By Logan Foote, Sales and Education Director at GolfStatus

For chaptered and affiliate-based nonprofits, fundraising is more than simply raising money. It’s empowering local teams to build relationships, engage their communities, and advance a shared mission, all while maintaining consistency across the broader organization.

This can be challenging, as local chapters often have different staff capacity, volunteer support, budgets, and fundraising experience. What works for one chapter may not be practical for another, and national offices have to ensure local activities reflect the overall brand and mission.

Golf tournaments offer a flexible, repeatable fundraising model that can bridge these gaps. They bring together local businesses, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and community members to raise funds and build relationships. With the right planning, support, and technology, a golf event can work for chapters of all types—a small chapter holding its first golf fundraiser or an established affiliate looking to grow an annual tournament.

Here are six reasons why golf is a strong fit for chaptered nonprofits, and how your organization can make the most of it.

1. Flexible & Scalable Fundraisers

One of golf’s biggest advantages is that it can be adapted to fit chapters’ resources and goals.

For example, a large chapter with an established donor base might host a traditional 18-hole tournament with corporate sponsorships, a field of 144 golfers, on-course games, and additional fundraising activities. A smaller chapter with fewer volunteers and a more limited budget could start with a nine-hole event, an 18-hole scramble with a smaller field, or even a mini golf tournament with a handful of sponsors. Both can support the same mission, even if the event itself looks different.

Golf events also offer multiple revenue streams, generating income through:

• Team or golfer registrations. Charge a registration fee for individuals or teams to play in the event.

• Sponsorships. Offer businesses exposure, visibility, and engagement through sponsorship options like pin flags, hole-in-one contests, hole sponsor signs, and more.

• Additional fundraising activities. Incorporate add-ons like mulligan sales, raffle drawings, auctions, on-course games, or putting contests when appropriate.

• Donations. Give supporters who don’t want to golf or can’t attend a way to support the cause.

This flexibility lets chapters build an event around their capacity, rather than feeling pressured to replicate a large-scale tournament before they’re ready.

2. Build Local Relationships

National nonprofits have broad missions, but local chapters are often the ones connecting that mission with the communities they serve. Golf tournaments create a natural setting for those connections to happen.

Local businesses can support an event through sponsorships, employees can play in the event, and community members can volunteer their time. Board members and existing supporters can invite their personal and professional contacts, introducing the organization to people who may otherwise not know about its work.

The best part is that these relationships can extend well beyond tournament day. A business that sponsors a hole this year might become a recurring event partner, a corporate volunteer group, or a regular donor. A golfer who learns about the organization through a tournament might become a passionate supporter.

Golf events also create opportunities for meaningful conversations. Because players and sponsors spend several hours together, chapter representatives have ample time to talk about the mission, explain local needs, and demonstrate how fundraising events support its work.

For chaptered nonprofits in particular, the local connection is extremely valuable. Each chapter builds community support in ways that reflect its unique market, while contributing to the goals of the broader organization.

3. Strengthen Brand Awareness & Mission Alignment

One unique challenge for chaptered nonprofits is maintaining a recognizable brand while allowing local teams enough flexibility to effectively engage their communities.

Golf tournaments can support both goals—the national office establishes core brand standards, messaging, and fundraising standards, while chapters can tailor their events to local audiences and opportunities.

For example, a national organization might provide approved logos, event messaging, sponsorship templates, and guidance for communicating how funds are used. Local chapters can then customize sponsor packages, recruit community partners, and develop tournament-day activities that make sense for their local audience. The result is an event that both feels local and doesn’t lose sight of the broader mission.

This alignment matters—every chapter event is an opportunity to build trust in the organization. Consistent messaging ensures participants understand what the nonprofit does, while local stories and examples demonstrate why its work matters in the community.

Before launching a tournament, clarify which decisions chapters can make independently and which require national approval, such as branding, fundraising language, sponsor benefits, vendor selection, and technology providers.

4. Opportunities to Engage Volunteers & Stakeholders

Chapter fundraising depends in large part on people who are willing to contribute their time, expertise, and connections. Golf tournaments provide a variety of ways for people to do so, even if they can’t make a financial contribution.

Volunteers can help recruit sponsors, secure auction items, manage registration, coordinate on-course activities, and help execute on tournament day. Board members can introduce the chapter to potential sponsors or use their networks to recruit teams. And existing supporters can form teams and invite friends or colleagues to play in the event.

This variety of roles makes golf a natural way to engage supporters with different interests and abilities. Someone who isn’t comfortable soliciting donations might be an excellent event-day volunteer, while a board member with strong business connections can help secure sponsorships.

Golf events also function to strengthen the relationship between local chapters and the national office. Shared planning resources, fundraising ideas, and lessons learned create opportunities for chapters to learn from one another, instead of reinventing the wheel or having to face the same problems independently.

An event website provides a central location for tournament details, registrations, sponsorships, and donations.

5. The Right Technology Makes Replication Easier

For chaptered nonprofits, a successful fundraising model is most valuable when it's repeatable without creating an unsustainable workload for local teams.

Technology makes that possible. Managing registrations, collecting payments, tracking sponsorships, communicating with participants, and coordinating tournament-day logistics can quickly become overwhelming when handled through disconnected tools and platforms.

Golf-specific event management tech brings these processes together in one place, helping chapters save time and create a more consistent and memorable participant experience.

Useful platform features include:

• Custom event websites. Provide a central location for tournament details, registrations, sponsorships, and donations.

• Online registration and payments. Make it easy and seamless for golfers and sponsors to register and pay.

• Sponsor management. Track commitments, collect assets, and provide digital exposure.

• Golf-specific tools. Simplify player assignments, team pairings, handicaps, flighting, live scoring, leaderboards, and results.

• Communication. Keep participants informed before, during, and even after the event.

• Reporting. Give organizers a clearer picture of revenue, expenses, participation, and results.

These tools are especially valuable when a national organization wants visibility into how its chapters are performing. Standardized event processes and reporting make it easier to compare results, identify successful strategies, and share best practices.

Technology selection should be part of the conversation between local chapters and national leadership. If the organization has an established approval process for vendors, clarify those requirements before committing to a platform. Providing a shared list of approved tools helps chapters move forward confidently while meeting organizational standards.

6. Overcome Fundraising Challenges

Limited staffing, inconsistent resources, and uncertainty about where to begin can make it difficult for chapters to launch new fundraising initiatives. And while golf doesn’t eliminate these challenges, its flexibility and repeatability help organizations address them.

• For chapters with limited experience, a proven tournament framework gives them a place to start. Organizers can use established planning timelines, sponsorship templates, and event formats instead of building from scratch.

• For chapters with small teams, volunteers and committee members help share the workload, while event management tech reduces administrative time and tasks.

• For organizations concerned about consistency, national guidelines and shared resources can help local events align with brand standards without dictating every detail.

• For chapters that struggle to attract new supporters, golf creates an opportunity to engage local businesses and community members who may be interested in supporting the mission, but haven’t previously connected with the organization.

The key? Treat the tournament as a repeatable fundraising program rather than a one-time event. Documenting processes and evaluating results after each tournament helps chapters retain institutional knowledge, even when staff or volunteers change.

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Getting Started: Practical Advice for Your Chapter’s First Golf Tournament

If your chapter has never hosted a golf fundraiser, the prospect of getting one started can feel intimidating. But—you don’t have to have every detail figured out before diving in.

Start by identifying your goals. Determine how much you hope to raise, who you want to engage, and how the event will support your mission. Next, build a realistic budget and identify potential golf courses, sponsors, and volunteers.

Have conversations with the national office early so you understand any approval requirements and determine what resources are at your disposal. Connect with any other chapters that have hosted tournaments and what they have learned. Their experience may help you avoid common mistakes and identify opportunities you hadn’t considered.

Choose a format and event size that match your chapter’s resources and prioritize the fundamentals: a clear goal, a manageable plan, strong sponsor relationships, and a positive participant experience. You can add more activities as the event grows.

Finally, make it easy for people to get involved and support your cause. A straightforward registration process, clear sponsorship options, and compelling messaging go a long way toward building a successful event.

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Fundraising & Tech That Grows With Your Organization

Golf tournaments give chaptered nonprofits a way to not only raise money, but build community relationships, engage volunteers, increase mission awareness, and create fundraising opportunities that grow alongside the organization.

With shared resources, clear guidelines, local ownership, and the right tech, chapters can hold tournaments that reflect their communities and advance the goals of the national organization.

Whether your chapter is planning your first event or wants to improve an established tournament, GolfStatus can help. Easy-to-use tech, expert support available seven days a week, free planning resources, golf-specific solutions, and exclusive Fundraising Enhancers combine to help tournaments of all types and sizes save time and raise more money. Get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost! Click below to learn more and get started.

Get Started—At No Upfront Cost

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Sponsorships are one of the biggest revenue drivers at a charity golf tournament. The key is to give sponsors something they value, and there are plenty of sponsorship options that go beyond the traditional logo-on-a-sign approach. That might be prominent branding, digital exposure, an opportunity to interact with golfers, or a sponsorship tied to a memorable part of the tournament.

When you offer sponsors more than basic logo placements, you create additional opportunities to boost sponsorship revenue and fundraising outcomes—while giving businesses more reasons to participate year after year.

Here are four sponsorships that help drive significant revenue for golf fundraisers.

1. Technology Sponsorship

Your golf tournament tech can do more than just simplify registration, payments, and scoring. It can also offer a valuable sponsorship opportunity.

A Technology Sponsorship gives a business prominent visibility across the digital tools golfers use before and during your event. Depending on the golf event management platform you use, that could include your golf tournament website, mobile scoring app, live leaderboard, digital communications, and more.

Consider these ideas and examples:

• Bundle the Technology Sponsorship with your title or presenting sponsorship. If you’re looking for ways to add value to a top-tier sponsorship, the Technology Sponsorship can provide additional visibility without adding another physical activation to the event.

• Sell a standalone Technology Sponsorship. Give one business prominent recognition across the tournament’s digital experience, including your event website, live scoring, leaderboard, and other digital touchpoints. Physical pieces like cart signs, scorecards, and check-in lists can also feature this sponsor’s branding.

• Offer a leaderboard sponsorship. A live leaderboard gets plenty of attention during the tournament. Put your sponsor’s name and logo where golfers and spectators are already checking for scores and standings.

• Include sponsor branding in mobile scoring. When golfers check scores, view the leaderboard, or access other tournament information in the live scoring app, the sponsor earns impressions.

The combination of physical and digital exposure can be especially valuable to sponsors. GolfStatus’ on-staff PGA Professionals have noted that the strongest sponsor exposure often combines signage with digital visibility, giving sponsors impressions before, during, and after tournament day.

GolfStatus’ Technology Sponsorship offers brand touchpoints across the platform and on printed materials.

2. Pin Flag Sponsorship

Sometimes the most effective sponsorships are also some of the simplest. Throughout a golf tournament, golfers are looking at the pin, making pin flags a unique, highly visible way to showcase a sponsor on the course—and give your tournament a more polished, professional look.

There are several ways to package and use pin flags for your tournament:

• Sell all 18 flags as one sponsorship. This gives one business visibility across the entire course and creates a strong premium sponsorship option.

• Offer front-nine or back-nine packages. If an 18-hole sponsorship is outside of a business’ budget, breaking it into smaller packages can make it more accessible.

• Sell individual hole sponsorships. Individual flags can be another way to offer businesses a more affordable sponsorship option while still providing meaningful visibility.

• Give sponsors a keepsake. After the tournament, consider giving a custom pin flag to the sponsor as a thank you. It serves as a tangible reminder of their support long after the event. They can also be used as an auction item, volunteer thank-you, raffle prize, or other commemorative keepsake.

• Add digital exposure. Feature the sponsor on your event website, in promotional emails, social media, and other tournament communications to increase the overall value and ROI of the sponsorship.

Pin flags are a good example of how a relatively simple tournament element can become a revenue-generating, premium sponsorship. It’s important to use high-quality custom flags to make sure your sponsor’s brand looks great across the course.

Custom-branded pin flags elevate the look and feel of charity golf tournaments.

3. Elevated Hole Sponsorships

Hole sponsorships are a staple of charity golf tournaments, and for good reason. They’re easy for businesses to understand, provide a physical on-course presence, and can work for sponsors with a range of budgets.

But a hole sponsorship doesn’t have to stop with a sign. With a little creativity, you can turn a basic hole sponsorship into a chance for businesses to engage and connect with golfers.

Try these ideas:

• Invest in professional signage. Golf hole sponsor signs should be clean, professional, and easy to say. High-quality signage ensures your sponsors are presented in the best possible light.

• Encourage golfer engagement. Give sponsors the option to set up at their hole with a game, giveaway, product demonstration, samples, or other interactive experience.

• Build around a theme. A themed hole can be especially memorable for golfers and sponsors. For example, you could incorporate a sports theme, tailgate, beach theme, or another concept that fits your audience or sponsor.

• Add digital exposure. Don’t limit hole sponsorships to a sign on tournament day. Include sponsor recognition on your event website, in emails, on social media, or within the live scoring experience. Sponsors will appreciate the combination of the physical and digital exposure.

• Create different price points. Not every business will be able to purchase your largest sponsorships, so offering different levels of hole sponsorship can bring more businesses into the fold—and preserve premium opportunities for larger investments. Consider offering hole sponsorships with and without teams at different prices.

On-course engagement can be particularly valuable for businesses that want to connect directly with potential customers. GolfStatus’ PGA Professionals recommend placing sponsors who want an on-course presence where golfers naturally gather—the first tee, holes that tend to get backed up, contest holes, or comfort stations.

4. Hole-In-One Contest Sponsorship

A hole-in-one contest is one of the most exciting parts of a golf tournament, as well as a chance to create a sponsorship that gets golfers’ attention.

The first step is making sure your organization isn’t taking on any unnecessary financial risk. Hole-in-one insurance covers the cost of a high-value prize if someone makes an ace. From there, turn the contest into a sponsorship opportunity:

• Give the sponsor prominent visibility. Feature the sponsor’s logo on signage on the contest hole and across the tournament’s digital channels.

• Create an opportunity for golfer engagement. Invite the sponsor to have representatives at the hole to greet golfers, host a small game or giveaway, distribute promotional items, or cheer on players as they take their shots.

• Include it as part of your tournament promotion. Mention the hole-in-one contest sponsor when promoting the contest before the event and include the sponsor in social media posts, emails, and other communications.

• Capture the moment. Photos and videos from the contest can provide additional exposure after the event, especially if someone makes a hole-in-one.

The goal isn’t just to put a sponsor’s name on a contest. It’s to make that sponsor part of an experience golfers are already excited about.

Contest signage is important, but combine it with other benefits to give hole-in-one contest sponsors more than logo placements.

Think Beyond the Logo

The best sponsorship programs aren’t necessarily the ones with the most logos. They’re the ones that give businesses a clear reason to invest.

Before creating your sponsorship packages, think about what your sponsors are trying to accomplish and build sponsorship benefits around those goals. Are they looking for brand visibility? To meet potential customers? Support your mission? Get exposure in the local community?

A Technology Sponsorship, pin flag sponsorship, elevated hole sponsorships, or hole-in-one contest sponsorship can give businesses something more valuable than a logo on a banner. They create opportunities for visibility, engagement, and connection, while also giving your organization more ways to raise funds.

Don’t be afraid to customize packages. Some sponsors may want more golfer spots while others care more about logo placement or digital exposure. Some may want to interact with golfers, while others simply want to support the mission. Asking potential sponsors what they value and tailoring your packages accordingly creates stronger relationships and more valuable sponsorship.

Most importantly, start selling early. Premium sponsorships are often the first pieces that should be secured. Once those are sold, you can better tailor the rest of your packages around what’s still available.

A little creativity can turn the elements you’re already using to run your golf tournament into some of your most valuable fundraising opportunities.

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Raise More Money With GolfStatus

GolfStatus helps nonprofits and organizations streamline golf tournament planning while providing tools and resources to raise more money. From event websites and online registration to live scoring, digital sponsor exposure, Fundraising Enhancers, and support from golf fundraising experts, GolfStatus gives organizers the tools they need to be successful—all at no upfront cost.

Click below to book a meeting with GolfStatus to learn how you can save time and raise more money or get started in the software on your own.

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About the Author

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

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

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

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

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

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

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

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Top Golf Tournament Formats

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

1. Scramble

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

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

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

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

2. Shamble

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

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

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

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

3. Match Play

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

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

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

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

4. Best Ball

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

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

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

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

5. Alternate Shot

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

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

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

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

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

6. Stableford

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

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

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

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

7. Bingo Bango Bongo

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

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

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

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

8. Chapman (Pinehurst)

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

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

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

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

9. Skins

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

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

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

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

10. Money Ball (Lone Ranger)

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

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

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

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

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

Golf Tournament Format FAQs

What should I consider when choosing a golf tournament format?

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

• The skill level of your audience

• The size of your field

• The overall goals of your event

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

What’s the most popular alternative tournament type?

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

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

Can you mix different formats within a single tournament?

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

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

Do different formats affect the rate of play?

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

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

Your event website should clearly state the golf tournament format.

Pro Tips for Managing Different Golf Tournament Formats

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

#1 Tip: Use Golf Tournament Management Software

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

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

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

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

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

Other Best Practices

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

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

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

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

Try a New Format for Your Next Tournament

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

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

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

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About the Author

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

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Golf’s ongoing popularity has led nonprofits and charities of all types and sizes to jump into the sport as a fundraising mechanism. But as popular as golf has been over the last few years, there are parts of the population—non-golfers, beginners who might not feel confident enough to register for a tournament, or individuals that have another barrier to participating—that might be left out of a standard golf tournament.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can structure your golf tournament to make it more inclusive, involving those missing folks who can be converted into donors. No matter how you choose to make your event inclusive, a golf-specific event management platform is a necessity to streamline planning for you and your team. Here are five ideas to consider for your next golf tournament.

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1. Choose non-traditional events

Not every golf tournament has to be 18-holes at a traditional golf course. Yes, the vast majority of charity golf tournaments fit that mold, but you might consider an additional golf event, this time with a non-traditional spin. You’ll connect with new segments of your community to raise awareness about your mission and bring in funds for your work. Consider these examples:

• Putt Putt / Mini Golf Tournament: A mini golf tournament can have many of the same elements as a regular golf tournament, just on a smaller scale. With fewer barriers to entry, a putt putt event is a great option to involve families, non-golfers, and the community at large. The Putt Putt Fore Puppies event, a first-year mini golf tournament, raised over $9,200 for the Capital Humane Society. The tournament sold out both teams (41 four-person teams) and sponsorships (21), with the top sponsorship selling for $4,000. The planning team incorporated on-course games and a raffle to raise extra dollars.

• Golf Simulator Events: Golf simulators like TopGolf are extremely popular among golfers and non-golfers alike. Much like a mini golf event, there’s a broader audience for a golf simulator event and options to sell sponsorships, charge an entry fee, and leverage add-ons like a raffle or auction. Avery’s Hope, the 2023 winner of Play It Forward, chose TopGolf as an inclusive option to allow the families they serve (those dealing with rare and undiagnosed pediatric GI conditions) to participate.

A putt putt or mini golf tournament is a great addition to your fundraising calendar, involving those who aren’t able to participate in a traditional golf tournament.

2. include adaptive elements

If your nonprofit serves an audience or has a supporter base that requires specific adaptations, there are ways to incorporate them into a golf tournament. The key here is to know your audience. Start by thinking through any barriers they might face to participating in a golf tournament, physical or otherwise. You could even survey a subset of your donors or constituents to gather information to help guide you in what adaptive elements to offer.

For example, Outlook Enrichment is a Nebraska-based nonprofit that serves the visually-impaired. They paired sighted golfers with visually-impaired golfers to serve as their eyes on the course. What’s more, they offer a blind golfers clinic in conjunction with the golf tournament, with coaches that specialize in working with the blind and visually-impaired. They worked with GolfStatus to make their event website and the entire registration process as accessible as possible to those with vision impairments.

Outlook Enrichment is a nonprofit that serves the visually-impaired. A blind golfers clinic is held with the annual golf fundraiser to help those with a vision impairment try their hand at golf.

When choosing a golf course for your tournament, you might also consider accessibility for those that have mobility issues. Ensure ramps are available, restrooms are handicap accessible, and work with golf facility staff to have golf carts available to accommodate different abilities.

3. use beginner-friendly tournament formats

The vast majority of charity golf tournaments utilize the scramble format. Here’s how it works: Each golfer tees off, then the team chooses the best shot and each player hits their ball from that spot. This continues until the ball is holed. The beauty of this format is that it makes the tournament approachable for golfers of all skill and experience levels, from beginners to scratch golfers. One roadblock to participating in a golf tournament, particularly for those who have never played golf before or don’t play often, is the intimidation factor. They have the perception that they’re not good enough to play so they don’t even consider it. The scramble format, whether it’s two or four-person teams, levels the playing field a bit and makes the round much more fun for all golfers.

Another way to encourage beginners or non-golfers to participate is by flighting your tournament. There are several approaches to flighting, which organizes teams into different groups, or flights, based on skill levels so teams or players of similar skill levels are competing against each other. This can happen before or after the tournament, depending on your preference. You might offer a women’s flight or beginner’s flight so folks can choose those options when they register, or you can flight results at the end. Whatever way you choose, flighting can help create an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all golfers. You’ll want to use a tournament management software that allows for easy flighting, so golf staff doesn’t have to manually sort through paper scorecards at the end of the round to finalize the results.

The scramble format is a great choice for charity golf tournaments because it makes the event more approachable for golfers of all skill and experience levels.

4. offer golf clinics or lessons

Tacking on a golf clinic or lessons to your golf tournament is a great way to target beginners. Whether you schedule it for immediately before the tournament or a day or two prior, a clinic working on basic golf skills gives beginners the confidence boost they may need to commit to playing in your golf fundraiser. You have the option to include the cost it in the registration fee (after all, even more experienced golfers can use a few pointers to improve their game), charge an additional fee to participate, or find a sponsor to underwrite the whole thing (and give them exclusive naming rights to the extra event!).

Work with the pro at the golf facility you’ve chosen to see if they’re willing to lead the clinic. You could tailor it specifically for beginners or offer a series of clinics for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill sets.

5. add other activities 

To include non-golfers in your golf tournament, consider adding supplemental activities that attract families, spouses, partners, or friends of those playing in the event or members of the community who want to support your organization but don’t want to play golf. Some ideas include:

• Putting contest

• Live and/or silent auction

• Wine tasting event

• Cocktail hour

• Movie screening

• Musical performances

• Crafts

• Volunteer activities

• Meet and greet with nonprofit beneficiaries

• Speaker or workshop

A musical performance can help attract non-golfers to your golf tournament.

These add-ons can occur during the round or just prior to any post-golf awards ceremony or banquet. Pitch the add-on activities to a local business as a sponsorship and highlight the additional exposure they’ll get—both to golfers and to the non-golf attendees.

Final Thoughts

Inclusivity is a big deal, especially for nonprofits. Making your golf tournament more inclusive not only gets more folks involved to support your mission, but shows that your organization seeks to involve all segments of your community. As you start planning your charity golf tournament, think through how you can incorporate these ideas to remove barriers for people to support you through golf.

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