Posts tagged budgets
Putt Putt Fore Puppies is Back!
 

We’re back for year two of Putt Putt Fore Puppies!

The GolfStatus and Dormie Network marketing teams had so much fun in the tournament’s first year—and learned so much—that we decided to do it all over again and crush our goals from 2023. Check out the 2023 planning blog to get the rundown on the mini golf tournament.

Once again, Putt Putt Fore Puppies will raise money to support the pets looking for their forever homes at the Capital Humane Society here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Follow our journey here and on Facebook and Instagram!


1st Quarter Update

We kicked off planning with committee meetings in February and March to review lessons learned and ideas from the post-tournament debrief and start brainstorming for 2024. The planning committee welcomed several new members, with newer GolfStatus Account Managers and Client Success Reps joining in on the fun. The team now numbers 13, which means more people to share the workload. The decision was made to move the tournament to September, for a couple reasons. One, we hit the jackpot with weather last year—75, sunny, and just a slight breeze. October weather in Nebraska is extremely unpredictable, with more stable conditions in September. Second, Capital Humane Society had no events scheduled for September, so Putt Putt could fill that gap.

Thus far, planning has been easier, as we have actual data and last year’s experiences to draw from. We have a better understanding of costs, revenue, attractive sponsor packages, and how many teams to shoot for. We also have processes and assets in place to use down the road. What’s more, we could simply copy our event in GolfStatus’ backend so there was no need to start from scratch. Stay tuned for the website launch!

Here are the tasks we handled this quarter:
  • ✓  Finalized the planning committee
  • ✓  Set dates for all remaining committee meetings
  • ✓  Set a fundraising goal
  • ✓  Reviewed pricing options for facility rental and team registration
  • ✓  Brainstormed sponsorship and package ideas
  • ✓  Brainstormed revenue enhancers
  • ✓  Locked it in with Adventure Golf (September 20!)
  • ✓  Confirmed the date with the Capital Humane Society team
  • ✓  Divided up sponsorships among committee members
  • ✓  Worked on updating the event website so it can launch in April
  • ✓  Updated the tournament’s budget spreadsheet
 
Plan a Golf Tournament With Us!
 

GolfStatus’ golf event management platform powers golf tournaments and events of all types and sizes—even mini golf tournaments.

GolfStatus’ golf event management platform powers golf tournaments and events of all types and sizes—even mini golf tournaments.

Leaning on the tournament planning resources available in its online resources library and working closely with the in-house Client Success team, the GolfStatus marketing team planned a brand new mini golf tournament, using the tasks outlined in the golf tournament fundraiser timeline and checklist, to give back to our community and raise money for a local charity. The tournament raised over $9,200 for the Capital Humane Society in our hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska.

A big THANK YOU to our tournament sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Sponsors

Golf Ball Sponsor

Certified Piedmontese Logo

Dinner Sponsor

Vanity Fur Logo

Koozie Sponsor

Ross Eickhoff - StateFarm agent

Pin Flag Sponsor

402 Creamery Website Link

Batting Cage Sponsor

Allo Fiber Website Link

19th Hole Sponsor

Raising Canes Website Link

Swag Sponsor

Armature Website Link

Game Sponsor

 

hole sponsors


Post-event update

Lessons learned: The to-do list doesn’t stop once the tournament is done! Post-event follow up and engagement with attendees is super important for ensuring a great experience and building momentum for the next year’s event. Using GolfStatus’ messaging app was a simple way to reach out to everyone in one fell swoop to say thank you, provide a final update, and announce that Putt Putt Fore Puppies will be back again in 2024! Once all of the tournament accounting was reconciled, we were able to present Capital Humane Society with a check for $9,208.15 (which was THREE TIMES what we set for an initial fundraising goal).

We worked on these post-tournament tasks in the last month or so:
  • ✓  Sent a thank you to all attendees via GolfStatus’ platform
  • ✓  Sent handwritten thank you notes to sponsors
  • ✓  Provided hole signs to sponsors
  • ✓  Updated the event website
  • ✓  Reconciled final expenses and income and presented a check to Capital Humane Society
  • ✓  Debriefed with the planning committee
  • ✓  Renewed with GolfStatus for 2024!

OCTOBEr Update

We did it! And it was an amazing day. We hit the jackpot in terms of weather—low 80s, plentiful sunshine, and a slight breeze. Set up and check in both went smoothly. People were eager to buy the games package and raffle tickets through the event website, and we raised $1100 the day of the event just in add-on purchases! Best of all, we were able to make a big check presentation to Capital Humane Society for over $8000! We heard from so many golfers and sponsors about how much fun they had and how they hoped we would do it again.

Lessons learned:

  • As much as we tried to plan ahead so the week of the event wouldn’t be hectic, there were just some tasks that had to wait until close to the event, such as printing alpha lists and making hole assignments.

  • It’s a good idea to avoid mentioning a specific time for post-golf happenings, since the round might take longer than anticipated. We planned an hour for golf, but the round on the Backwoods course (which is significantly more difficult than the Blue course) took close to an hour and half. Those on the Blue course finished in just over an hour, and thankfully were content to mingle, enjoy dinner or a drink, hit the batting cages, and soak in the beautiful weather while waiting for the raffle drawing and awards presentation.

  • Having QR codes for folks to buy raffle tickets and the all-in games package made it super easy to do. We also had QR codes to download the GolfStatus app for live-scoring, since we didn’t use paper scorecards. Live-scoring was a big hit, and sponsors loved seeing their logo in the app.

  • Giving ourselves plenty of time for setup was helpful—we arrived at Adventure Golf about 12:30 so we weren’t pushed to get everything ready before registration opened at 3:30.

  • Running everything through the GolfStatus event website was so helpful in reconciling expenses. Some golfers preferred to pay via cash, but that added a level of complexity for accounting purposes.

  • Getting proofs for printed items is imperative to ensure there are no errors and all items are up to our high standards and make sponsors look good. We had some difficulties getting accurate proofs from a vendor, but our persistence paid off and everything turned out fine (though it did add some unnecessary stress).

  • We truly couldn’t have done without GolfStatus. From easy registration, instant sponsor exposure, premium sponsorships, and the hands-on help from the client success team, GolfStatus was a key part of our success.

We crossed these last-minute to-dos off of the list in the weeks and days leading up to the event:
  • ✓  Held bi-weekly meetings with the planning committee to discuss logistics
  • ✓  Re-opened registration for waitlisted teams
  • ✓  Created QR codes for golfers to purchase raffle tickets and all-in games and to download the GolfStatus app
  • ✓  Created a rules sheet outlining the format and rules for each of the on-course games
  • ✓  Assembled pin flags, hole signs, and golfer swag bags
  • ✓  Worked with our GolfStatus client success rep to make hole assignments
  • ✓  Confirmed and communicated volunteer assignments and committee roles
  • ✓  Finalized the event day schedule
  • ✓  Wrote talking points for the welcome
  • ✓  Pulled together registration table supplies and odds and ends
  • ✓  Communicated with sponsors and registrants to remind them of all-in games packages and raffle tickets

September Update

Lessons learned: Our tournament date is rapidly approaching and we’re in final prep mode. Our promotional push paid off, as we officially sold out the event! It was super exciting to see every sponsorship and team slot sold. As our GolfStatus client success rep had explained to us a few months ago, the majority of teams tend to register in the month or so leading up to the event, and that was the case here. We had a few additional teams inquire about registering after all the slots were filled, so we opened a waitlist. There are currently nine teams on our waitlist, so we’re figuring out a plan for potentially doubling up teams on some holes or even opening the third course at Adventure Golf. As we plan for all the final details and logistics, some of our sponsors have stepped up to provide things like tote bags and swag for player gift bags.

Here are the tasks we accomplished in September:
  • ✓  Sold out our teams!!!
  • ✓  Opened a waitlist for additional teams
  • ✓  Held our monthly tournament planning meeting and set bi-weekly meetings through the tournament date
  • ✓  Worked on recruiting volunteers to run games
  • ✓  Designed and ordered a bunch of items: sponsor banners, hole signs, pin flags, koozies, and golf balls
  • ✓  Checked with Adventure Golf on logistics like A/V equipment and tables
  • ✓  Tracked donated game and raffle prizes

AUGUST Update

Lessons learned: Our summer focus on sponsorships has paid off, as we are officially sold out of sponsor packages! We worked with a couple businesses who were interested in participating in the event to create custom sponsorships, based on their goals and capacities for being part of the tournament. We’re super excited about selling our presenting sponsorship to Sinclair Hille Architects! The presenting sponsorship included GolfStatus’ exclusive Technology Sponsorship. With less than two months to go until event day, we’re working on determining details for on-course games, soliciting in-kind donations for prizes, and most importantly, pushing team registrations. Our team has been posting flyers around Lincoln, reaching out to friends and family who have expressed interest, pushing out email promotions, and utilizing targeted ads and organic social media to get the word out. 

Here are the tasks we accomplished in August:

July Update

Lessons learned: The team focused on securing sponsorships over the past month, relying on personal and professional connections to reach out to businesses. We’ve heard from a couple of potential sponsors that their charitable or sponsorship dollars have already been allocated for the year, which has reinforced the advice to start sponsor outreach early! We’ve been using our new budget spreadsheet template to track revenue and expenses, which has been helpful to reference, and started outlining volunteer needs and the details of the extra games we’ll have on the course.

Here are the tasks we accomplished in July:

June Update

Lessons learned: While we were initially discouraged about the lack of team registrations thus far, we’ve discovered that folks are interested in playing in the event—they just don’t want to commit this far out from the tournament date. Our Client Success team assures us that most team registrations occur within 30 days of the event, and since our tournament isn’t until October 20, we’re still in good shape. That being said, we’re continuing promotion to keep the event on people’s radars and hopefully drive some early registrations and sell additional sponsorships.

Here are the tasks we accomplished in June:
  • ✓  Finalized a promotional flyer
  • ✓  Held a monthly committee meeting
  • ✓  Sold an additional sponsorship (thanks Vanity Fur)!
  • ✓  Determined on-course games
  • ✓  Added a registration package for on-course games to the event website
  • ✓  Continued to reach out to potential sponsors
  • ✓  Continued promotion on social media

May Update

Lessons learned: It was exciting to put on the finishing touches and launch our event website! GolfStatus’ platform made it easy to add graphics, customize verbiage, and set a donation goal. We also worked with Cash, our Client Success rep, to add watch emails so members of our planning team are notified whenever someone registers a team, makes a donation, or purchases a sponsorship. A custom form was added to each registration package to collect preferences on which golf course folks want to play (Adventure Golf has three courses, one of which is definitely more challenging!). We knew that the software was easy to navigate, but have now experienced it firsthand! Now we shift our focus to promoting the tournament and approaching potential sponsors.

Here's what we did in May:
  • ✓  Held our monthly planning committee meeting
  • ✓  Finalized and launched our event website.
  • ✓  Sold our first two sponsorships. (shoutout to 402 Title Services and Certified Piedmontese!)
  • ✓  Had our first team register.
  • ✓  Finalized team registration costs.
  • ✓  Sent our first promotional email.
  • ✓  Started working on a tournament flyer.

April Update

Lessons learned: Divvying up the labor has helped keep planning moving forward at a brisk pace. Monthly committee meetings have been a great checkpoint and opportunity to brainstorm and bounce ideas off of each other. Each planning committee member took ownership of a sponsorship package and determined costs, pricing, and benefits, and will also take point in selling the sponsorship.

At this point, we have two of the three courses booked at Adventure Golf, but are working to price sponsorships so they’re still profitable if we need to scale up to include all three courses (which would be a great problem to have!).

We crossed these items off the to-do list in April:
  • ✓  Field trip to Adventure Golf to scope out the courses’ layout and where we can place signage, registration, tables, etc.
  • ✓  Added imagery and custom text to the event website.
  • ✓  Finalized the tournament logo (and it’s super cute!).
  • ✓  Finalized sponsorship packages.
  • ✓  Finalized team registration costs.
  • ✓  Added details to the budget worksheet to track income and expenses.
  • ✓  Started fleshing out a promotion schedule to implement once the event website is launched.

March Update

Lessons learned: As a first-year event, we’re creating and documenting processes as we go. Without past years’ experiences to draw from, it’s necessary to make educated guesses on a number of components, like fixed costs, expected revenue, sponsor packages, or the number of participants. We also don’t know what we don’t know, but have found that GolfStatus’ online resources and our Client Success team are filling in the gaps. Cash, our dedicated rep, is essentially an extra planning committee member, sharing his experience and expertise.

The good news is that we’re ahead of the game with planning. Cash shared that most tournaments open up registration 60-90 days out from the event date, and we’re on track to open registration sooner than that timeframe, once we determine some details about format and further flesh out sponsorship packages. Our committee members, like most golf event organizers, are trying to balance planning tasks with our full-time jobs and lives.

Here are the tasks we tackled in March:
  • ✓  Finalized a date and locked it in with Adventure Golf (October 20!)
  • ✓  Divided up sponsorships among committee members
  • ✓  Received an education session from our GolfStatus Customer Success rep
  • ✓  Worked on a draft of our event website
  • ✓  Submitted fundraiser information to name Capital Humane Society as a beneficiary
  • ✓  Started working on the tournament logo
  • ✓  Started brainstorming promotion ideas
  • ✓  Created a budget tracking spreadsheet
  • ✓  Started creating a budget
  • ✓  Practiced our putting skills (we do this a lot)

February Update

Lessons learned: Even with a mini golf tournament, there are a lot of moving parts and important things to consider, but the checklist has kept us on task. We’re finding a lot of fun possibilities for a mini golf tournament in terms of add-ons, sponsorship options, and games. After discussions with the planning committee, the original tentative event date needed to be reconsidered due to a conflicting event—which is why it was important to loop the entire team in to help consider decisions from all angles.

Here’s what we accomplished in February:
  • ✓  Finalized the planning committee
  • ✓  Set dates for all remaining committee meetings
  • ✓  Reviewed pricing options for facility rental
  • ✓  Revisited potential event date options
  • ✓  Brainstormed sponsorship and package ideas
  • ✓  Determined a tournament name (Putt Putt for Puppies)
  • ✓  Narrowed down a list of local animal-related beneficiaries
  • ✓  Reviewed several GolfStatus client mini golf events and websites
  • ✓  Started creating a budget
  • ✓  Practiced our putting skills (again)

January Update

Here’s what we did in January:
  • ✓  Set a tentative event date in October 2023
  • ✓  Checked local event calendars for conflicts
  • ✓  Met with the golf facility (Adventure Golf Center in Lincoln, Nebraska)
  • ✓  Received a GolfStatus demo
  • ✓  Brainstormed event ideas with the planning team and our GolfStatus Account Manager
  • ✓  Practiced our putting skills

 
How to Get Golf Tournament Sponsors: 7 Types of Businesses to Ask
 
There are many businesses that you can reach out to to be your golf tournament sponsors, such as sports stores and .financial service providers.

Corporate sponsorships and the relationships they generate are an important fundraising opportunity for your golf outing and your organization as a whole. Knowing who to ask—and how to ask them—is key. Ultimately, sponsorships raise funds for your organization through mutually beneficial exposure that lays the foundation for a long-term relationship.

Businesses are looking for a win-win when it comes to sponsoring events. They want to be associated with a worthy cause while also gaining exposure for their brand. Golf tournaments put your organization in a unique position to offer sponsors premium exposure to their ideal potential customer or client.

 

How to Get Golf Tournament Sponsors

When it comes to how your organization will secure sponsors for your golf tournament, pitching to the right businesses is crucial. Start with those you already have a relationship with. They don’t have to be previous sponsors—they could be businesses that your volunteers or board members own or even those that are within your supporters’ sphere of influence.

Once you have prospective businesses to pitch to, it’s time to make the ask. Ideal candidates to reach out to are those interested in getting their brand on the radar of affluent, influential members of the community—the same folks spending their time on the golf course. Try targeting local businesses that have a generally wealthier clientele, as well as regional and national companies, especially those headquartered or with offices in your area.

There are several key factors that help explain why golfers are an ideal marketing target for sponsoring businesses. Consider the following data points about the golfer demographic:

  • Over 50% of golfers are between the ages of 25 and 55, the age demographic with the most spending power

  • The average golfer’s net worth is over $768,000

  • The average household income among golfers is over $100,000

  • 33% of golfers are top-level managers

  • 83% of golfers own mutual funds/stocks

  • 68% own their primary residence

  • 83% regularly take vacations

  • 60% have purchased a vehicle in the last year

  • 48% stay active and/or have a gym membership

  • 77% have consumed alcohol in the last 30 days

Also, you should include information explaining why businesses should support nonprofits in general. Participants in your tournament are more likely to support a socially responsible business that sustains a cause they have a passion for. By working with a reliable and trustworthy nonprofit like yours, your businesses can build important social capital that improves their reputation and brings in more business.


Food and beverage distributors make great golf tournament sponsors because they can provide catering and drinks as an in-kind donation.
 

1. Food & Beverage 

Your golf tournament likely incorporates food and beverage into your golf tournament in some way, perhaps boxed lunches, drink tickets, cocktail hour, or banquet. Golfers likely frequent local dining establishments, making it a great option for these businesses to get eyeballs on their brands. Consider reaching out to the following businesses in the food and beverage industry:

  • Restaurants (including locally owned, farm-to-table, and upscale)

  • Wineries/vineyards

  • Beverage distributors

  • Sports and cocktail bars


HOW TO WIN THEIR SUPPORT

These businesses make great sponsorship prospects because they can customize their engagement. For instance, if outside food and drink are allowed by the golf course, you might ask these businesses to donate or discount catering for your golf tournament. They might also be interested in providing samples of a signature dish or drink on a hole or simply contributing money towards the cause.

 

2. Healthcare

Healthcare providers are valuable sponsor prospects because they are community-minded and your goals likely overlap: improving the quality of life for residents. Research the following healthcare providers in your area:

  • Primary care physicians

  • Dentists/orthodontists

  • Chiropractors

  • Physical therapists

  • Surgery practices

  • Dermatologists


HOW TO WIN THEIR SUPPORT

When pitching to potential healthcare sponsors, emphasize how your cause impacts their patients and their field of medicine as a whole. If your cause is related to improving healthcare for your beneficiaries, sponsoring your golf tournament could lead to a broader partnership or support of a specific project.

Go after sports and fitness providers as golf tournament sponsors due to their shared value of physical wellness.
 

3. Sports & Fitness

This industry is a perfect target because of its direct tie to your fundraiser’s medium: golf. Reach out to these types of businesses in your area:

  • Gyms/fitness centers

  • Personal trainers

  • Sporting goods stores

  • Golf equipment stores


HOW TO WIN THEIR SUPPORT

Businesses in the sports and fitness space are often ideal candidates for an in-kind sponsorship and may be more inclined to donate goods like golf balls, tees, or even clubs for player swag bags, pin prizes, auction items, or raffle prizes. That being said, these businesses also want the broad exposure a monetary sponsorship brings.

 

4. Business-to-Business & Financial Services

These businesses typically cater to affluent clientele, which makes your tournament a great opportunity for them to attract new customers. Steward the following businesses in your community:

  • Financial advisors/wealth management services

  • Insurance companies/agents

  • CPAs/accounting firms

  • Banks/credit unions

  • Advertising agencies

  • PR companies

  • Technology companies

  • Consultants


How to win their support

For companies that cater to other businesses or for financial service professionals who manage important assets for their customers, building a personal connection is everything. Win these businesses over by offering opportunities to network and mingle with potential clients face-to-face, like a booth on a tee box or during a cocktail hour.

Recruiting home services providers as golf tournament sponsors will raise money for your cause and connect your golfers with high-quality realtors and builders.
 

5. Home Services

Most of your golfers likely live independently and can benefit from solid connections in the real estate world. Approach the following home services businesses to be sponsors:

  • Home builders

  • Architects

  • Real estate companies/agents

  • Home remodeling companies/contractors


How to win their support

Nearly 70% of golfers own a home. These types of businesses jump at the chance to show off their properties and services at your golf event, perhaps with a tent on the course. Home builders and remodeling companies can showcase their work and high-quality materials and real estate professionals have the opportunity to show off their listings and broadcast upcoming open houses.

 

6. Luxury Brands

As golf is commonly seen as a luxury sport, it makes sense that luxury brands and service providers would fit in at your tournament. Consider contacting:

  • Jewelers

  • High-end clothing brands

  • Local boutiques


How to win their support

Similar to sports and fitness providers, these businesses would benefit from an in-kind sponsorship with your organization. An effective tactic is to use their in-kind gifts as high-end raffle or auction items, boosting donations for you and brand recognition for them.

Your golfers are a great audience for luxury brands and travel companies, making them perfect golf tournament sponsors.
 

7. Travel

The vast majority of those in the golfer demographic regularly take vacations and over half have purchased a vehicle in the past year, making these businesses hungry for exposure to this audience:

  • Car dealerships

  • Car services

  • Rental car companies 

  • Travel agencies

  • Hotels and resorts


How to win their support

Beyond monetary sponsorships, consider approaching travel services for in-kind donations. Vacation packages, hotel or resort packages, travel vouchers, or even timeshares work well as raffle prizes or auction items.


Make the ask

Now that you have ideas for potential sponsors for you and pitches they’d respond to, it’s up to you to make the ask! Once you’ve finalized your prospect list, delegate specific companies to volunteers and board members and equip them with the tools they need to make the ask (a sponsorship request template makes it easy to mobilize your team and keep you messaging consistent).

Start by clearly listing your sponsorship opportunities on your event website so it’s easy to find sponsor options and commit to supporting the outing. This makes sharing options with potential sponsors as easy as sending a quick link. Follow up with a phone call or, better yet, a face-to-face meeting where you can propose a specific contribution or sponsorship package. 

It’s important to emphasize the impact their business' dollars make on your mission by providing concrete metrics, such as the number of meals provided or which new programs you can fund. Show your sincere appreciation for their efforts in creative ways, such as by making personalized thank-you videos. The ultimate goal is achieving your shared goals, so when you appeal to your mutual values, it goes a long way toward building a long-term donor relationship. 

Get Exclusive Sponsorships With GolfStatus

GolfStatus makes onboarding and recognizing sponsors simple. The platform includes exclusive sponsorships that help raise thousands more dollars for your cause. Nonprofits and organizations planning a golf event to benefit one can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’ golf event management platform through the Golf for Good program. Click below to get qualified or email [email protected].

Ready to get started?

Click here to book a demo today!

 

 
5 Simple Steps to Take Right Now to Set Your 2023 Golf Fundraiser up for Success
 

As nonprofits shift focus to year-end giving campaigns and 2023 planning, there are a few simple—but impactful—steps to take right now to get ahead of the game for your 2023 golf event. If you’re thinking about a golf fundraiser in 2023, whether it’s a brand new event or an established tournament, you can set your golf outing up for success by checking these five to-dos off your list before the end of the year.

 
 

1. Get Your Tech In Place

The right technology is key to easy planning and successful execution of a golf fundraiser. Because golf events have distinctive components—like handicaps, flighting, hole assignments, scoring—having a platform that’s specifically designed for golf is crucial. While ticketing software, generic event management platforms, or even your CRM might seem like natural solutions, they simply can’t efficiently handle the unique nuances of a golf tournament, and may very well end up costing organizers valuable time trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Look for a provider with online registration that populates an intuitive backend to manage player and sponsor information in real-time and in one accessible place. Get your tech in place early so you can start promoting the tournament and collecting registrations as soon as possible.

 

2. Launch an Event Website

The earlier the better! An event website gives supporters a centralized place to find more information about the organization and event, purchase teams and sponsorships, and even make a donation. Direct all your promotion to the website so folks can take action to support your cause and event as soon as they hear about it (when they’re significantly more likely to do so!). You don’t have to have all the details in place to launch an event site—a date and location is enough to start—and simply make updates and add information as those details are firmed up.

 

Launch an event website as soon as you set a date and location, and simply make information as additional details are determined.

 

3. Send Save-the-Dates

Get your event on donors’ minds early and in front of sponsors amid annual budget planning. As soon as you have a date set with the golf facility (and your event website launched), send a quick email to your contact database as well as individual emails to major donors and supporters to get it on their calendars and into their budgets. If you send postcards or any printed materials, include a QR code that links directly to your event website. Include information about the golf event in any year-end appeals to get more mileage out of those communications.

 

4. Plan on Live-Scoring

Live-scoring adds a high-end element to your golf tournament. What’s more, live-scoring has a ton of advantages—you can sell a lucrative leaderboard sponsorship and individual digital hole sponsorships, share leaderboards online to connect with more supporters and collect donations, keep golfers engaged throughout the round, and even finalize results quickly so you can keep the day moving forward. Make sure your live-scoring platform is reliable and simple to use.

 

Your live-scoring platform should be reliable and simple to use, keeping golfers and sponsors engaged.

 

5. Look for New Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships are the bread and butter of a golf tournament’s fundraising. Organizers should think outside the box when it comes to sponsor exposure and even types of sponsorships to offer. Digital exposure provides a ton of ROI for sponsors wanting to get their business and brands in front of an audience of affluent members of the community, so look for an event management option that has robust sponsor exposure across multiple touchpoints. Elements that add fun and excitement to your event, like hole-in-one contests, custom swag, or on-course entertainment/fundraising, are also prime sponsorship opportunities (and cover the contest’s fixed costs). Consider selling other high-end sponsorships, like pin flags, technology, or leaderboard sponsorships.

 

Look for an event management option that offers digital exposure across multiple touchpoints.

 

 

Ready to Start Planning?

GolfStatus’s golf event management and fundraising platform streamlines and simplifies golf fundraisers, offering solutions that save time and raise more money. Nonprofits and those holding events that benefit them can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s technology—including an event website, online registration, live-scoring, and much more—through the Golf for Good program. Plus, GolfStatus’s in-house customer success team is there to answer questions and help you have your most successful event yet. Ready to get started? Click the button below or email [email protected].

 
 

 
Five Keys to a Great Corporate Golf Outing
 

A corporate golf outing is an especially attractive option for companies looking for a way to engage employees, clients, and even the community. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about your brand in a unique and meaningful way, while also advancing important business relationships and even raising money for a nonprofit or cause. 

But if you’ve been tasked with planning such an event, you know that there are a number of moving parts and important aspects to consider to ensure the outing delivers a positive return on your company’s investment. Here are five keys to a great corporate golf event:

 

1. Use Tools That Save Time

It’s likely that planning a company golf outing isn’t your full-time job, or even something you do on a regular basis, so you might not know where to start or how to maximize efficiencies that save your precious time. Most event management systems aren’t able to intuitively manage the intricacies of a golf outing (hole assignments, player pairings, scoring and leaderboards, flighting, handicaps, etc.) so look for one that’s built specifically for golf tournaments.

Online registration is a must-have—golfers seamlessly submit their information and payment online, saving hours of dealing with spreadsheets, checks, and receipts. Plus, all information should populate into the platform’s back end, which means all the event’s information is stored and accessible in one place by organizers and even staff at the golf facility. Need to quickly communicate with all registrants? Look for built-in communication tools like emails and push notifications. Want to print branded score cards and cart signs? Use a platform that comes with pre-formatted, professional printouts.

 
Computer screen showing golf tournament management software

A golf-specific event management platform lets you easily make hole assignments and team pairings while handling flighting, handicaps, and other golf-related details.

 

2. Raise Money for Charity

Golf has an undeniable tie to philanthropy—the sport contributes nearly $4 billion to charity annually. Its capacity for fundraising is unmatched and provides high visibility for the benefiting organization to raise awareness about its work. So whether it’s a corporate foundation, partner charity, or favorite nonprofit, raising money as part of a corporate golf event not only provides a ton of brand lift, but fosters goodwill among your company’s employees, the community at large, and your client base.

More and more, people want to work for and do business with organizations that prioritize community impact, which makes a charitable golf event a banner addition to your company’s corporate social responsibility portfolio. An event website is the perfect place to share the charity’s story, why you’ve committed to raising money for it, and even collect donations from folks that may not be able to participate in the golf event.

 
Man speaking from a podium at a charity golf tournament

Golf outings not only provide high visibility for the benefiting charity, but a ton of positive brand lift and fosters goodwill among your company’s employees, the community at large, and your client base.

 

3. Promote the Outing

Particularly if your golf outing has a charitable component, drum up some positive PR for your company and what the event is raising money for. Invite members of the press and the community to participate and work together to raise awareness for a good cause (and give your brand a substantial lift). If you’re live scoring the event, post a link to the live leaderboards on your social media channels to get even more exposure for your company and brand, the benefiting charity, and the leaderboard sponsor (if you have one).

 

4. Focus on a Great Experience

What sets a great event apart from a good event is the overall experience. Folks will remember if the event was chaotic and plagued with snafus—or if it was well executed. Using technology tools to manage the event holistically frees golf facility staff up to assist and cater to golfers instead of scrambling to handle last minute tasks like hole assignments, scorecards, cart signs, and alpha lists. 

Beyond a well-run event, add-ons and extras like contests, auctions, on-course entertainment, and custom player gifts make for a top-notch experience and one participants won’t soon forget! Live scoring adds an element of professionalism unlike any other and lets spectators (as well as event organizers who are keeping an eye on the round’s progress to facilitate an awards ceremony, banquet, reception, or other post-round gathering) follow along on live leaderboards.

 
Two golfers high-fiving at a golf fundraiser

Above all, your corporate golf outing should offer a top-notch experience that provides a positive return on your company’s investment.

 

5. Use the Day Wisely

As most corporate professionals can attest to, a ton of business happens on the golf course. Unlike other events, a golf outing gives you three to four dedicated, focused hours on the course to engage with clients, partners, and vendors. What’s more, think about ways to connect with employees, whether it’s through a pre- or post-round meal or reception, on-course interactions, the opportunity to volunteer, or informal networking. 

Be strategic when making hole assignments and how they might further business objectives. For example, you may want to pair your company’s top executives with their counterparts from a major partner or prospective client to spend the day on the course talking business and potentially even closing deals. Or group staff or board members from the benefiting charity with potential partners or donors to help advance their mission and open doors for additional support. Make sure any event management system you use has the capability to easily assign holes and pairings.

 

Technology Makes the Difference

The right technology streamlines your company’s golf outing. GolfStatus provides an event website for your tournament where golfers and sponsors can register (complete with secure payment processing), find more information about the benefiting organization, see details about the course, and even make a donation to the charity. The platform’s reliable live scoring gives any event a professional feel and keeps golfers engaged throughout the round and even lets spectators follow along with the progress.

Through the Golf for Good program, nonprofit organizations and individuals, businesses, corporate entities, or other partners holding a golf event that benefits a nonprofit, can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s technology. It offers solutions to all things golf tournaments—flighting, hole assignments, mobile scoring, and much more. Click below to get qualified or email [email protected].

 
 
Why A Celebrity Can Level Up Your Golf Tournament Fundraiser
 

GolfStatus caught up with Rita Tateel, President at The Celebrity Source, a full-service celebrity sourcing agency and new GolfStatus partner, to talk about the value that having a celebrity at a golf fundraiser brings to the event and cause.

Celebrity takes picture with golfer at a golf fundraiser benefiting American Cancer Society

Q: First off, what exactly do you mean when you say “celebrity”?

A: Really, who is deemed a “celebrity” is defined by the audience. It’s not necessarily an actor or sports figure; it’s anyone in the public eye within their field or discipline. So it’s a very broad definition—anyone from a famous scientist, writer, or astronaut to a reality television star, football player, YouTube star, performer, or movie actor.

Q: What does having a celebrity at a golf fundraiser bring to the event?

A: Everyone, whether they admit it or not, gets excited about meeting someone famous. There’s an excitement that a celebrity brings to an event that simply can’t be duplicated. Celebrities raise visibility, not only for the event itself, but for the cause it’s connected to. There’s also the credibility factor—people see that if a celebrity is participating, they assume the tournament must be worthwhile. You’re likely to see more press interested in covering the tournament (and you should definitely alert the media about the event) because a celebrity is attending, which means even more exposure for sponsors, the benefiting organization, and/or cause. What’s more, a celebrity presence opens the door to new, lucrative sponsorships as well as attracting more teams with the option of charging a higher registration package price.

Q: What should an event organizer consider when determining whether or not to pursue having a celebrity participate in their golf fundraiser?

A: There are a number of questions organizers should ask themselves before going down this road. First and foremost, what do I hope to accomplish by having the celebrity there—media coverage? Credibility? Increased awareness? Higher income potential? Next, can I cover the standard expenses (or do I have a sponsor I know will cover the costs)? Third, what do I want a celebrity to do at my golf event and what are the highest priorities? Determining the “why” will help organizers decide if it’s something worthwhile to pursue.

Budget is perhaps the main consideration. If an event is hoping to secure a celebrity, expenses need to be covered, even if the celebrity isn’t being paid to attend. At a minimum, they’ll need to cover two first-class airfares, ground transportation to and from the airport to the event, first-class hotel accommodations, and a per diem to cover meals. Oftentimes these costs can be covered by a sponsor.

Q: How can organizers make the most out of having a celebrity attend their golf fundraiser?

A: Really think broadly about all of the ways a celebrity might be involved. It could be anything from a meet and greet on a specific hole of the golf course, emceeing or performing at the after party, or golfing with a specific sponsor’s foursome. It’s also key to have someone in charge of PR to get the most exposure possible for the celebrity’s participation and, in turn, for the nonprofit or charity. Organizers can solicit a volunteer or volunteers, pay a PR firm (or request pro bono services as part of a sponsorship or donation), or even reach out to PR students at a nearby college or university. And when marketing the event, include the celebrity’s participation everywhere possible—on the event website, promotional emails, social media posts, flyers, postcards, and the organization’s website.

Q: How do you help nonprofits find the right celebrity for a fundraising event like a golf tournament?

A: The Celebrity Source looks at a variety of factors that will get a celebrity to say “yes” to an event. For example, a personal association with a particular cause or the location of the event (e.g. near their hometown or favorite city), what perks/gifts are being offered for the celebrity’s participation, how passionate the celebrity is about golf, and any obvious connections to the event. Being a golfer is often a key factor, but keep in mind that there are different roles the celeb can play at the event, so they don’t have to play golf to still be a good match. The audience’s demographic also needs to be taken into account—both who it is trying to attract to play in the event as well as sponsor it. Our process takes all these factors into account to find the best match.


Technology For Your Golf Fundraiser

GolfStatus’s industry-leading golf event management and fundraising technology streamlines planning to save time and raise more money. Through GolfStatus.org and the company’s Golf for Good giveback initiative, qualifying 501(c) organizations and those holding events that benefit them can qualify for no cost access to the platform. Get started here or email [email protected].

The Celebrity Source

The Celebrity Source has been in business over 30 years and has access to thousands of celebs from film, TV, music, sports, fashion, digital stars and influencers. Among the company’s specialties is cause-related celebrity outreach and coordination whereby the celebrities may not be paid—The Celebrity Source knows what it takes to get a celebrity to say yes apart from money. The Celebrity Source has helped hundreds of corporate and non-profit clients find authentic celebrity matches for events (live and virtual), PR/marketing/advertising campaigns, corporate meetings and cause-marketing strategies. Learn more about Celebrity Source by visiting thecelebritysource.com, emailing [email protected], or calling 917-626-8368.

 
 


 
Seven Free Tools for Your Golf Fundraiser
 

Nonprofit event organizers are used to finding ways to squeeze every cent out of limited budgets. When it comes to your golf fundraiser, whether you’re planning an event for the first time or looking to level up an event that’s been going on for years, there are a number of tools available at no cost that help make planning, prep, and promotion easier and more impactful. Best of all, these tools won’t affect your budget or event’s bottom line.

A computer showing a GolfStatus events page for the 1st Annual Riverside Ranch Golf Fundraiser.

1. Golf Event registration website

An event registration website is one of the simplest—and most impactful—tools you can have for your golf tournament. A event website makes it easy to promote your event and collect player and sponsor information, saving you a ton of time and effort. You can use it to share more information about your organization’s mission, what the golf tournament is raising money for, and keeps golfers and spectators involved before, during, and after your event. (Through the Golf for Good program, qualifying nonprofits can get a free website for their golf fundraiser built by the GolfStatus team.)

golfstatus.org

2. Social Media

If your organization isn’t already on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to engage with constituents, recognize donors and sponsors, and raise awareness for your mission. Promote your golf fundraiser (with a link to your event website where folks can purchase teams or sponsor packages) in the months and weeks leading up to your event and invite your constituents to share with their personal networks. It’s a good practice to give sponsors shoutouts on social media, providing additional exposure and a bigger return on their investment. You can also share pictures, impact stories, results, and donation appeals from your golf event.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

3. Canva

Canva is an online design and publishing tool. The free version has a number of built-in templates and features that make it easy for anyone—even if you don’t have any graphic design experience—to create attractive imagery for your golf tournament. Use it to design a tournament graphic, resize logos, or create promotional images to share on social media. Canva also has learning opportunities and resources on design, marketing, and branding.

canva.com

4. GIF Maker

This no frills, simple tool lets you create animated gifs, slideshows, and video animations for your event’s website, social media, or organizational website with just a few clicks. Upload images, set the size and animation speed, determine if the slideshow should loop, and even add music.

gifmaker.me

5. QR Code Maker

A QR (quick response) code makes it easy for people to use their phone’s camera function (or other QR code reader) to quickly get to your event website. Simply include the code on all printed tournament materials likeflyers, personal invitations, save the date postcards, and sponsorship requests for easy access to purchase team and sponsorship packages and make a donation to your organization. Customize the appearance of your QR code with frames, color, and even your organization or event logo.

qr-code-generator.com

6. Any Video Converter

This free tool helps you use video effectively on your event website, organization website, and social media. Need to download a video you own from YouTube? Check. Reduce the size of a video file? Check. Convert a video to a different format? Check.

Any-video-converter.com

7. Golf Event Management Software

Most event management technology isn’t built to handle the nitty gritty details of a golf fundraiser. Organizers need one specifically designed for golf events, with features that help spread the word, collect registrations and payment, recognize sponsors and offer premium sponsor exposure, coordinate with the golf facility, communicate with golfers, avoid hours of duplicative data entry, and keep everything organized in one space. GolfStatus provides all this and more, plus, qualifying 501(c) organizations and those holding events that benefit them can get access to GolfStatus’s golf event management platform at no cost through the Golf for Good program.

golfstatus.org

Get Started With Golf for Good

Through Golf for Good and GolfStatus.org, the social impact division of golf technology company GolfStatus, nonprofits and organizations doing social good can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s full-featured golf event management software. Get a free event website built by the GolfStatus team plus features that save time, keep you organized, and help you handle all the golf-specific details. 

 
 
 
6 Advantages of Virtual Golf Events
 

Born largely out of necessity, virtual golf tournament fundraisers bring donors and sponsors together to enjoy a round of golf in support of a great cause—just not all at the same place at the same time. A virtual golf event is played over an extended timeframe at one or more golf courses, leveraging technology to give golfers the flexibility to play when it’s convenient for them while supporting a great cause. Indeed, virtual golf events have kept many tournaments from being forced to cancel. But the advantages of virtual golf events go well beyond social distancing. Event organizers have found that these virtual events—whether an entirely virtual outing or an additional virtual round added to a traditional golf tournament—hold tremendous possibilities for fundraising, connecting with supporters, and further expanding your organization’s donor base. The right technology makes them lucrative—and fun! Here are a six advantages of virtual golf events.

A man in the middle of a golf swing on a golf course.

1. You have more options—and opportunities.

Particularly in times of uncertainty, organizations need options. Virtual events give you more options to help meet your fundraising goals. You can choose to run a completely virtual event at one course, across multiple courses throughout your city, or even across regions. You can also add a virtual round to a traditional, one-day event—which lets you choose more than one golf facility, increase the field size to an almost unlimited number of players and teams, and extend the event’s duration. A virtual round that extends over the month in which the in-person tournament is held, for example, attracts the whole community to the course to play a round in support of your cause. The best part? This is all in addition to the support your organization receives the day of your traditional event.

2. Virtual events often come with lower overhead costs and more flexibility.

Most virtual golf event formats don’t require reserved use of the golf facility, which keeps costs low for event organizers and allows golf facilities to continue business as usual. Since golfers play on their own time, there are no food and beverage contracts to negotiate, banquets or awards ceremonies to plan, or day-of details to handle last minute. This makes virtual events a low-risk, high-reward option with the flexibility to change course if needed.

3. Live scoring keeps supporters engaged.

Virtual events powered by GolfStatus benefit from its robust golf event management technology, which includes live-scoring functionality. When golfers register for the virtual event, they receive a code to live-score their round via the GolfStatus mobile app to submit their scores to the event’s aggregate online leaderboard. Golfers and spectators love keeping up with the real-time leaderboard standings throughout the event’s duration, and sponsors love the extended digital exposure to an engaged audience of golfers.

Golfers and spectators follow live leaderboards throughout the event.

Golfers and spectators follow live leaderboards throughout the event.


4. You can Leverage leaderboards
to Raise more money.

You’ll want to promote your virtual event heavily once it goes live and players and teams can register and submit scores—not only to keep it in front of potential players and supporters, but to attract spectators who support your cause to donate through your online leaderboards. GolfStatus’s live leaderboards have the built-in ability to accept online donations before, during, and after any event, including virtual tournaments. Get creative and leverage this feature to raise additional funds. Challenge supporters to donate an amount equal to their score or ranking, match the winning team, or give another specified amount. In addition to targeted asks, it’s also a great idea to share live leaderboards on your organization’s social media accounts and encourage supporters to help spread the word.

5. Virtual events use Digital exposure
to bring in sponsorship dollars.

Sponsors appreciate meaningful exposure to an affluent, influential demographic and they especially appreciate when their brand looks good. GolfStatus’s virtual event options provide tons of digital exposure, through professional and prominent branding across multiple channels (including online and mobile). This means not only more sponsorship options, but options with minimal overhead and value for sponsors. Event organizers can include digital exposure as part of other sponsorship packages, or list it as a standalone technology sponsorship.

6. Technology makes virtual events easy, lucrative, and fun.

Virtual golf events powered by GolfStatus start with the buildout of a free custom event registration website and include access to its full-service golf event management platform. We make every detail—from live-scoring to digital sponsorships—easy and stress-free with user-friendly technology and full access to our top-rated, in-house customer success team. What’s more, GolfStatus is available at no cost to qualifying nonprofits through our Golf for Good program. Contact us at [email protected] to get qualified, or follow the link below.

 
 

 
Adding a Virtual Option for Your Golf Fundraiser: What You Need To Know & How To Do It
 

If 2020 has taught fundraisers and event organizers anything, it’s that they have to be able to adapt on the fly. Organizations pivoted traditional golf fundraisers to virtual events and leaned on technology to adapt in-person golf tournaments and salvage them as fundraising opportunities. This approach paid dividends, providing a much-needed revenue boost in an already challenging financial year for nonprofits and paved the way for event fundraisers to head into another uncertain year with more options. With spring events still up in the air, many are going completely virtual, considering virtual elements, or simply looking for a back-up plan in case they have to. For golf tournaments, it turns out that all three scenarios are surprisingly easy to plan for. Here’s what you need to know about virtual options for golf tournaments and how to leverage them.

How Virtual golf Events Work

A virtual golf event powered by GolfStatus doesn’t get played online; instead, it takes place at one or more golf courses over an extended period of time. Golfers register online to donate their round in support of a cause, play when it’s convenient for them instead of congregating at one facility on a given date and time, and enter their scores into the virtual event’s online leaderboard, all without the typical crowds of a one-day in-person event. Virtual events present more fundraising opportunities through digital sponsorships, and organizers share the event’s leaderboards over the course of the extended-play tournament to drum up online donations from participants and those following along.

Golfers submit scores via the GolfStatus mobile app that instantly syncs to an aggregate online leaderboard to keep supporters engaged.

Golfers submit scores via the GolfStatus mobile app that instantly syncs to an aggregate online leaderboard to keep supporters engaged.


Given the uncertainty ahead for traditional gatherings and fundraising events, options and flexibility are especially crucial. Indeed, virtual formats can be leveraged in a number of ways, including going completely virtual, running a virtual event in tandem with a traditional on-site event, or keeping the virtual event in your back pocket in case you need to change directions last-minute and cancel your traditional on-site outing. 

In fact, adding a virtual option to a traditional, in-person tournament is a built-in backup plan. In the best case scenario, both events move forward and you’re able to attract more players and sponsors to the outing than you would normally be able to with a regular one-day outing at the course. Golfers who feel more comfortable playing a round in support of the tournament on their own, have a scheduling conflict, or weren’t able to register for the traditional outing before teams filled up are still able to participate and purchase a team or individual registration. Sponsors can also support the live leaderboards for both the virtual and day-of competition in exchange for digital exposure through the GolfStatus-powered event website, live-scoring app, and online leaderboards.

What’s more, if the in-person event ends up needing to be canceled or modified, the virtual event can oftentimes proceed without missing a beat.

No Risk, High Reward

With golf’s popularity surging (the National Golf Foundation reports that September 2020 rounds were up 26% compared to 2019 and golf equipment sales topped $1 billion in the third quarter of 2020, an all-time record), people will continue to be eager to hit the links in any way they can in 2021, making now the perfect time to add a virtual element to your golf tournament—with little to no risk and a ton of fundraising potential. 

Mobile Registration

If you’re working on behalf of a nonprofit, or if your event benefits a 501(c) organization or established social cause, you likely qualify for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which makes it possible to add a virtual round to your existing event or go completely virtual with your tournament at no cost. Further, the costs incurred with virtual events and added virtual rounds are typically minimal, making virtual options low-cost and low-risk. Unlike a traditional golf tournament, you won’t need to rent the whole facility on a specific date and time, which can limit or altogether eliminate green fees (usually one of the most substantial expenses associated with the golf event).

For St. Luke’s Health Foundation (which raises money for St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho) a virtual outing was a way to keep its 35-year golf event going safely and successfully amid COVID-19. “We quickly realized that the number of participants in a virtual tournament is only limited by the number of people that can play at the course each day,” says Maegan Krahn, director of special events and director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at St. Luke’s Health Foundation. Ahead of 2021, Maegan and her team will use what they learned to add a monthlong virtual round to their usual one-day outing. Live-scoring technology makes both possible, with online registration and in-app scoring to eliminate touchpoints plus the virtual round that allows hospital staff, foundation leadership, board members, and other supporters more opportunities to play in and sponsor the tournament.


We quickly realized that the number of participants in a virtual tournament is only limited by the number of people that can play at the course each day.
— Maegan Krahn, director of special events and director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at St. Luke’s Health Foundation

Technology is the Key to Success

The right technology makes successfully executing the add-on of a virtual round or a completely virtual tournament surprisingly simple. GolfStatus makes it easy—with free custom event websites equipped to streamline registrations for virtual and traditional events, plus options for touch-free live scoring, live leaderboards, digital sponsorships, easy event promo, and more golf event-specific features.


 

Ready to get started? Email us at [email protected] or follow the link below to learn more about our Golf for Good program and get qualified.