by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

A popular—and lucrative—complementary activity to your charity golf tournament is an auction. With the right strategy, auctions deliver strong ROI and can generate significant additional revenue for your organization. This guide will explore how to seamlessly add an auction to your golf event and maximize income.

• Frequently Asked Questions about Charity Golf Auctions

• The Benefits of Running a Charity Golf Auction

• How to Add an Auction to a Golf Event

• Best Practices for Running a Charity Golf Auction

• The Best Golf Charity Auction Items

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Frequently Asked Questions about Charity Golf Auctions

Why should my nonprofit run a golf charity auction?

Auctions and golf tournaments go hand-in-hand. Both combine high-net-worth networking with a popular, engaging activity that, when done well, can result in meaningful revenue for organizations of all types and sizes.

What types of auctions complement golf tournaments?

• Silent auction. The vast majority of golf tournaments incorporate a silent auction. In a silent auction, participants write their bids on a piece of paper or, more commonly, submit their bids using an online bidding platform. Silent auctions work well with golf tournaments because of their flexibility, and thanks to mobile bidding platforms, golfers can place bids from anywhere on the course.

• Live auction. Live auctions utilize a professional auctioneer who leads the bidding process, encouraging competition amongst attendees. One item is auctioned off at a time, in front of the entire group. Live auctions are particularly effective for high-value items or experiences, but can be time-consuming at the end of a long day on the golf course.

• Online auction. An online auction extends the auction beyond the golf tournament itself, reaching a larger audience and broader participation.

When is the best time to hold the auction during a tournament?

An online auction or silent auction that utilizes bidding software can be launched before the tournament to maximize reach and bids. In fact, golfers can bid from their phones during the round! Bidding can start a few days or a few weeks before the event and usually concludes following the awards ceremony or banquet, so golfers or guests take their winning items home. Live auctions are often held during the post-round cocktail hour or dinner, and often coincide with the announcement of the tournament’s winners.

How do we handle bidding while golfers are out on the course?

Paper bid sheets are outdated and create more work for you and your team. Instead, use an auction platform that offers a mobile-friendly interface to:

• Keep the auction running smoothly and professionally

• Allow golfers to browse auction items and place bids during the round, without needing to return to the clubhouse to check bid status

• Automate finalizing bids

• Quickly collect payments and send receipts

How many items should we have for our charity golf auction?

The number of items you offer in your auction is dependent on the number of participants and guests at your tournament. You want to ensure every item is sold, while also creating scarcity that drives higher bids. A good rule of thumb for silent auctions is to have one silent auction item for every five to 10 guests.

Are charity golf auction purchases tax-deductible?

Yes. According to the IRS, “Donors who purchase items at a charity auction may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the excess of the purchase price paid for an item over its fair market value.” For the deduction to be valid, the Fair Market Value (FMV) must be displayed on the auction site.

How do we prevent “auction fatigue” at the end of a long day?

Keep the energy high for your golf event’s auction by:

• Encouraging bidders to save payment information to streamline purchases and receive digital receipts.

• Limiting the live auction to just a handful of big-ticket items to keep golfers engaged, and using an experienced, entertaining auctioneer.

• Opening bidding for a silent golf charity auction before the tournament, so golfers (and guests!) can browse items before they tee off.

• Ensuring there is plenty of time and there are plenty of volunteers to facilitate item pickup and payment when the auction closes.

How should we set starting bids and bid increments?

• Establish a clear FMV. Determine and clearly display the FMV for every auction item, which is the foundation for your pricing strategy.

• Set starting bids in the "Sweet Spot." A good practice is to start bidding at 30% to 50% of the item's FMV. This range is low enough to attract early bids and generate excitement, but high enough to ensure a meaningful return.

• Calculate standard bid increments. Set bid increments at approximately 10% of the starting bid (e.g., if the starting bid is $50, the increment should be $5).

• Minimize bidding friction. The 10% rule keeps the math simple and ensures the item's price steadily increases without drastic jumps.

• Create exceptions for "Priceless" items. For exclusive experiences or unique items (like a round of golf with a celebrity) where FMV is subjective, you may want to set a higher baseline starting bid based on your audience's perceived value.

What legalities do I need to worry about?

• Local liquor laws. Alcohol is heavily regulated. Before auctioning off any liquor items, verify local, county, and state laws. Many jurisdictions require charities to obtain a temporary liquor license or special permit to legally auction alcohol.

• Auction and raffle differences: It’s critical to distinguish between these two formats. An auction is a direct sale where the item goes to the highest bidder based on value, and a raffle (or lottery) is a game of chance where participants buy tickets for a random draw.

• Gaming and gambling issues. Raffles and lotteries are regulated under state gaming and gambling laws, which are stricter than auction laws. Using the terms interchangeably or improperly running a raffle can lead to legal or compliance issues.

• Tax deductions. Clearly state the FMV to keep everything transparent. Bidders can only claim a tax deduction on the amount they pay that exceeds the item's FMV.

How much revenue can your tournament raise?

Use this auction ROI calculator to help determine your charity golf auction’s potential net revenue!

Auction ROI Calculator

Estimate your charity auction's return on investment and maximize fundraising impact.

Number of Auction Items

Total items in your silent & live auction combined.

Avg. Item Fair Market Value ($)

Average fair market value of each donated item.

Expected Sell-Through Rate (%)

Percentage of items that sell. Golf auctions typically see 60–80%.

Avg. Winning Bid (% of Value)

Winning bids as a % of fair market value. Charity auctions often see 50–100%+.

Total Procurement Costs ($)

All costs: purchased items, display, software, printing, shipping, etc.

Calculate ROI

Gross Revenue

$0

Net Profit

$0

ROI

0%

Items Sold

0

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Revenue Breakdown

Total Inventory Value $0

Auction Revenue $0

Costs $0

The Benefits of Running a Golf Charity Auction

An auction can significantly increase your golf event’s overall revenue and further your nonprofit’s impact. Here’s why you should add an auction:

• Drive significant revenue from your event. Add another income stream to your tournament to supplement teams, sponsorships, contests, mulligan sales, raffles, on-course games, and other add-ons. Competitive bidding, especially in a live auction, can drive up the final sale price of items, leading to better fundraising outcomes.

• Attract new supporters and engage non-golfers. An auction—particularly an online auction with an easily shareable link—can draw a wider audience, including non-golfers or spouses or guests of golfers and sponsors. High-end items can also draw new teams to play in your tournament, so be sure to publicize the auction in your event marketing.

• Add excitement and engagement. Auctions add fun and excitement to your tournament, encouraging golfers, sponsors, and guests to stay longer—and spend more.

• Low-cost, high ROI. Keep your auction’s overhead costs low by securing as many donated items as possible. Items purchased outright or on consignment eat away at your overall take from the auction, so engage your donor base, partners, vendors, and sponsors to solicit item donations that boost ROI.

• Opportunities to connect with local businesses. An auction is another opportunity to engage with area companies and businesses. If a business can’t financially sponsor your tournament, invite them to donate an auction item, opening doors for future sponsorships.

• Turn bidders into donors. Capturing bidder data with an online auction platform makes it simple to include them in your CRM for year-round donor stewardship and giving campaigns.

How to Add an Auction to a Golf Event

An auction can easily be added to your tournament at any time, but planning early can help ensure a smooth experience that encourages higher bids. Here’s how to add an auction to your golf tournament:

• Determine the type of auction that best suits your tournament, either live, silent, or online.

• Procure auction items. Work with sponsors, local businesses, your planning team, board members, and corporate partners to secure donated goods, services, and experiences that appeal to your audience. Another option is working with consignment providers who offer big-ticket items without upfront risk.

• Choose an auction platform. Much like your golf tournament, using tech will help it run smoothly and save you time and hassle. The most important feature is a mobile-friendly interface, so golfers and others can browse auction items during the round and place bids right from their phones.

• Promote the auction on all your communication channels and as part of your tournament’s marketing campaigns. Use your GolfStatus event website to promote your golf tournament’s auction and include information about top-tier items, donors, and the bidding link in your pre-event email to participants.

• Establish bidding processes. Determine the starting bid for each item—30% to 50% of the FMV is a good place to start—and the bidding increments. If you’re planning a live auction, secure a high-energy auctioneer experienced in engaging guests.

• Secure volunteers to help set up the auction, answer questions, and finalize payment and item pickup.

• Finalize the details. Add items to your auction platform (making sure to include who donated each item and FMV), create baskets or groupings, and touch base with volunteers and the auctioneer.

ADD AN AUCTION TO YOUR GOLFSTATUS EVENT WEBSITE

Find out more!

Best Practices for Running a Charity Golf Auction

• Plan early. Start organizing your auction well in advance of the tournament so you have ample time to secure high-quality items that appeal to your audience. Sample timeline:

  • 6 months out: Assign an auction lead

  • 3 to 4 months out: Solicit donations and/or contact a consignment provider

  • 1 month out: Finalize lineup and open bidding link

• Set clear guidelines. Clearly outline the rules and communicate these before bidding begins, including bidding increments, payment methods, and pick-up procedures, to avoid confusion and ensure a seamless process.

• Utilize technology. Online platforms for silent or virtual auctions streamline bidding, help reach a broader audience, and make checkout and payments quick and easy. Include a link to the auction on your golf tournament’s website.

GolfStatus’ event website include an auction integration to easily link to your online auction.

• Secure donated items. Partner with local businesses for donated items or experiences, reducing costs, fostering community involvement, and improving fundraising outcomes.

• Engage attendees. Provide frequent updates and reminders about the auction during the tournament, highlighting selected items to keep attendees engaged.

• Follow up with bidders. Promptly reach out to winning bidders to confirm payment and item delivery, and thank them for their support. You should also send a personalized thank-you email to all attendees within 48 hours, and invite everyone to next year’s golf fundraiser.

• Evolve the auction based on feedback. Look for ways to improve your auction strategy based on the feedback you get from your supporters and golf event participants.

The Best Golf Charity Auction Items

One key to a successful auction is offering items that are appealing, attractive, and valuable to your audience. When procuring items:

• Ask your supporters ahead of time what type of auction items they would like to see.

• Have three to five “big” items in the mix that guests would splurge on, plus small to mid-sized items to round out the slate and attract more bidders.

• Include golf-related items to appeal to golfers, and consider items that match the tournament's theme.

• Invite sponsors to contribute in-kind gifts for auction items. If a prospective sponsor says no to a monetary sponsorship, ask for an in-kind donation.

Our Favorite Golf Charity Auction Items

• Experiences. VIP tickets to sporting events, concert passes, exclusive golf packages, vacations or travel packages, dining experiences.

• Memorabilia. Autographed sports gear, collectibles, pieces of art, branded merchandise, golf equipment.

• Luxury items. Designer goods, handmade jewelry, high-end electronics, gourmet food baskets, high-end spirits or wine baskets.

• Local business services. Spa packages, local dining experiences, home improvement services, golf lessons, local boutique packages.

Hope Strengthens Foundation partners with NHL Hall-of-Famer Ray Bourque as the auctioneer at their golf charity auction.

Golf-Related Auction Items

• Custom golf club set

• Golf rangefinder

• Personalized golf bag

• Exclusive lessons with a golf pro

• Golf apparel (hat, shoes, gloves, shirts, pants)

• Golf cart 

• Golf course membership package

• Golf weekend getaway

• Play with a club pro

• Play with a local celebrity 

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Pro Tip:

GolfStatus’ giving partners at Dormie Network Foundation offer in-kind donations that level up nonprofits’ fundraising efforts.

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Physical Auction Items

• Custom artwork

• Standing desk/walking pad

• Chef set (knives, kitchen supplies, etc.)

• Gourmet gift basket (luxury chocolates, wine, snacks, and other gourmet foods)

• Coffee lover gift basket (coffee mugs, French press, beans, etc.)

Experiential Auction Items

• Sporting events tickets

• Concert tickets

• “Night on the Town” (dinner and a show)

• Ultimate city experience (tickets to all the fun things to do in a certain city)

Consignment Travel & Risk-Free Big Ticket Items

• Vacation packages

• Golf-related packages, like tickets to The Masters, a trip to Pebble Beach, or a trip to play St. Andrews

Third-party providers offer risk-free travel packages. Your organization only pays the base cost of the item if it sells, and you keep all the profit above the reserve price.

Run a Golf Auction with GolfStatus

In addition to industry-leading software for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers, GolfStatus offers an auction add-on. The GolfStatus in-house team will work closely with you to set the auction up on the platform and activate the “Auction” tab on your golf tournament website so you can start collecting bids alongside golfer and sponsor registrations. Curious about how GolfStatus can help save time, raise more money, and streamline your auction? Click below to get in touch with our team.

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Nebraska Nonprofit Engages Supporters Year-Round Through Golf

partner snapshot

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska sees golf as much more than just a day on the course. It’s a way to bring people together to raise critical funds and, perhaps most importantly, introduce more people to a mission that can easily be overlooked.

The Nebraska chapter shares a mission with the national Kids’ Chance community: to provide scholarships and support to the children of workers who have been killed or seriously injured in workplace accidents. While workers’ compensation provides some support, it often doesn’t cover everything a family needs, especially the cost of higher education.

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska relies on golf to raise funds for scholarship and spread the word about its mission.

The organization finds children who qualify and connects them with scholarship opportunities and support throughout their education. “A lot of kids don’t realize they qualify for this support,” says Shawn Willis, Kids’ Chance of Nebraska Board Treasurer and Past President.

Golf plays an important role in making that support a reality. What started as a small tournament with just a handful of golfers has grown into an annual event drawing more than 130 golfers, while a second golf fundraiser—a TopGolf event—gives Kids’ Chance of Nebraska another opportunity to engage its network.

the challenge

When Shawn first started looking for a fundraising option more than a decade ago, golf seemed like a natural solution. “I needed a fundraiser, and I like to golf,” he says. The golf outing quickly became the organization’s major fundraiser of the year.

But as the tournament grew, so did the administrative work behind it. Participants received information about the event by mail, filled out paper forms or PDFs, and sent in checks. Shawn had to track payments, follow up with people who hadn’t paid, and maintain spreadsheets to try to keep everything organized. “I had to go collect checks at the P.O. box, keep track of who had paid, and chase people down on the day of the tournament,” Shawn says.

There was also the added administrative work that comes with a major fundraising event—selling and managing sponsorships, coordinating teams and pairings, reconciling income and expenses. For an organization with a largely volunteer-run board, that workload quickly became a barrier for growth.

And because the goal of the golf event is broader than raising money, the organization saw an opportunity to expand beyond its traditional tournament to add a second fundraiser to engage more people—a spring TopGolf event. But a second event meant additional work, and they needed a solution to streamline planning for both events.

The 18-hole golf tournament has grown from a handful of golfers in its first year to regularly attracting more than 150.

the solution

GolfStatus has helped make managing both events easier. After being introduced to GolfStatus through a connection at Dormie Network Foundation, Kids’ Chance of Nebraska moved its tournament into the digital age.

Simplifying Logistics

Online registration made an immediate, significant difference. Instead of relying on the PDFs, checks, and spreadsheets, golfers register and pay online, without any manual processing. “It’s a piece of cake,” Shawn says. “It made my job a lot easier.”

The platform is used to manage teams, pairings, and sponsorships. Shawn says he appreciates being able to see at a glance who has registered and can organize participants as the event takes shape.

The event website has also become an important part of the tournaments, giving participants a clean, easy-to-use hub for registration and event information. Shawn includes the site’s link in all promotional materials, and golfers and sponsors take it from there.

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska uses event websites powered by GolfStatus for both its 18-hole tournament and TopGolf event.

For a volunteer-led organization, these efficiencies quickly added up. Instead of spending time tracking down payments or maintaining spreadsheets, the planning team can shift their focus to the things that make the event even more successful: recruiting sponsors, securing auction donations and raffle prizes, promoting the tournament, and connecting participants with the Kids’ Chance mission.

Improved Sponsorships & Relationships

GolfStatus helped Kids’ Chance of Nebraska offer new, lucrative sponsorships for its 18-hole tournament, including a hole-in-one contest sponsorship, pin flag sponsorship, and the exclusive Technology Sponsorship. These created new ways for businesses to support the event.

Their sponsorship strategy for both events is rooted in relationships, with most sponsors returning year after year. The sponsor pool includes businesses connected to the workers’ compensation industry, such as defense attorneys and insurance agencies that work with cases, plus other local businesses and vendors.

Some sponsors choose to have an active role in the golf tournament with a game or display set up on a tee box.

Shawn says some sponsors simply want to support the mission, while others want to be more actively involved at the event by hosting a hole and interacting with golfers. Sponsors play a major part in creating events that feel like true community gatherings, rather than just a fundraiser.

And with both golf events, organizers keep the focus on creating an enjoyable experience that people look forward to every year.

The results

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska’s golf fundraising efforts have come a long way from its humble beginnings. Today, the organization’s flagship 18-hole tournament attracts close to 150 golfers and drives $30,000 in revenue, while the TopGolf event draws 70+ people and $10,000 in fundraising.

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“We used to want to cover just one scholarship from the golf event, but now we’re able to cover three times that or even more.”

— Shawn Willis, Kids’ Chance of Nebraska Board Treasurer and Past President

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One Mission, Two Golf Events

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska’s two distinct golf events engage supporters throughout the year. The traditional tournament, held in September at Iron Horse Golf Club in Ashland, Nebraska, brings together many of the organization’s longtime supporters and has become a familiar tradition for participants, many of whom come back year after year. The tournament incorporates a silent auction and a raffle drawing.

The spring TopGolf event offers a format that appeals to a broader audience of non-golfers, spouses, and guests. It replaced a bowling fundraiser, with Shawn explaining, “The TopGolf event appealed more.”

Not everyone spends the evening hitting golf balls. “Half of the people don’t go to their bay,” Shawn says. “They just network, which is half the value.”

The TopGolf event features 20 bays, with opportunities for bay sponsorships, as well as food, beverage, signage, and video sponsorships. They also do a 50/50 raffle for a new putter.

The TopGolf event draws non-golfers and guests to network and learn more about Kids’ Chance of Nebraska.

More Than the Numbers

The fundraising numbers only tell part of the story. Yes, the events provide funding for Kids’ Chance of Nebraska’s operating needs and scholarships for students whose families have been affected by workplace accidents, but they also reach people who may not know their work exists.

That mission-building component has become increasingly important as the tournaments have grown, creating a broader community of supporters around the organization. In particular, the TopGolf event has helped reach people outside the nonprofit’s traditional industry audience.

In 2025, Kids’ Chance of Nebraska awarded 14 scholarships. The impact of these scholarships is beginning to come full circle as former scholarship recipients have graduated from college and gone on to serve on the organization’s board. “Watching them get their scholarships and then seeing them come back on the board—it’s really a full circle moment,” says Shawn.

Lessons Learned

Shawn’s goals for the golf events are simple—give people an event they look forward to, raise money, make it easy to participate, and share the mission. GolfStatus has helped make that easier.

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“Go to GolfStatus. There are lots of apps out there, but the packages and extras with GolfStatus make it easy for us. It’s a no-brainer for me.”

— Shawn Willis, Kids’ Chance of Nebraska Board Treasurer and Past President

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As both tournaments continue to grow, Shawn plans to keep working with GolfStatus. “GolfStatus has been great, and everyone is easy to work with,” he says.

Shawn’s advice to other tournament planners? It’s key to start planning early, but to be patient. “In our experience, most people sign up in the few weeks ahead of the tournament.” He also says it’s important to stay connected with past participants, making sure they receive event communications and know that they’re invited back.

Above all, Shawn says Kids’ Chance of Nebraska’s golf events give supporters a reason to get together and the organization another opportunity to tell its story.

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Golf for Good With GolfStatus

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska was able to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost, with a free event website, access to the software’s tournament management and fundraising tools, and support from the in-house team. Anyone can get started at no upfront cost—click below to book a meeting with our team of golf fundraising pros to learn more or explore the software on your own!

Get Started With GolfStatus at No Upfront Cost

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Corporate fundraising presents a valuable opportunity for nonprofits and businesses to make a meaningful impact on their communities. For nonprofits, it means additional funding, resources, and greater visibility. For businesses, raising money for charity as a third party boosts brand reputation, engages employees, and fosters connections with new audiences.

Whether you’re a nonprofit looking to secure corporate support or a company looking to give back, these key strategies and fundraising ideas will help you maximize your impact.

Skip to:

• Corporate Fundraising FAQ

• Top Corporate Fundraising Idea: Charity Golf Tournament

• Event-Based Corporate Fundraising Ideas

• Workplace Giving & Employee Engagement Fundraising Ideas

• Community-Focused Fundraising Ideas

• Virtual Fundraising Ideas

• Seasonal Corporate Fundraising Ideas

Corporate Fundraising FAQ

What is Corporate Fundraising?

Corporate fundraising is any effort where a business raises money or resources to support a nonprofit or charitable cause. It can take many forms, and the right approach depends on the company’s size, culture, budget, priorities, and goals. Some companies focus their corporate fundraising efforts on increasing employee engagement and strengthening community relationships, while others prioritize charitable impact and enhancing brand visibility.

What Are the Benefits of Corporate Fundraising?

For Corporate Entities

• Reputation boost. Corporate giving enhances your social responsibility profile, enhancing and strengthening your brand and reputation.

• Introduction to new audiences and customers. Supporting a nonprofit can help businesses engage with new customers. For instance, fundraising events that attract higher-net-worth individuals—like charity golf tournaments—help businesses attract valuable clientele.

• Improved employee engagement. Giving back can boost employee satisfaction and engagement, foster connections between teams, and improve team building.

• Diverse giving opportunities. There are multiple ways companies can support charitable causes, including in-kind donations, monetary sponsorships, cause marketing campaigns, and more.

For Nonprofits

• Increased funding and financial stability. Corporate sponsorships and donations create a reliable funding source for nonprofits.

• Expanded audience and brand awareness. Corporate partnerships introduce nonprofit causes to new audiences and raise awareness about important issues.

• Access to valuable resources and expertise. Corporate partners may provide helpful resources like in-kind donations or skilled volunteers, along with industry expertise.

• Long-term strategic partnerships. These collaborations provide ongoing support for sustained impact.

• Increased credibility and public trust. Aligning with respectable brands or well-known businesses helps build trust among the community and with donors.

Corporate partnerships have a number of benefits for businesses and noprofits.

What Are the Top Corporate Fundraising Best Practices?

For all parties to maximize the impact of charitable partnerships, the following best practices should be considered:

Nonprofits

• Educate partners on any other corporate giving opportunities that may exist to further maximize their charitable efforts, such as matching gifts, volunteer grants, or payroll giving.

• Mobilize your donor network to spread the word about your corporate partner’s contributions, share information about the upcoming fundraising event, and encourage participation.

• Set goals that are both ambitious and realistic, based on past fundraising efforts, successes, and lessons learned.

Businesses & Third-Party Fundraisers

• Be transparent about the scope of your support and involvement in the fundraising event.

• Align fundraising events with your company’s mission, brand, and audience.

• Collaborate with the nonprofit to create compelling event promotional materials, such as a compelling event website with storytelling, visuals, and many opportunities and tiers for involvement.

Both Parties

• Work with partners that share your goals and values for the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.

• Choose the right event that will appeal to each organization’s audiences.

• Follow up after the event to reflect on its success, demonstrate its impact, and express gratitude.

• Create an event plan that details event tasks, assignments, and timelines.

• Outline a budget so both parties are on the same page.

• Use purpose-built tech to effectively and efficiently streamline planning and event management. For example, if you choose a charity golf tournament, choose a solution built specifically for golf, like GolfStatus.

The Top Corporate Fundraising Idea: Charity Golf Tournament

What Is a Charity Golf Tournament?

A charity golf tournament is a premier fundraising event that offers numerous benefits for the host company and benefiting nonprofit. Golf events bring people together like no other event can, combining philanthropy with networking, camaraderie, and an activity people genuinely enjoy. Golfers pay a registration fee to participate as an individual or a team and businesses purchase sponsorships to support the cause.

Charity golf tournaments bring people together to raise money, make connections, and strengthen relationships.

Why Is a Charity Golf Tournament the Best Corporate Fundraising Idea?

• Golf events have high revenue potential. Player registrations, sponsorships, and add-ons such as contests, on-course games, mulligan sales, auctions, and raffles drive revenue.

• Golf tournaments appeal to sponsors. Golf events provide excellent branding and exposure opportunities for businesses of all types, plus access to an audience that can’t be found with any other event.

• Golf events attract decision-makers. Golf attracts corporate executives and higher-than-average net-worth individuals. 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs are golfers, and one in three golfers are in top-level management.

• Golf is more popular and inclusive than ever. Golf continues to see record popularity, attracting new audiences of beginners, women, and young adults.

• Golf builds relationships. Because the focus of the event is on an enjoyable activity, it’s easy for donors and sponsors to build relationships and positive memories that keep them coming back year after year.

• Golf events strengthen community engagement. Golf events planned by a third-party corporate partner deepen community ties and engagement.

• Golf tournaments are customizable. Choose the golf facility, format, and competition level that best suits your combined audiences.

• There are multiple opportunities for support. Golf tournaments offer a plethora of opportunities to support a nonprofit partner—monetary sponsorships, employee volunteering, in-kind donations, and more.

Tips for Launching a Charity Golf Tournament

With the right strategy and tools in place, it’s easier than ever to plan and execute a successful charity golf tournament. Follow these tips:

• Use an event website. A dedicated golf tournament website with online registration makes promotion, registration, sponsor onboarding and exposure, sharing information about your cause, and communication with supporters simple and efficient.

• Offer sponsorship packages at varying price points. This best practice allows businesses with different budget capabilities to support your tournament. High-end exposure, like a pin flag sponsorship, should be sold at a premium,

• Maximize additional fundraising. Incorporate tournament components such as mulligan sales, raffle tickets, auctions, on-course games, and hole-in-one contests to boost fundraising outcomes.

• Enlist volunteer help. Work to engage volunteers from both the corporate partner and nonprofit to help in tournament prep and day-of execution.

Most importantly, use a golf-specific event management platform. Golf tournaments come with a unique set of details that must be handled, including handicaps, hole assignments, team pairings, flighting, and scoring. Standard ticketing software and nonprofit CRMs simply aren’t built to handle this level of specificity without requiring time-consuming workarounds.

GolfStatus’ golf event management software addresses the golf specifics and has baked-in tools to save organizers time and opportunities to raise more money:

• Event websites with online registration, secure payment processing, broad digital sponsor exposure, the ability to collect donations, and more.

• Robust reporting and data management in one easily-accessible web-based platform.

• A user-friendly back end where team members can collaborate, manage payments, track team and sponsorship sales, make hole assignments, and more.

• Reliable live scoring that engages golfers throughout the tournament and makes the tournament more fun.

• Exclusive sponsorships and add-ons to raise thousands more dollars.

• A responsive, in-house client success team comprised of PGA Professionals and fundraising specialists.

For third party fundraisers like corporate entities, GolfStatus can essentially be the bank for the golf event. GolfStatus makes it simple to collect and hold funds that can be paid out directly to the nonprofit after the tournament concludes.

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Other Event-Based Corporate Fundraising Ideas

2. Corporate gala or charity ball

3. Trivia night

4. Charity game night

5. Wine and dine fundraiser

6. Benefit concert (could also accompany your charity golf tournament)

7. Networking event or conference

8. Executive challenges (like dunk tanks or pie-in-the-face challenges)

9. Giving days

10. Corporate field day

11. Charity bowling tournament

12. Corporate cook-off

13. Art auction featuring employee or local artist works

14. Charity fashion show highlighting local boutiques

15. Escape room challenge

16. Corporate talent show and dinner

17. Pancake breakfast fundraiser before the workday begins

18. Charity poker or casino night

19. Community outdoor movie night

20. Murder mystery dinner party

21. Charity cornhole tournament

22. Paint and sip fundraising event

23. Mini-golf tournament

24. Charity obstacle course race/field day

25. Bingo night fundraiser

Workplace Giving & Employee Engagement Fundraising Ideas

26. Donation matching

27. Payroll giving

28. Company-wide donation challenge

29. Internal company charity raffle

30. Company silent auction

31. Cause-related product sales

32. Peer-to-peer company-wide fundraising competition

33. Office bake sale

34. "Dress down" or casual dress days in exchange for a donation

35. Paid volunteer time off (VTO) campaigns tied to a financial match

36. CEO/Executive "jail" (employees donate to bail them out)

37. Lunch and learn sessions with a nonprofit guest speaker (catered lunch with suggested donation)

38. Office pet photo contest with voting via entry fees

39. Parking spot auction

40. Employee skill auction (e.g., bid on lessons for employees with niche skills, like guitar lessons or baking)

41. Spare change collection jars in the breakroom

42. Department vs. department penny wars

43. Used book or media sale at the office

44. Coffee cart sale (all coffee purchases are used as donations to a charity)

45. Company recipe book sales featuring employee submissions

Companies can further the impact of their charity golf tournament by holding an accompanying donation drive.

Community-Focused Fundraising Ideas

46. Charity car wash

47. Restaurant fundraising night

48. Food or in-kind item drive

49. Charity run

50. Community festival for charity

51. Charity dog wash or pet grooming event

52. Company-wide garage/yard sale

53. Community tree planting or park clean-up sponsorship

54. Local artisan craft fair with a portion of proceeds donated

55. Charity bike ride or cyclathon

56. Community scavenger hunt with local business sponsors

57. E-waste recycling drive (partnering with a local recycling firm)

58. Local business coupon book sales

59. Bottle and can recycling drive

Virtual Fundraising Ideas

60. Online fundraising gamification or rewards-based campaigns

61. Social media challenges

62. Crowdfunding campaigns

63. Livestream fundraising event

64. Virtual 5K or step challenge

65. Online cooking class hosted by a local chef

66. Virtual trivia or bingo hosted via Zoom

67. E-sports or video game tournament

68. Online peer-to-peer walkathon

69. Corporate branded merch sale

Seasonal Corporate Fundraising Ideas

70. Halloween costume contest

71. Valentine's candy-gram fundraiser

72. Holiday gift drive

73. Summer corporate BBQ fundraiser

74. Ugly holiday sweater contest with entry fees

75. Spring cleaning office garage sale

76. Pumpkin carving or decorating contest

77. Holiday wrapping paper service (executives wrap gifts for staff donations)

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Final Thoughts

Corporate fundraising strengthens communities, builds partnerships, and makes a lasting impact. Whether you’re hosting a charity golf tournament or launching another fundraising campaign, the right tools and strategies help ensure success.

GolfStatus simplifies golf event planning and management while maximizing fundraising potential. Click below to learn more!

Start Planning a Corporate Golf Event With GolfStatus!

Click Here to Get Started With a Free Event Website

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

Book a Meeting With GolfStatus to Get Started at No Upfront Cost

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

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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.

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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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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.

partner snapshot

For Beazer Homes, building communities extends far beyond the act of construction. Beazer Homes has become one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, and its philanthropic roots run deep. Across its divisions across the U.S., the company has embedded giving back into its culture, even establishing nonprofit title and mortgage insurance companies to help fund its charitable initiatives.

Charity is a core business principle for Beazer Homes, which uses golf as a tool to raise money for Fisher House.

In the Maryland division of Beazer Homes, that philanthropic mission is brought to life by Jennifer Eastman, Sales and Marketing Coordinator, who is the driving force behind the team’s charitable and employee engagement efforts. After 13 years with Beazer Homes, she has become the go-to leader for anything related to charity, including creating meaningful opportunities to make an impact.

The primary recipient of Beazer Homes’ outreach is Fisher House, which Jennifer describes as a “home away from home for military families” traveling for medical care. Stays at these “comfort houses” are free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital or undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center. The very first Fisher House was built near Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, right in the heart of Beazer Homes Maryland’s territory. The division donated $500,000 toward the renovation and upkeep of the original house, raised from division employees, donations from friends, family, and vendors, and support from the Beazer Charity Foundation.

the challenge

When Beazer Homes acquired a community with a golf course, a charity golf tournament seemed like a natural fit to support its work with Fisher House, which now has 100 comfort houses that serve 570,000 families. Jennifer and her colleague, David Jacques, began work to launch a charity golf tournament in 2024, believing that it was the best opportunity to raise significant funds, enjoy a day of camaraderie with partners and sponsors, and have the potential to grow and scale year over year.

The biggest hurdle wasn’t enthusiasm or effort—it was managing the finances. The division couldn’t mix fundraising with internal funds to run the tournament, so they needed an easy, transparent way to collect and distribute the charitable dollars. Jennifer was prepared to manually manage everything, piecemealing systems and processes for everything from registration to logistics, but holding tournament funds remained a hangup.

Fairways for Families brings together Beazer Homes employees, partners, and friends for a fun day on the golf course raising money to support military families through Fisher House.

the solution

The IT team at Beazer Homes came to Jennifer with a better option for collecting registrations, selling sponsorships, and managing payments: GolfStatus. Best of all, they could get set up in the software at no upfront cost. Within a week of connecting with GolfStatus, Fairways for Families had an event registration website ready to go.

The primary driver for adopting GolfStatus was simple: a secure, efficient way to collect, hold, and disburse funds. The additional features and capabilities were icing on the cake.

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“The biggest benefit was being able to run all the money through the platform. Everything else was a bonus!”

— Jennifer Eastman, Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Beazer Homes

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The tournament website simplified promotion, registration, and sponsor onboarding.

Those “bonuses” helped streamline nearly every part of tournament planning and management, while elevating the tournament experience for golfers and sponsors:

• The event website gave golfers and sponsors a professional, centralized hub to find out more and get involved.

• Online registration streamlined sign-ups, payment processing, and receipts, while the tournament funds were held securely until the tournament’s conclusion.

• Add-on packages like mulligans and raffle tickets were added to the site for purchase, keeping funds in one place.

• Responsive support from the GolfStatus team whenever Jennifer or David needed help or had a question, plus access to Fundraising Specialists with ideas to boost revenue.

• High-end sponsorships from GolfStatus, like hole-in-one contests, pin flags, hole signage, and the Technology Sponsor, became powerful revenue generators.

“We used all of GolfStatus’ add-ons,” Jennifer says. “We were able to sell sponsorships for each one, and even gave all the top sponsors custom pin flags.”

The results

With the right systems and strategy in place, Fairways for Families has seen consistent growth and success with its golf fundraiser. The funds raised from the tournament provide general support for Fisher House’s mission to serve hundreds of thousands of service members, veterans, and families dealing with a loved one in the hospital.

“Raise more than the year before”

Jennifer’s goal for the golf event is simple: “Raise more than we did the year before!”

In 2025, the second year of Fairways for Families netted nearly $70,000 for Fisher House from 36 teams and 35 sponsors. Its success led Jennifer to create a golf tournament playbook for other divisions, with suggestions for pricing and sponsorship packages, detailed screenshots, golf event ideas, best practices, and who to contact at GolfStatus.

Beazer Homes divisions around the country have adopted golf tournaments as a fundraising tool, leveraging GolfStatus’ tech, tools, and support to save time and raise more money.

In 2025, Fairways for Families grossed over $100,000 and donated nearly $70,000 to the Fisher House Foundation.

elevating the tournament experience

Beazer Homes didn’t just focus on fundraising. They prioritized creating a memorable, engaging experience for participants, which included sponsor representatives, division business partners, local avid golfers, and employee families. “We wanted to add little things to make the experience better and more memorable for everyone,” Jennifer says. Thoughtful touches included:

• Snack bags for golfers

• Portable fans in gift bags and extra shade tents (lessons learned from a sweltering 101-degree first year)

• A marshal to improve the pace of play

• Pre-paid food on the course

• Walk-up music for golfers at contest holes

On-course activities also made an impact, both in terms of experience and fundraising outcomes.

• Closest-to-the-pin challenge. Golfers paid to participate and contribute additional funds to the Fisher House.

• Hole-in-one contest, staffed by division employees to chat with golfers.

• Raffle drawing, with prizes generously donated by sponsors and the host golf facility’s pro shop.

• Cornhole challenge, with winners earning the right to take one stroke off their score.

On-course games, like the cornhole challenge, boosted fundraising outcomes and improved participating golfers’ scores.

lessons learned

The best advice Jennifer can give to other golf tournament organizers is to start planning as early as possible. “In our first year, we started a little too late, and we felt pushed because no one had bought the top sponsorships,” Jennifer says.

A major takeaway from that experience is to talk with potential sponsors to ask what they’re specifically looking for and how a sponsorship can fit their needs. “I ask what they want, and modify the package accordingly,” Jennifer says. “Some want logo placements, some want more golfer spots; it all depends on their perception of value. So we work to give them what they want.” That flexibility and willingness to tailor packages to what sponsors actually value have helped the Maryland division build loyal, returning golf tournament partners year after year.

Jennifer plans to continue to use GolfStatus as she builds for the future of Fairways for Families.

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“GolfStatus solved our biggest problem of how to track funds, and everything else worked so well, I can’t imagine trying to do all of it manually.”

— Jennifer Eastman, Sales and Marketing Coordinator at Beazer Homes

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Get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost

GolfStatus’ event management platform is built specifically for golf events, with solutions that save tournament organizers time and effort and tools that help raise more money. Our in-house Client Success team is there seven days a week to answer questions, provide coaching, and make the most out of the software. Tournaments can get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost, with a free event website launched within a week. Book a meeting with GolfStatus’ team of golf fundraising pros to get started!

As part of our constant commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving needs of tournament organizers, GolfStatus is excited to release its newest golf tournament management software feature: team check-in.

Tournament day check-in has historically relied on static printouts with no ability to sync across stations, creating bottlenecks at registration when large groups arrive at the same time. This part of the tournament can quickly devolve into chaos if the people at registration aren’t able to quickly and easily access information.

To alleviate this common pain point, GolfStatus’ check-in feature embeds the process into the software, where team information is centralized and check-ins update in real time. When one organizer checks a team in, every connected device sees the update instantly—no refreshing required. A laptop computer or mobile device with internet access is required to utilize check-in. A live counter below each round shows how many teams have been checked in, so organizers always know how registration is progressing.

The live counter updates in real-time, showing how many teams have been checked in out of the entire field.

Mulitple Access points

Users can access check-in from multiple places within the software, including the tournament overview screen, the Rounds and Scorecards menu, and the Players and Teams list. Every entry point leads to the same check-in experience, with identical functionality and real-time sync. Having multiple access points lets organizers jump in from the point in the software that feels the most natural without being locked into a single workflow.

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Tournament Overview

Access check-in from the tournament’s home screen in the software, either from the Quick Actions menu or the Round tile.

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Rounds & Scorecards

Organizers can filter by a specific round or search player or team names across all rounds at once, a huge time-saver for tournaments that have fields split across different time slots or courses.

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Players & teams

One tap of the “check in” button marks the team as checked in and syncs the update to every connected device, allowing multiple registration stations and streamlining the process.

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Check-in lets volunteers staffing registration rapidly search by team name or player name, so participants can be located in just a few seconds instead of flipping back and forth through multiple pages of printouts. And because the checked-in counter updates instantly, anyone who’s logged into the software, anywhere on the course, can get a clear picture of how registration is moving.

It’s quick and easy to search for a golfer or team across rounds.

want to know more?

Get in touch to find out more about how GolfStatus can save time and help raise more money with your golf tournament. Whether you’ve got a golf event on the calendar or are just exploring the idea, GolfStatus can help. Click below to book a meeting with our team and get started with no upfront cost!

already a golfstatus client?

Get in touch with your Client Success representative to learn more about the check-in feature for your next tournament.