws and regulations governing raffles. Some states require a permit or special licensing, while others may restrict who can participate or how the funds are allocated. Nonprofit organizations should check their state’s laws (a simple Google search will direct you to your state’s website detailing raffles) to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal issues.
Why is a Raffle a Good Choice for My Golf Event?
Raffles typically have a high return on investment. With the right pricing strategies, donated items, and an easy way to sell tickets and collect payments, a raffle can bring in thousands of extra dollars for your cause—without a ton of time and effort on your part. Unlike auctions, where income is dependent on driving high bids, raffles usually come with a relatively low barrier to entry. Even someone who buys just one raffle ticket has the chance to win. Instead of being dependent on bidders competing against each other, a raffle’s income is determined by the number of tickets sold.
How Do I Add a Raffle to My Golf Tournament?
Adding a raffle to your golf event can be done at any time without a great deal of necessary infrastructure. You’ll want to have an event website in place where you can promote the raffle and the prizes up for grabs, as well as to collect payment for raffle ticket sales.
Determine how much you’ll charge for each raffle ticket, considering factors such as affordability for participants and potential revenue generation. Many tournaments offer bulk pricing or package deals to drive more purchases. For example, one ticket might sell for $5 but you might sell five tickets for $20. Add them as a package item so folks can purchase tickets when they register, but consider selling additional tickets at the event.
Donated items are key to raising as much money as possible! As you reach out to prospective sponsors, consider making an ask for donated gift baskets, gift cards, branded merchandise, or other items to offer as raffle prizes. Some corporate sponsors may not be able to support your tournament financially through a paid sponsorship, but are willing to donate in-kind goods that can be used for your raffle. You might ask board members or partners to donate raffle prizes as well. It’s a good idea to recognize the donor of each item, either on your event website, signage at the event, or in promotional emails.
You’ll want to determine when you’ll hold the raffle drawing. You want to ensure adequate time for golfers to purchase tickets and browse items. Tournaments typically have the drawing after the round is complete, during a post-golf event such as a cocktail hour, banquet, or awards ceremony.
Pro Tip:
To make sure you’re not stuck shipping prizes to winners, you might consider a “must be present to win” policy so folks can simply take their prizes home with them.
How Can I Make My Golf Tournament Raffle More Profitable?
Raffles give your tournament a supplementary income stream that capitalizes on participants’ enthusiasm and generosity. Here’s how to maximize your raffle’s income potential:
Give golfers multiple opportunities to purchase tickets. Include tickets in team packages or as an add-on at registration, sell them when golfers check in to the event, set up a ticket station on one of the tee boxes, and have them available for purchase after the round.
Leverage golfers’ generosity. People tend to be generous at golf tournaments, and with such a low barrier to entry, most participants are willing to actively participate in the raffle.
Offer desirable prizes. Having desirable prizes in the drawing stimulates additional engagement and ticket sales.
Secure donated prizes. Including only prizes that have been donated (either by sponsors, partners, or other supporters) means the raffle has little to no overhead costs.
Build a sense of anticipation. Tease prizes in your promotional materials and at the tournament’s kickoff to encourage more ticket sales.
Use raffle tickets in on-course games. You might use raffle tickets as prizes in on-course games (which golfers pay to enter) as an additional incentive to participate.
Pro Tip:
Use a golf event management platform that allows you to create, list, and sell custom packages for raffle tickets. Consider offering multiple packages, such as one ticket, five tickets, or ten tickets, and make sure the checkout process is easy and efficient. You might post a QR code that links directly to the package at check in or on the raffle prize tables.
What Are Some Top Golf Tournament Raffle Prize Ideas?
You know your audience best—what types of prizes would appeal to them? If you’re holding an auction alongside your golf tournament raffle, consider how you’ll differentiate between the two sets of prizes. In general, items included in an auction might have higher value, since the goal is to drive the highest bid possible. Offer an attractive mix of items to encourage raffle ticket sales and auction participation. Some top golf tournament raffle items could include:
Golf equipment or apparel
Branded merchandise from sponsors or the benefiting charity
Gift baskets from local businesses
Gift cards or certificates to local businesses
Tickets to sporting events or local attractions
Themed gift baskets (movie night, spa, sports fan, travel food and drink, pet lovers, etc.)
What Other Golf Tournament Raffle Ideas Should We Consider?
Keep these best practices in mind when planning and executing your raffle:
Offer easy payment options for raffle tickets. Golfers may not carry cash, so be sure you have the ability to collect credit card payments. To keep post-tournament accounting as simple as possible, run payments through your event website so all funds are kept in one central location.
Say thank you. Thank participants, prize donors, and sponsors for their contributions to the success of the raffle and the tournament.
Recruit volunteers to help. Volunteers can sell tickets, set up the raffle items, and help distribute prizes to winners.
Create buzz. Include the raffle in your tournament promotions to help drive ticket sales. Mention it on social media and tease any high-end prizes.
Engage your networks. Lean into your personal and professional networks to solicit prize donations and encourage folks to play in the tournament and support your cause through the raffle.
Pro tip:
Your GolfStatus event website is an easy, centralized spot to sell raffle tickets ahead of the tournament and process ticket sales on the day of the event.
Raffles are another tool in the tournament organizer’s toolbox to help bring in additional dollars from your golf event. Anyone can hold a successful raffle! The keys to success are having an easy way to collect payments, donated items, and creating buzz to encourage participation.
Execute these golf tournament raffle ideas with GolfStatus
GolfStatus is an event management platform built just for golf events. A professional event website with online registration and secure payment processing makes selling teams, raffle tickets, and sponsorships a breeze. The software’s built-in automations save organizers up to 40 hours per tournament, while fundraising tools, exclusive sponsorships, and exciting add-ons combine to raise thousands more dollars for your cause. Nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program. Click below to book a demo and get started!
Past Series Posts
Auctions
On-Course Games
BackSwing Golf Events
Hole-In-One Contests
In-Kind Donations