4 Golf Tournament Sponsorships That Drive More Revenue
by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus
Sponsorships are one of the biggest revenue drivers at a charity golf tournament. The key is to give sponsors something they value, and there are plenty of sponsorship options that go beyond the traditional logo-on-a-sign approach. That might be prominent branding, digital exposure, an opportunity to interact with golfers, or a sponsorship tied to a memorable part of the tournament.
When you offer sponsors more than basic logo placements, you create additional opportunities to boost sponsorship revenue and fundraising outcomes—while giving businesses more reasons to participate year after year.
Here are four sponsorships that help drive significant revenue for golf fundraisers.
1. Technology Sponsorship
Your golf tournament tech can do more than just simplify registration, payments, and scoring. It can also offer a valuable sponsorship opportunity.
A Technology Sponsorship gives a business prominent visibility across the digital tools golfers use before and during your event. Depending on the golf event management platform you use, that could include your golf tournament website, mobile scoring app, live leaderboard, digital communications, and more.
Consider these ideas and examples:
Bundle the Technology Sponsorship with your title or presenting sponsorship. If you’re looking for ways to add value to a top-tier sponsorship, the Technology Sponsorship can provide additional visibility without adding another physical activation to the event.
Sell a standalone Technology Sponsorship. Give one business prominent recognition across the tournament’s digital experience, including your event website, live scoring, leaderboard, and other digital touchpoints. Physical pieces like cart signs, scorecards, and check-in lists can also feature this sponsor’s branding.
Offer a leaderboard sponsorship. A live leaderboard gets plenty of attention during the tournament. Put your sponsor’s name and logo where golfers and spectators are already checking for scores and standings.
Include sponsor branding in mobile scoring. When golfers check scores, view the leaderboard, or access other tournament information in the live scoring app, the sponsor earns impressions.
The combination of physical and digital exposure can be especially valuable to sponsors. GolfStatus’ on-staff PGA Professionals have noted that the strongest sponsor exposure often combines signage with digital visibility, giving sponsors impressions before, during, and after tournament day.
GolfStatus’ Technology Sponsorship offers brand touchpoints across the platform and on printed materials.
2. Pin Flag Sponsorship
Sometimes the most effective sponsorships are also some of the simplest. Throughout a golf tournament, golfers are looking at the pin, making pin flags a unique, highly visible way to showcase a sponsor on the course—and give your tournament a more polished, professional look.
There are several ways to package and use pin flags for your tournament:
Sell all 18 flags as one sponsorship. This gives one business visibility across the entire course and creates a strong premium sponsorship option.
Offer front-nine or back-nine packages. If an 18-hole sponsorship is outside of a business’ budget, breaking it into smaller packages can make it more accessible.
Sell individual hole sponsorships. Individual flags can be another way to offer businesses a more affordable sponsorship option while still providing meaningful visibility.
Give sponsors a keepsake. After the tournament, consider giving a custom pin flag to the sponsor as a thank you. It serves as a tangible reminder of their support long after the event. They can also be used as an auction item, volunteer thank-you, raffle prize, or other commemorative keepsake.
Add digital exposure. Feature the sponsor on your event website, in promotional emails, social media, and other tournament communications to increase the overall value and ROI of the sponsorship.
Pin flags are a good example of how a relatively simple tournament element can become a revenue-generating, premium sponsorship. It’s important to use high-quality custom flags to make sure your sponsor’s brand looks great across the course.
Custom-branded pin flags elevate the look and feel of charity golf tournaments.
3. Elevated Hole Sponsorships
Hole sponsorships are a staple of charity golf tournaments, and for good reason. They’re easy for businesses to understand, provide a physical on-course presence, and can work for sponsors with a range of budgets.
But a hole sponsorship doesn’t have to stop with a sign. With a little creativity, you can turn a basic hole sponsorship into a chance for businesses to engage and connect with golfers.
Try these ideas:
Invest in professional signage. Golf hole sponsor signs should be clean, professional, and easy to say. High-quality signage ensures your sponsors are presented in the best possible light.
Encourage golfer engagement. Give sponsors the option to set up at their hole with a game, giveaway, product demonstration, samples, or other interactive experience.
Build around a theme. A themed hole can be especially memorable for golfers and sponsors. For example, you could incorporate a sports theme, tailgate, beach theme, or another concept that fits your audience or sponsor.
Add digital exposure. Don’t limit hole sponsorships to a sign on tournament day. Include sponsor recognition on your event website, in emails, on social media, or within the live scoring experience. Sponsors will appreciate the combination of the physical and digital exposure.
Create different price points. Not every business will be able to purchase your largest sponsorships, so offering different levels of hole sponsorship can bring more businesses into the fold—and preserve premium opportunities for larger investments. Consider offering hole sponsorships with and without teams at different prices.
On-course engagement can be particularly valuable for businesses that want to connect directly with potential customers. GolfStatus’ PGA Professionals recommend placing sponsors who want an on-course presence where golfers naturally gather—the first tee, holes that tend to get backed up, contest holes, or comfort stations.
4. Hole-In-One Contest Sponsorship
A hole-in-one contest is one of the most exciting parts of a golf tournament, as well as a chance to create a sponsorship that gets golfers’ attention.
The first step is making sure your organization isn’t taking on any unnecessary financial risk. Hole-in-one insurance covers the cost of a high-value prize if someone makes an ace. From there, turn the contest into a sponsorship opportunity:
Give the sponsor prominent visibility. Feature the sponsor’s logo on signage on the contest hole and across the tournament’s digital channels.
Create an opportunity for golfer engagement. Invite the sponsor to have representatives at the hole to greet golfers, host a small game or giveaway, distribute promotional items, or cheer on players as they take their shots.
Include it as part of your tournament promotion. Mention the hole-in-one contest sponsor when promoting the contest before the event and include the sponsor in social media posts, emails, and other communications.
Capture the moment. Photos and videos from the contest can provide additional exposure after the event, especially if someone makes a hole-in-one.
The goal isn’t just to put a sponsor’s name on a contest. It’s to make that sponsor part of an experience golfers are already excited about.
Contest signage is important, but combine it with other benefits to give hole-in-one contest sponsors more than logo placements.
Think Beyond the Logo
The best sponsorship programs aren’t necessarily the ones with the most logos. They’re the ones that give businesses a clear reason to invest.
Before creating your sponsorship packages, think about what your sponsors are trying to accomplish and build sponsorship benefits around those goals. Are they looking for brand visibility? To meet potential customers? Support your mission? Get exposure in the local community?
A Technology Sponsorship, pin flag sponsorship, elevated hole sponsorships, or hole-in-one contest sponsorship can give businesses something more valuable than a logo on a banner. They create opportunities for visibility, engagement, and connection, while also giving your organization more ways to raise funds.
Don’t be afraid to customize packages. Some sponsors may want more golfer spots while others care more about logo placement or digital exposure. Some may want to interact with golfers, while others simply want to support the mission. Asking potential sponsors what they value and tailoring your packages accordingly creates stronger relationships and more valuable sponsorship.
Most importantly, start selling early. Premium sponsorships are often the first pieces that should be secured. Once those are sold, you can better tailor the rest of your packages around what’s still available.
A little creativity can turn the elements you’re already using to run your golf tournament into some of your most valuable fundraising opportunities.
Raise More Money With GolfStatus
GolfStatus helps nonprofits and organizations streamline golf tournament planning while providing tools and resources to raise more money. From event websites and online registration to live scoring, digital sponsor exposure, Fundraising Enhancers, and support from golf fundraising experts, GolfStatus gives organizers the tools they need to be successful—all at no upfront cost.
Click below to book a meeting with GolfStatus to learn how you can save time and raise more money or get started in the software on your own.
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.