partner snapshot

What began as a 10-week fundraising campaign for a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) “Man of the Year” campaign in 2017 quickly evolved into something much bigger. Jake Peacock and Steve Sullivan have been friends for years, so when Steve started his campaign in honor of his mom, Martha, who was battling acute myeloid leukemia (AML), he asked Jake to be part of it.

Jake has been a golf professional since 2009, so naturally, he suggested doing a golf tournament to contribute to the campaign. Jake’s mom, Jeanne, had beaten breast cancer a few years prior, so he understood the need to do something to help. The first year, the golf outing brought in $15,000 of the $50,000 total raised as part of Steve’s campaign, dubbed “Martha’s Son Makes a Run.”

The next year, Jake ran the “Jeanne’s Journey” campaign that raised $72,000, with the golf event as the main fundraiser for the campaign. But Jake and Steve weren’t done.

Left: Jake with his mom, Jeanne. Right: Steve with his mom, Martha.

the challenge

The next few years, the duo decided to keep running the golf event to benefit the LLS. Then, in 2020, Jake’s mom’s cancer returned and had spread. Sadly, she passed away in June of 2021. Jake and Steve decided to redirect the golf tournament to raise funds for research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center in memory of Jeanne and in honor of Martha. They partnered with the IU School of Medicine to create a directed fund for research, cutting through the red tape and administrative burden of creating a standalone 501(c) organization.

“We decided we wanted to keep going until we find a cure,” Steve says. “We hope we don’t have to do the golf outing at some point, but want to keep raising funds until then.”

The two continued to run the tournament on their own, leaning on personal connections, community support, and a passion for making an impact. Yet as the event grew in size and scope, it became clear that managing registrations, tracking donations, and communicating with sponsors using spreadsheets and emails wasn’t scalable. Jake is a seasoned golf industry veteran, and knew they needed to level up the event experience, not just to raise more money, but to create a smoother, more professional, and more meaningful experience for everyone involved.

Childhood friends Steve Sullivan and Jake Peacock joined forces to raise over $500,000 through golf for cancer research.

the solution

In 2022, Jake returned to Victoria National in Newburgh, Indiana as the head golf professional. Victoria National is part of Dormie Network, a national network of private destination golf clubs, and GolfStatus’ sister company. He heard about what GolfStatus could offer to charity golf events and thought it was just what the Jeanne and Martha Fore a Cure Golf Outing needed to scale, so they came on board for the 2024 event.

the results

The goal for the 2024 Jeane and Martha Fore a Cure Golf Outing was $75,000. But thanks to the tools offered by GolfStatus and Dormie Network Foundation, the tournament blew past its goal to raise over $92,000, bringing the historical total to over $500,000 raised for cancer research and honoring Jake and Steve’s mom’s battles with cancer.

Golf Event Management Platform

Right off the bat, Jake and Steve used GolfStatus to streamline registration, collect payments online, and create a professional, mobile-friendly event site that simplified the process for golfers and sponsors alike. Plus, with real-time bank account visibility and centralized data, gone were the days of piecing together payments and registrations from emails and sticky notes.

“It’s definitely different being on the other side of a tournament,” Jake says, speaking from his years as a golf professional managing outside outings. “But using GolfStatus made it easy for both Steve and I to see where we stood financially, how many golfers were signed up, and not worry about sharing spreadsheets.”

Jake says that in the first few years, when he and Steve were handling registrations and payments manually, “We really didn’t even know who was coming!” Online registration simplified data capture and receipts, without requiring any effort from Jake or Steve. They could push the event website out to their networks and track registrations, sponsorships, and payments in the software’s back end. What’s more, they used the platform to easily collect payments on tournament day. “That was great,” Jake says. “All the funds were kept in GolfStatus until after the tournament, when it was sent on to the cancer center.”

Both Steve and Jake appreciated the responsive support provided by GolfStatus. “I honestly didn’t expect that level of support from a software company, but it was awesome,” Jake says. “I reached out to the team and was on a call with someone within five minutes.”

The golf tournament’s website offered easy registration, sponsor exposure, and an avenue to collect donations.

expanded sponsorship packages

By leveraging GolfStatus’ exclusive sponsorships and add-ons, Jake and Steve created additional revenue streams from the Technology Sponsorship, Pin Flag Sponsorship, and hole-in-one contests. “We had initially priced the pin flag package at $750, but someone reached out and said they loved the idea of the pin flags and wanted to more than double the contribution for the sponsorship, raising $1,650,” Steve says.

An online auction, consisting of donated items from folks within the Dormie Network, raised an additional $12,000, further boosting their fundraising total.

Jake and Steve leaned on personal connections to bring on sponsors. Steve’s employer, Allegion, a publicly traded security company in the Indianapolis area, started relatively small with the outing in its first year, contributing $1500. But leadership saw the engagement it drove in the workplace and continued to increase their support to $15,000 in 2024. “They saw the value in an employee doing something good because they were touched by cancer,” Steve says.

DORMIE NETWORK FOUNDATION SUPPORT

By working with GolfStatus, the outing unlocked additional support from Dormie Network Foundation. Donated Stay and Play Packages and Dormie Network memberships were auctioned and sold to raise significant dollars for the cause. Three donated memberships and two Stay and Play Packages were sold as part of the event, and a $15,000 gift from a previous tournament sponsor-turned-Network member helped take the outing’s impact to the next level.

“The tools from GolfStatus and the support from Dormie Network Foundation were critical in helping us scale the tournament,” Jake says. “It opened doors to more people to support the event and cause, and grow how much we can raise.” He credits these resources for helping bring in an extra $30,000 from the 2024 event, which the pair hopes to replicate in the future.

“Nobody else gives you the tools and credibility to raise as much as you can, as quickly as you can, like Dormie Network Foundation. Combine that with GolfStatus’ platform and support, and it’s an easy choice to partner with both of them,” Jake says.

personal connections

Jake and Steve want the event to be a great experience for everyone involved, while staying true to its grassroots spirit that honors Jeanne and Martha. “For whatever reason, our stories and experiences really resonate with people,” Steve says. He says they’ve had survivors and family members speak at the tournament, and even had the executive director of the Cancer Center share what the dollars raised are doing. “People want to know what their money is doing, so making the connection to the actual research and individual researchers has been amazing.”

Jake says the people and sponsors who participate understand what they’re trying to accomplish with the tournament. “Every year, I think I can get through the event without getting too emotional, but then we look out and see what’s been done and the impact it's having, and the emotion takes over,” Jake says.

Steve (fourth from left), Jake (fifth from left), and their families at the Indiana University Spirit of Philanthropy Awards.

what’s next

The outing continues to grow—and get attention for its contributions to cancer research. Jake and Steve were invited to be members of the IU School of Medicine Development Board and were nominated by the school for the University’s Spirit of Philanthropy Award, which they received.

With the 8th annual outing set for Monday, August 4, 2025, the event has a goal to break the $100,000 mark—and eventually, raise so much money for cancer research that the event no longer needs to exist. “I wish I never had to do this, but it’s the hand we’re dealt and we’re working to make the most of it,” Jake says.

Contribute to the Jeanne & Martha Fore a Cure Fund for Cancer Research.

GolfStatus’ on-staff PGA Professionals—Cash Dinkel, PGA; Jason Meininger, PGA; and Paul Murcek, PGA—have years of experience running golf tournaments from the facility point of view, in addition to working with nonprofits to plan and execute golf fundraisers. Their insights have been shared in our PGA Q&A blog series. This installment touches on how to narrow down and choose a tournament date and how to integrate live scoring into your event.

Cash Dinkel, PGA

Jason Meininger, PGA

Paul Murcek, PGA

Q: What’s the best way to negotiate a good price with the golf facility?

Paul Murcek: In my experience, most facilities don’t do any kind of negotiating on price. If you are able to get them to negotiate at all, that’s a win for your nonprofit, in my opinion.

Cash Dinkel: Since the pandemic, golf has exploded in popularity, with the number of rounds played annually setting records. Because golf facilities can fill their tee sheets with normal play, they may be less likely to give discounted prices to events. That being said, look at ways to bundle offerings from the facility to get a better price. For example, if you're getting food and beverage, player gifts, or anything else extra from the facility, it’s worth asking if you can bundle that into player pricing to see if you can get a better rate.

Jason Meininger: This can be difficult, as most courses have a set price they charge for outside outings like charity golf tournaments. And with the popularity of golf right now, it’s unlikely they will be willing to come down on price. My best advice would be to see if the course has a slow day during the week that’s typically not filled with an event, and see if they are willing to negotiate on price just to fill the tee sheet for that day.

If you’re using the golf facility for food and beverage, player gifts, or any other extras, you might be able to negotiate a better rate.

Q: What are some factors I should consider when choosing a date for my golf fundraiser?

Jason Meininger: First, check with the course on their availability. Spring and fall event dates may be more readily available—and can be the best options weather-wise to have a tournament.

Paul Murcek: Reach out to the golf facilities at least six or so months before your event date to get the best availability. Keep weather in mind—the best weather months for a majority of the country are June and September. Another thing to keep in mind is that these months generally have the most tournaments, so there could be added competition for golfers and sponsors.

Cash Dinkel: I’d say these are the biggest aspects to consider when picking a tournament date:

• Other local events: Check local event calendars to make sure you aren’t hosting your tournament on the same day as other large community events.

• Pricing: Pricing will be higher in the summer months and on weekends.

• Weather: Shoulder season (spring and fall) may be less expensive, but the weather can be unpredictable.

• Other organization events: If your organization hosts other fundraising events, make sure there’s adequate time between them to avoid donor fatigue.
  

Q: In your experience and opinion, what’s the best day of the week for a charity golf tournament?

Cash Dinkel: Friday. You may or may not get charged weekend pricing, but a lot of golfers are willing to take a Friday off and make it a three-day weekend, and you’re likely going to see higher participation. Monday is also a great day, but without the chance of weekend pricing and the same benefits as a Friday tournament for a three-day weekend.

Jason Meininger: If you can find a course with availability, I’d say a Friday afternoon or Saturday.

Paul Murcek: I agree with Cash on Mondays or Fridays and giving your golfers the opportunity to have a three-day weekend. That being said, Friday can be considered a weekend day and will cost more. If you are booking a tournament at a private golf facility, likely the only day available is a Monday.

Shoulder season—spring and fall—can be a great option for your charity golf tournament.

Q: How do I determine the tournament’s schedule?

Cash Dinkel: The golf facility can help you pick the ideal starting time and slot out the schedule. In the hot summer months, morning starts are ideal. During shoulder season (spring and fall), later starts help ensure the warmest temps for play. Once you have determined a starting time, you can build out the schedule for the day. I recommend allowing two hours for check-in, registration, and warm-up. Most facilities will allow volunteers to arrive two hours early to set up. Some golfers like to arrive early to give themselves extra time to warm up, mingle, or check out auction items or raffle prizes. It’s a good idea to schedule announcements for 15-20 minutes before the start time. Post-event timing depends on when the round finishes—most likely four-and-a-half to five hours to play the round. Any meal and awards can take place after golf concludes.

Jason Meininger: Definitely speak to the golf staff to see what the options are. Most likely, they will offer an early morning or early afternoon shotgun start. You can guesstimate that the round will take around 5 hours, so plan your meals and post-golf festivities accordingly.

Use your event website to share the tournament’s schedule with participants, as well as information about live scoring.

Q: I want to live score my tournament. How do I make sure my golfers participate in live scoring?

Jason Meininger: One way is to tell golfers that their team’s score will not count unless they use live scoring, or you could offer a separate, valuable prize to one of the teams that live scores.

Cash Dinkel: Overcommunicate to the field leading up to the event about scoring. Send multiple emails to registrants giving them instructions on what app to download and how to use the app to score. It’s a good idea to encourage them to download the app ahead of time, if possible. Also, make sure information about live scoring is communicated to players as they check in for the tournament and during announcements right before the start.

Paul Murcek: I say make it mandatory! Tell golfers that you won’t be accepting paper scorecards, and if they don’t live score with the mobile scoring app you choose, they aren’t eligible for prizes.

Communicate information about live scoring to golfers ahead of the tournament, including where to download the app, how to use it to submit scores, and where to find a team’s live scoring code.

Q: My host golf facility has its own live scoring software, but we’ve sold a leaderboard sponsorship, so I want to use GolfStatus’ mobile scoring. What should I do?

Jason Meininger: Simply have a discussion with the golf course and explain the situation. More than likely they’ll be willing to work with you in one way or another, either using your chosen platform or finding a way to add the promised logo placement to their system’s leaderboard.

Paul Murcek: Remember, you are the customer at the golf facility, so they should be willing to do what they can to accommodate. As long as it is not in the contract that you must use the facility’s software, then it shouldn’t be an issue. In the rare instance that you’re forced to use the golf course’s software, make sure they are aware of what you need to have done to meet what has been promised to your sponsors.

Cash Dinkel: This is something that should be communicated to the golf staff right away. As soon as you decide to live score your tournament, connect the golf course staff with the app and platform’s staff to ensure golf staff understands the tools they have at their disposal on event day. Stress to golf staff that you’ve sold sponsorship recognition through live scoring. If the facility is truly interested in helping you put on the best possible event, they will accommodate. If they aren’t willing to use the live scoring system, make sure they know they MUST add logos to the materials that you’ve promised your sponsor.

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Ask the Pros!

If you have a question for GolfStatus’ PGA Professionals, email it to [email protected] with “PGA Pro Question” in the subject line!

GolfStatus’ in-house golf fundraising experts, including Fundraising Specialists and PGA Professionals, are here to help your tournament raise as much money as possible for your cause. They’ll help you use GolfStatus’ software to drive revenue and save you and your team time, and offer suggestions and best practices to make your tournament a success. Get started with GolfStatus—with a free event website, revenue enhancers, golf event-specific tools, and much more—all at no upfront cost. Click below to book a meeting with our team to get started!

by Cash Dinkel, PGA, Client Success Director at GolfStatus

Selecting the right golf facility is one of the most important decisions you'll make when planning your charity golf event. The course you choose sets the tone, shapes the golfer experience, and directly impacts your fundraising success. Whether you're new to tournament planning or refining your strategy for future events, this guide walks through how to choose the best course for your event and work efficiently with golf facility staff.

Understanding the types of golf facilities

Before you start reaching out to golf courses in your area, it’s helpful to understand the different types of golf facilities:

• Public. These facilities are open to anyone and are typically more affordable. They may not have the prestige or all the amenities of private clubs, but they’re accessible and can be great for events targeting a wide audience.

• Semi-private. These facilities allow public play during certain times while reserving the best tee times for members. They’re usually well-maintained and offer a nice balance of quality and cost.

• Private. Private clubs are members-only and offer top-tier facilities and service. They often include added amenities like banquet rooms, gourmet dining, locker rooms, and practice facilities. These courses are ideal if you're targeting a higher-net-worth audience and want to offer an exclusive experience—but they come with a higher price tag and may require a member to help you book the facility for a tournament.

• Alternative golf facilities. Not all golf fundraisers need to take place on a traditional 18-hole golf course. Facilities like TopGolf, indoor golf simulators, or mini golf venues can offer a fun, relaxed atmosphere that appeals to a different crowd and can be easier to plan logistically.
  

Things to consider when choosing a golf facility for your event

A simple Google search of “golf facilities near me” will give you a list of potential options where you can hold your golf tournament. A glance at each course’s website will help you get a feel for the facility and its offerings. Next, think about the following as you narrow down your list:

• Location. Choose a location that’s convenient to your organization, supporters, and sponsors. Accessibility helps drive higher attendance and community engagement.

• Cost and inclusions. Compare the cost per golfer and make sure you understand what’s included, such as greens fees, carts, range balls, and other amenities. While private courses tend to be more expensive, they may justify a higher registration fee and attract more affluent participants.

• Audience demographics. Think about your target audience. Would they be more excited about playing an exclusive course, or would they prefer an affordable, relaxed public facility? Choose a venue that aligns with your audience’s preferences and your fundraising goals.

• Amenities. Consider what the facility offers beyond the golf course itself—banquet space, catering options, equipment rental, and staff support—as these all factor into your tournament’s success.

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On-Demand Webinar

Hear from tournament planning pros as they discuss the ins and outs of partnering with your host golf facility for a successful fundraiser.

Watch the Webinar

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Key questions to ask a potential host golf facility

Once you’ve identified some options for your tournament, reach out and ask the right questions to gather the information you need to make a decision:

• What’s the cost per golfer, and what’s included in that fee?

• Does the price include carts, range balls, or extras like drink tickets or gift cards?

• Is there a minimum number of golfers required to reserve the course?

• What does setup on tournament day look like? 

• Will staff help with signage, tables, or registration?

• What food and beverage options are available? 

• Can you bring in outside food or are you required to use the facility’s catering?

• Is there banquet or event space for awards ceremonies or meals?

• What are the payment policies?

• Is a deposit required? 

• When is the final payment due?

• Do you offer live scoring?

• What’s the inclement weather policy? 

• Is a rain date available, or is play allowed in the rain?

before you sign a contract

Before you lock in the date and facility, carefully review the contract with facility staff so you understand the terms. Here’s what to look for:

• Ensure the quoted price per player matches the contract.

• Double check the minimum and maximum player counts and any penalties if you don’t meet them.

• Confirm any additional fees, such as those for using course software or A/V equipment.

• Understand all line-item charges so there are no surprises after the event.
  

Coordinating with the golf facility

Booking the facility is just the beginning! Use these tips to effectively and seamlessly coordinate with the course staff and set your event up for success.

• Use technology. One of the biggest pain points for golf facilities hosting outside events is an accurate count of the number of players—and the time-consuming back and forth required for updates. Sharing access to your golf event management platform with the golf facility allows staff to see the size of your field in real-time (without several emails or phone calls) and plan accordingly. What’s more, tech built for golf allows golf staff to make hole assignments, print cart signs and scorecards, and download alpha lists and other necessary documents with just a few clicks, instead of manually creating these necessities.

• Stay organized. Keep all your planning details—including golfer registration, sponsor information, and payments—in one centralized place. Your golf event management platform keeps you and your team organized and facilitates easy sharing of accurate, up-to-date information with the golf staff.

• Designate a point person (and a backup). Instead of everyone on your planning team communicating with the golf facility, designate one person to spearhead communication and planning. It’s a good idea to have a backup team member who knows the event plan and can communicate with the golf facility if you happen to be unavailable.

• Communicate effectively. Make sure the course staff has everything they need to support your event, including:

  • A clear schedule of events (registration time, shotgun start, meals, awards)

  • Final golfer count well in advance

  • Food and beverage selections and dietary needs

  • Setup instructions for signage, tables, and on-course games

  • Information about any contests like hole-in-one, longest drive, or putting contests

A golf-specific platform makes coordinating with the golf facility simple and easy.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right golf facility—and building a strong partnership with their team—lays the foundation for a smooth, successful tournament. Be thoughtful in your selection, proactive with your communication, and lean on technology to reduce friction and save time. When you and the course staff are aligned, everything runs more efficiently—leaving more room for a fun, memorable experience for your golfers and a bigger impact for your mission.

Work With the Golf Tournament Pros!

Book a Meeting With GolfStatus

Partner Snapshot

The Down Syndrome Association (DSA) of Greater Charlotte serves as a vital hub of resources and support for individuals with Down syndrome (Ds) and their families across 12 counties surrounding Charlotte, NC. With a mission to empower and enable individuals with Ds to reach their full potential and become respected members of their community, DSA of Greater Charlotte supports 300-500 families annually through a variety of programs, from early intervention to adult resources. Victoria Coles, DSA of Greater Charlotte's Program and Community Outreach Director, oversees programs like early intervention, parent nights, and educational outreach initiatives, ensuring that no family feels lost or alone.

One of the most impactful programs DSA of Greater Charlotte provides is its summer camp lineup, offering both day camps and sleepaway camps for children and adults with Ds. “We don’t ever want someone to feel like they can’t participate in camp because of financial reasons,” says Victoria. To raise money for camp scholarships, DSA of Greater Charlotte has held an annual golf tournament for nearly two decades. 

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“We don’t ever want someone to feel like they can’t participate in camp because of financial reasons.”

— Victoria Coles, Program Director at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte

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The Challenge

When Victoria joined DSA of Greater Charlotte in 2022, she took on the challenge of organizing the golf event. She’s a seasoned event planner, but has little experience with golf. Though the 2023 event was a success, with five sponsors and $33,000 in revenue, there was tremendous potential for growth. 

The event management platform being used also presented logistical hurdles. It required excessive manual coordination and lacked the features needed to fully engage participants and sponsors. With one year of planning under her belt, Victoria knew she needed to make a change. She assembled a planning team that involved board members and past participants to provide diverse insights and share the workload. The group set ambitious goals: to increase revenue, streamline registration, and elevate the overall experience for participants while keeping costs manageable and maintaining the inclusive spirit of the tournament.

The Solution

DSA of Greater Charlotte partnered with GolfStatus, a powerful event management platform designed for charity golf tournaments. After the golf event was nominated for the Play It Forward campaign, the GolfStatus team connected with Victoria. It happened to be at the perfect time, just as she was starting to plan the 2024 tournament and was open to a change. The decision to adopt GolfStatus was driven by several key factors:

• Additional fundraising opportunities. DSA of Greater Charlotte leveraged GolfStatus’ exclusive sponsorships and add-ons to drive thousands of dollars in additional revenue. 

• No upfront cost access to the software. As a nonprofit, DSA of Greater Charlotte qualified to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost, which meant no financial risk and more funds to their mission.

• Ease of use. The planning team worked hand-in-hand with GolfStatus’ client support team to build an event registration website. The intuitive back end made it easy for the planning team to manage registrations, sponsor details, and golfer information with minimal back-and-forth communication.

Maintaining the inclusive focus of the tournament was a key priority of the planning committee when looking for an event management software.

The Results

The 18th Annual DSA of Greater Charlotte Golf Tournament surpassed its previous fundraising goals, raising over $53,000 for summer camp scholarships and programming at Camp Horizon and Camp Holiday. Here’s how:

Increased Sponsorships

More than double the sponsors signed on to support the golf tournament, with the tournament’s positive reputation organically prompting several new businesses to come on board. The past year’s presenting sponsor jumped at the additional exposure provided by GolfStatus’ Technology Sponsorship on the event website, mobile app, scorecards, cart signs, and live leaderboards. 

“The sponsorships from GolfStatus gave us an immediate return on investment,” Victoria says of the Technology Sponsorship, Pin Flag Sponsorship, and hole-in-one contest sponsorship. “We raised additional money from those in our first year with the platform.” The team bundled GolfStatus’ exclusive Technology Sponsorship and Pin Flag Sponsorships together into one sponsorship that sold for $8,250. They also used GolfStatus’ hole-in-one insurance and leveraged a sponsorship to cover package costs. 

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“The sponsorships from GolfStatus gave us an immediate return on investment. We raised additional money from those in our first year with the platform.”

— Victoria Coles, Program Director at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte

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Streamlined Processes

Golfer information is stored in the back end of the software, where Victoria and her team could easily make hole assignments.

Golf tournament websites powered by GolfStatus are equipped with easy online registration and secure payment processing. Individual golfers, teams, and sponsors could browse available packages, submit their information, and pay right through the website. All participant info drops into the software’s back end, where the planning team could manage player information and sponsor assets. 

Victoria says the software was easy to use and they liked that individuals or teams could register to play. “There wasn’t a constant back and forth with golfers since everything went through the website,” she says. “GolfStatus kept us organized and it was simple to assign teams and make hole assignments right in the software. In general, everything just worked so much better than what we were using before.” GolfStatus’ support team was there to help Victoria seven days a week to answer questions. 

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“GolfStatus kept us organized and it was simple to assign teams and make hole assignments right in the software. In general, everything just worked so much better than what we were using before.”

— Victoria Coles, Program Director at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte

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Elevated Experiences & Revenue Opportunities

Post-event feedback was extremely positive. A survey was sent to participants to collect information to help improve future tournaments. “We got super feedback. Everyone said the tournament was well-planned with great communication,” Victoria says. “Online registration and the overall experience were five out of five!”

Having Ds Ambassadors present at the golf tournament reminded golfers and sponsors what they were helping raise money for.

Most participants had some connection to the Ds community, so having Ds Ambassadors stationed around the course added to the tournament’s impact. “The Ambassadors are teens and adults with Ds who love to connect with people,” Victoria says. Their presence was a strong reminder of what the tournament was supporting and fostered personal connections that reinforced DSA of Greater Charlotte’s mission.

In addition to the Ds Ambassadors’ presence, several add-ons elevated the tournament experience and drove additional revenue, such as on-course contests (putting, long drive, and hole-in-one), a 50/50 ball drop raffle, a traditional raffle, and mulligans available for purchase. 

Direct Mission Impact

The 2024 tournament funded scholarships for campers, ensuring that financial barriers won’t prevent families from accessing DSA of Greater Charlotte’s transformative summer programs. “We were able to provide $30,000 in scholarships for families this year from the golf tournament, more than we’ve ever done before,” Victoria says. 

Camp programs at Camp Horizon and Camp Holiday offer enriching experiences for campers with Ds. Activities focus on fun, but foster communication, problem solving, social, and self-advocacy skills. Campers enjoy traditional camp activities such as arts and crafts, water play, music, horseback riding and more that build self-confidence and independence. 

Funds raised from the golf tournament support enriching camp programs for individuals with Down Syndrome.

Lessons Learned for the Future

As the tournament’s planning team begins to plan for the next iteration, these lessons learned will help guide them:

• Include complimentary food and drinks. Providing food and drink creates a welcoming atmosphere. Victoria says they’ll continue to keep folks well-fed through donated options like donuts, boxed lunches, bloody marys, and a post-tournament catered dinner.

• Stay organized. DSA of Greater Charlotte’s golf event included signage with clear information, detailed registration instructions, and plenty of volunteers to ensure the day ran smoothly.

• Leverage technology: Using a platform like GolfStatus saved Victoria and her team time, streamlined logistics, and enhanced the event experience for everyone involved.

Building on 2024’s success, Victoria and the planning team plan to refine and expand the tournament in 2025 by:

• Offering larger and more creative raffle prizes

• Exploring new on-course challenges to keep the event fresh and engaging

• Continuing to build strong sponsor relationships, ensuring robust support camp programming

• Leveraging GolfStatus’ revenue enhancers to boost revenue

The tournament received great feedback from golfers and sponsors!

Golf for Good

GolfStatus is the leading event management platform for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers. It streamlines and simplifies golf events to save organizers a ton of time and has built-in tools to raise even money for your cause. Through GolfStatus’ Golf for Good program, nonprofit organizations (and those planning golf events to benefit one) can qualify to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost. Book a meeting to learn more and start planning!

This installment in our PGA Q&A blog series discusses a popular topic for charity golf tournament planners: food and beverage. Food and beverage can play a major role in elevating the tournament experience, but many tournament organizers aren’t sure how to tackle this part of planning. Get insights from GolfStatus’ on-staff PGA Professionals: Cash Dinkel, PGA; Jason Meininger, PGA; and Paul Murcek, PGA.

Cash Dinkel, PGA

Jason Meininger, PGA

Paul Murcek, PGA

Q: where do i start in choosing food and beverage for my tournament?

Cash Dinkel: First, determine whether or not you want to have any food and beverage (F&B) associated with your event. Most tournaments we work with offer F&B, and to be honest, it’s become an expectation when playing in these events. Your best bet is to start with the golf facility. Many facilities will have F&B operations on site and will bundle F&B into your tournament package, which makes coordination much easier. Next, determine your budget. You can either wrap the F&B costs into player registrations or sell a sponsorship to cover the costs. Finally, you’ll need to determine if you’ll offer a grab and go/boxed lunch or a sit down meal and if you’ll distribute F&B during play or post-round. Don’t forget to ask about food allergies during registration if you’re offering F&B.

Jason Meininger: Your host golf facility should have a banquet menu for you to choose from and they can offer suggestions on what meals are good options for golf outings. Cost will also be a factor to consider.

Paul Murcek: Start with the facility hosting the event. Some will require that you use their F&B service. Other facilities may allow you to cater a meal or have a sponsor like a local restaurant provide lunch in the cart. Be sure you ask questions when outlining your contract so you and the facility are on the same page with F&B.

Q: I’m trying to decide between a public facility and a country club. Is there a difference when it comes to food and beverage?

Jason Meininger: Yes, there will likely be a difference in both the quality, available options, and cost. I recommend getting menu options from private and public golf facilities so you can compare offerings and costs.

Paul Murcek: More than likely a private country club will have more top-tier options for F&B (but they’ll also come with a higher price tag).

Cash Dinkel: Most country clubs have high-level F&B operations in their facilities, which typically mean a higher quality of food and presentation. Because of that, costs are also typically much higher per person. You can also expect a higher level of service at a country club.

Post-golf dinner, drinks, and entertainment help enhance the overall tournament experience for golfers and sponsors.

Q: If my host facility doesn’t offer food and beverage, what recommendations do you have?

Paul Murcek: At the golf facilities where I worked that didn’t have F&B options, we had recommendations for several local catering companies to offer multiple price points and food options to meet the needs of all events. So definitely ask the golf facility for ideas and recommendations for caterers.

Jason Meininger: When I ran tournaments, we would work with a dedicated catering company to provide a meal for the outing, or give the organizer the choice to find their own provider. We would often see nonprofits work with a sponsor to donate a meal.

Cash Dinkel: Reach out to local restaurants and catering companies to see if they can provide the F&B the day of your event. They may even be willing to donate food and time for some extra exposure at your event. Be sure to check with the facility to see if they will allow you to bring items they don’t offer on property.

Food and beverage is important at all golf events—even mini golf! Participants of all ages enjoy complimentary snow cones at this putt putt event.

Q: What are some ways you’ve seen of tournaments using food and beverage to enhance the tournament experience?

Jason Meininger: Some fun ones I’ve seen:

• Bloody Mary bar on the range for morning events

• Mobile food truck with drinks and light food

• Kegs of beer on designated holes

• Margarita machines on designated holes 

Cash Dinkel: F&B can really change the tournament and make it memorable for golfers and sponsors. Here are some ideas that I’ve seen work well at charity golf tournaments:

• Coolers with water, Gatorade, and snacks on all par three holes that are free to grab.

• Very high-end sit-down plated meals either the night before the tournament or the evening of the event.

• Grab-and-go breakfast before the event starts, or lunch if it’s an afternoon start.

• On-course tasting stations of food and beverages. This is great for local restaurants and caterers, and another sponsorship option.

• Chick-fil-A delivered on the course to golfers as they were playing.
  

Q: Should we offer food and beverage to volunteers? What about golf staff?

Cash Dinkel: 100% for volunteers. They are donating their time and energy to help your event, so definitely make sure they have food and drink available to them throughout the tournament. It’s also nice to offer the golf staff food and beverage, but definitely not expected.

Jason Meininger: Yes, definitely to volunteers. If there’s enough available, I would offer it to golf staff as well.

Paul Murcek: In my experience, it’s a courtesy to provide food for the tournament’s volunteers, as well as the golf staff.

Tournament organizers can opt for a sit-down meal or grab-and-go options.

Q: What is the standard range I can expect for gratuity on food and beverage at my golf tournament?

Paul Murcek: I’d say you can expect a charge of 18% to 20% on large orders at a private golf facility.

Jason Meininger: It really does vary from facility to facility, but I’ve seen 18% to 20% as a standard.

Cash Dinkel: This is totally up to the facility. Most will have gratuity built into the pricing and should be discussed before signing a contract. While I agree with my colleagues that 18-20% is a fairly standard range, be prepared for a wider range depending on the facility.

Q: Do you recommend having drink tickets, complimentary beverages (alcoholic or nonalcoholic), or a cash bar?

Cash Dinkel: Yes to any of the above. Making sure your participants have access to beverages the entire time they are at your event is a must. Most events will have a traditional cash bar. The next most popular option is giving each player one or two drink tickets with their registration, then they can pay for anything from the cash bar after using their tickets. I would say it’s not very common to have complimentary beverages, simply because of the cost. That being said, finding a sponsor to cover the cost of drink tickets for players is a great way to get that cost covered and provide an additional sponsorship opportunity.

Jason Meininger: Most events I’ve seen provide drink tickets. If you can get a sponsor for the beverage cart or bar service, then you could provide complimentary drinks.

Paul Murcek: If you can find a sponsor or sponsors to pay for complimentary drinks, this is a great way to increase the fun of the tournament and keep golfers and sponsors coming back.

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Ask the Pros!

Do you have a question for GolfStatus’ PGA Professionals? Email it to [email protected] with “PGA Pro Question” in the subject line and it might be featured in a future blog post or an upcoming GolfStatus webinar!

Get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost! Get an event website, online registration, communication tools, premium digital sponsor exposure, revenue-boosting add-ons, and more—plus access to GolfStatus’ in-house client success team (including knowledgeable PGA Professionals and fundraising specialists). Click the button to book a quick 15 or 30-minute meeting, a full demo, or get started in the software on your own!

Planning a charity golf tournament can feel like a big undertaking, but with the right guidance and tools, it’s easier than you think. In this blog series, the PGA Professionals on staff at GolfStatus are sharing their insider knowledge and tips for success. With years of experience running tournaments of all sizes, Jason Meininger, PGA; Cash Dinkel, PGA; and Paul Murcek, PGA know exactly what it takes to organize a successful event.

In this installment of GolfStatus’ Q&A blog series, these Pros break down the basics of tournament planning—from creating a timeline and working with the golf course staff to must-have tools and advice for first-time organizers. Whether you’re new to tournament planning or looking to streamline your process, their tips will set you up for success.

The PGA Professionals on staff at GolfStatus, from left: Jason Meininger, PGA; Paul Murcek, PGA; Cash Dinkel, PGA.

Q: what’s a typical schedule for a charity golf tournament?

Jason Meininger: Start with your tee off time and build the schedule around that. Here’s an example for a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start:

• 11:00 a.m.: Check-in and registration, driving range open

• 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch served

• 12:45 p.m.: Call to carts, welcome, and instructions

• 1:00 p.m.: Shotgun start

• 6:00 p.m.: Dinner and awards

Cash Dinkel: In my experience, morning starts are most common and a great option for charity tournaments. For example, open registration at 8:00 a.m. for a 10:00 am shotgun start, with a meal and awards following golf (if applicable). I usually recommend advertising to golfers that announcements will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the tournament so people aren’t getting there late.

Q: What does the golf staff typically take care of on tournament day?

Paul Murcek: Usually they’ll take care of getting the golf carts set up and ready to go before kickoff and help you with any format or scoring announcements. They’ll also help with scoring and finalizing the results for awards.

Cash Dinkel: Golf staff will take care of printing materials like cart signs, scorecards, rules sheets, and live scoring instructions and getting them placed on golf carts. They often help with contest set up, scoring the event, and determining the winners. Depending on the facility, they may also make sure any necessary tables, chairs, tents, hole signs, pin flags, etc. are set up and ready to go.

Jason Meininger: It really varies from course to course. At a municipal, public course, they likely aren’t able to help as much as at a high end private golf club. Private facilities will do pretty much anything you need—set up carts and the driving range; produce scorecards, cart signs and rules sheets; make announcements; figure out winners; and hand out prizes after the round, if needed.

Q: in your experience, what tools are the most useful for planning a successful golf tournament?

Jason Meininger: Number one is an event website. It makes it so much easier to track payments, registrations, sponsorships etc. Number two is having a realistic budget and fundraising goal. This helps you set your pricing and get an idea of all of your tournament’s costs so you can see if it will be profitable.

Cash Dinkel: Online registration is a must-have, both for the time-savings involved for the organizer and to make it easy on the golfer or sponsor to register. I’d also say planning guides and resources from golf fundraising experts, plus live scoring to improve the overall player experience.

Paul Murcek: I’d say learning from others that have had tournaments is a great help in being successful. Lean on your Golfstatus client success rep and register for a couple of GolfStatus’ monthly webinars to hear from golf and fundraising experts.

Q: What are some things you wish organizers knew when planning a golf tournament for the first time?

Cash Dinkel:

1. It takes a team. Organize a committee to help shoulder the load, and don’t be afraid to delegate responsibilities.

2. Use your networks! Ask anyone and everyone you, your committee, staff, board, and volunteers know to play in the tournament, become a sponsor, volunteer to help, or just spread the word about the event.

3. Don’t set expectations too high for the first year of a tournament. You can absolutely make money in year one, but be realistic in your goals.

Jason Meininger:

1. Start planning early, at least six months before the tournament date.

2. Have a committee to help with promoting and running the event, especially on tournament day.

3. Recruit volunteers to help.

4. Golf tournaments can be a lot of work—remember you’ll get out of it what you put into it.

5. Marketing your tournament is essential. Use free channels like social media and email campaigns.

Paul Murcek:

1. Start early—procrastination is your worst enemy!

2. Create a sponsorship for every expense you have.

3. The more sponsorship options you have available, the better chances you have to appeal to potential sponsors.

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Ask the Pros!

If you have a golf tournament or fundraising question for our PGA Professionals, email it to [email protected] with “PGA Pro Question” in the subject line! It just might make a future blog post or be answered on an upcoming GolfStatus webinar.

GolfStatus makes charity golf tournaments easier and more lucrative than ever. Whether you’re planning an event for the first time or looking to upgrade an existing tournament, GolfStatus’ tech and golf fundraising experts are here to help. Best of all, nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus’ tournament management software at no upfront cost through our Golf for Good program. Click the button to get started!

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Partner snapshot

The Nebraska PGA serves over 300 golf professionals in Nebraska, Western Iowa, and Southeast South Dakota. Based in Lincoln, the Nebraska Section is a resource for member golf professionals, offering services and opportunities that enhance the skills of its members and promote the overall vitality of the game. Its PGA REACH Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Section that supports local golf initiatives and charities.

The challenge

David Honnens, Executive Director for the Nebraska PGA, recognized a recurring issue at Nebraska golf facilities: the time burden that charity golf tournaments and outside events placed on PGA Pros’ time, often at the expense of other essential facility operations and member-focused activities.

These outside events, which are key to a facility’s bottom line, require staff to dedicate extensive hours to assisting tournament organizers with planning and management and internal event preparations. These events often lack streamlined communication and registration processes, leading to inconsistencies and gaps in planning, making it challenging for golf staff to gather the information needed for a successful tournament. What’s more, tournament organizers often come to golf facilities with limited golf knowledge, increasing the need for golf staff involvement and support.

A solution was needed to save Professionals time while also improving tournament organization and fundraising outcomes for the organizing charity.

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“There needed to be a way to bridge the disconnect between golf facility staff and tournament organizers and give Pros more of their time back,” says David. “A partnership with GolfStatus for charity events was the answer.”

— David Honnens, Executive Director at PGA Nebraska

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The solution

GolfStatus is built specifically for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers. Its suite of tournament management and fundraising tools streamline golf events for nonprofit event organizers and offer new opportunities to boost revenue. The software is backed by an in-house support team of Client Success Representatives that include several PGA Professionals who understand the ins and outs of successful golf events.

GolfStatus’ tournament management software saves golf facility staff 20-30 hours per event.

Cash Dinkel is a PGA Professional who spent several years as tournament director at a Denver country club and now serves as GolfStatus’ Client Success Director. “We understand the golf staff have software in place for facility operations and member events. GolfStatus isn’t trying to replace that; we’re here to make outside events and charity tournaments more efficient for golf staff,” he says.

Golf facilities that are on board with GolfStatus as part of the partnership refer charity tournaments to the GolfStatus team, who help them build an event in the software and launch an event website. The client success team provides pre-event education and coaching, suggestions for revenue-boosting tournament components, and provides access to golf staff to access pre-formatted printouts and reports and make hole assignments and team pairings.

the results

Thus far, 17 golf facilities in Nebraska have signed on with GolfStatus and referred 157 charity events. Golf professionals earn a kickback for each event referred, with nearly $8,000 paid out to pros since the start of 2024. “Golf staff are being asked to do more on a daily basis, so anything the section can do to help improve a very visible part of their business is a huge plus,” says David of working with GolfStatus. “The financial kickback is great and GolfStatus gives professionals another tool in their tool belt to elevate these events all around.”

Golfers at an outside event at Tiburon Golf Club in Omaha, Nebraska.

tiburon golf club sees success

Tiburon Golf Club in Omaha was one of the first golf facilities to sign on with GolfStatus through the PGA Nebraska partnership. A 27-hole club in Omaha, Tiburon hosts over 100 outside events per year, which means Club Professional Matt Wollom needs to find efficiencies for his team wherever possible. “Instead of getting 20 to 30 emails from the tournament organizer with updates, all the information is updated and accessible in the software’s back end,” Matt says. “It means less back and forth with them and less time and energy for my staff so they can provide great service to golfers.”

time savings across the board

David says Nebraska PGA Professionals have reported saving 20 to 30 hours per tournament by using GolfStatus, time that can be redirected toward other aspects of facility operations, income-generating activities, or member engagement. “Time is precious, and when golf professionals don’t have to spend their time doing back-office work or going back and forth with the tournament contact, it’s huge for us,” he says.

Matt says the events held at Tiburon who use GolfStatus also save time. “The tournament organizers, who don’t always know much about golf, end up having fewer planning tasks on their plate so they can go out and focus on raising money,” Matt says. “Plus, we’re not getting phone calls asking questions. GolfStatus takes care of it for us.”

GolfStatus’ Client Success Team includes PGA Professionals who understand the ins and outs of golf facility operations and golf tournaments.

Cash points out that GolfStatus’ goal in working with the Pros and the events is increased efficiency. “Event planners become more efficient because they’re not dealing with paper forms. Facility staff is more efficient because they can run reports and easily communicate with organizers,” he says. “Tournaments are easier to do and easier to maintain with GolfStatus, on both the organization and facility sides.”

better outcomes for host organizations

Events that use GolfStatus at partner golf courses have seen improved fundraising outcomes. It starts with no-cost access to the software for nonprofits. Offerings like the GolfStatus client-exclusive Technology Sponsorship, hole-in-one insurance and sponsorships, pin flag sponsorships, and exclusive donations from Dormie Network add up to thousands of additional dollars.

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“GolfStatus has everything these events need to raise money,” Matt says. “It gives them channels to raise extra money they wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.”

— Matt Wollom, Club Professional at Tiburon Golf Club

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Outside outings often come with additional components, such as luncheons, banquets, and auctions.

Tournaments often add an online auction component to drive additional revenue, which is good for both the host nonprofit and the golf facility. “We’re seeing a lot more online auctions at outside charity events, which can raise almost 200% more than a traditional auction,” David says. GolfStatus’ online auction service offers easy setup, bidding, and payment for nonprofit clients wishing to add an online auction component.

expanding the partnership to other pga sections

GolfStatus is expanding their partnership to include other PGA Sections around the country, helping boost efficiency for golf professionals and fundraising for charities. “GolfStatus speaks the language of nonprofits and charities, but also golf,” David says. “They’re an expert resource that helps golf professionals elevate every event.”

Cash says he hopes PGA Sections see GolfStatus as an asset to PGA Members and events. He says the GolfStatus team will work with each individual golf facility and pro to determine what tournament-related tasks can be taken off their plates, such as:

• Meeting with the tournament organizer as a consultant

• Helping the tournament maximize fundraising with exclusive sponsorships, tools, and partners

• Building a registration and payments event website

• Automating the creation of professional scorecards, cart signs, alpha lists, etc. so that golf staff doesn’t have to spend hours organizing data and formatting documents

An event website automates registration, saving organizers and golf staff time and effort. Registration information drops in the software's back end where it's easily accessible for real-time management.

The specialized software and support GolfStatus provides fosters growth and streamlines golf tournament management, making it easier than ever for golf facilities to host impactful charity events while saving valuable time and resources.

get in touch

If your golf facility or PGA Section is interested in learning more about how GolfStatus can serve you, book a meeting with Cash Dinkel, PGA, Client Success Director. Nonprofits can get qualified to use the software at no cost by clicking here.

When Dino Verelli’s father, Giovanni, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008, he found very little in terms of support or resources for pancreatic cancer families. Dino decided to take action to rewrite the story of this formidable disease. He launched Project Purple in 2010, fueled by a commitment to his father and the countless other patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer. Sadly, Giovanni passed away in 2011, but his memory is honored through Project Purple’s work to raise awareness, drive crucial research into early detection, and provide aid to patients and families battling pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer has just a 13% five-year survival rate. Its symptoms often don’t present until the disease has advanced and spread to other organs, making early detection—when the chances of successful treatment are the greatest—even more of a challenge. Vin Kampf, Program Director at Project Purple, lost an uncle to pancreatic cancer within just six months of diagnosis, inspiring him to join the Project Purple team.

“One of the most important things we do is build community,” Vin says. “It trickles down into our other areas of focus. Fostering a community of support helps patients connect with others who are in the same fight has been life-changing.”

Vin oversees the marathon program at Project Purple, which raises funds through individual runners in marathons and races across the world. The program has helped build the community that’s become so important to the organization, joining together with the pancreatic cancer patients, their families, and the institutions conducting crucial research into a cure.

Vin also loves golf. He’s played in a number of golf fundraisers and helps with a tournament organized by an aunt in memory of a cousin. He saw the fundraising potential and reach of such an event, and wanted to bring that to Project Purple. “Who doesn’t love being outside, being together with others working toward a common purpose, and connecting with them on new levels?” he says. He started to think about how a golf tournament might work for Project Purple—and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“All marathons were canceled, but we were able to move forward with a golf fundraiser,” Vin says. “It was the one fundraising event we could do safely.” They threw the first tournament together in just a few months for a fall event, then had a quick turnaround when they opted to move the tournament to June.

He used the organization’s CRM and multiple spreadsheets for the first two tournaments and ran into roadblocks. “It felt clunky and inefficient, and the registration site didn’t look good or work very well,” he says, and began looking for a better way to plan and manage the tournament that was structured to handle golf.

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“We really wanted the golf tournament to become a marquee event for us, and we needed a solution that reflected that.”

— Vin Kampf, Program Director at Project Purple

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Read the full case study to find out why Vin says GolfStatus was what was missing from the golf tournament that raised over $130,000 for pancreatic cancer.

The goal of the golf tournament was not only to raise money for a scholarship program, but to build strong connections among the chapter’s alumni.

Partner Snapshot

The Collin County Chapter of the Texas Tech Alumni Association had been defunct for several years when a group of local alums decided to resurrect it. As the chapter began to get back on its feet, the primary goal was to engage alumni and raise funds for a scholarship program. 

Collin County is located in North Dallas, Texas, with a large population base of Texas Tech alumni. The newly active chapter started out by hosting watch parties for Red Raider athletic events, but wanted to do more to build connections and replenish their coffers.

Though Sam Clark wasn’t a member of the initial board, he quickly volunteered to head up a golf tournament that would help the group reach its goals of alumni engagement and fundraising. “It was basically a done deal that we were going to have a golf tournament,” Sam says. “Everyone on the board plays golf or is a member at a country club, and everyone knew it was a great way to raise money.”

The Challenge

Right off the bat, Sam had questions. Though he had played in charity golf tournaments, he’d never planned one from ideation to fruition. “I wondered how we should handle registrations, payments, leaderboards, pin flags, and so many other details,” he says. Much of the initial planning phase was spent determining the overall approach to the golf tournament: target audience, the type of golf facility (public or private), price points (high-end or mid-level), and a budget. 

Next up? Determining processes and tournament operations. Sam knew they’d need a website of some type to collect registrations and handle payments, which he knew could end up being a hassle if they tried to build something from scratch or went with the wrong event management platform. What’s more, Sam wanted a one-stop shop for quality tournament add-ons so there were fewer vendors and moving parts to manage.

The Solution

Another member of the chapter’s board, Russell Hall, had run several tournaments through GolfStatus, and told Sam it was just what he needed. Once the major decisions were made about the host golf facility and team pricing, Sam connected with the GolfStatus team to get an event website up and running. 

“Since we were starting a tournament from scratch, I wanted one place to manage everything,” Sam says. “GolfStatus got us up and running quickly. It would have been a major headache to have to spend hours and hours trying to get a site built and payment processing set up.” Sam worked with the GolfStatus team to build the event website, share access to the software with members of the planning committee, and set up everything in the platform’s back end.

Tournament organizers worked with GolfStatus to get an event site up and running quickly, so they could start promoting the event and taking registrations right away.

The Results

“I honestly don’t know how we would have done it without GolfStatus,” Sam explains. “It would have quadrupled—or more—the work and time that went into the tournament.” The event pulled in 32 teams and primarily targeted local Texas Tech alumni. The nature of the tournament was centered around the Red Raiders in terms of giveaways and messaging, but no one was excluded. “A couple folks showed up that supported rival schools and had to deal with some friendly ribbing from the alums,” Sam laughs.

“For year one, we felt good about how we did,” Sam says about the tournament’s fundraising outcomes. He says they didn’t have a fundraising goal so much as they had a budget to balance with expenses and profit, plus learn from the first year to do it “bigger and better” in year two and beyond. The tournament’s revenue was split between a donation to the Texas Tech Athletic Department and the bulk going to reestablishing the chapter’s scholarship fund. Sam says that connecting alumni, with each other and the chapter, was just as important as the money that was raised.

To recruit sponsors, the planning team leveraged the networks of the chapter’s board and committee chairs and reached out to businesses in the area owned by alumni of Texas Tech. Those connections and relationships helped draw 22 sponsors to the tournament. GolfStatus’ exclusive Technology Sponsorship sold for $3,000 and provided robust sponsor exposure on the event website and leaderboards.

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“I honestly don’t know how we would have done it without GolfStatus. It would have quadrupled—or more—the work and time that went into the tournament.”

— Sam Clark, Golf Committee Chair, Texas Tech Alumni Association of Collin County

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Tournament Add-Ons

From the outset of planning, Sam knew the tournament needed quality add-ons that players expect when playing in a charity event, such as pin flags, hole-in-one contests, and high-end auction items. The fact that GolfStatus was able to provide all of this and more was huge for Sam and his team. “Having one place to get everything meant fewer things to manage,” Sam says. 

They purchased pin flags and hole-in-one insurance directly from GolfStatus, which handled all the details, plus unlocked the platform’s invoicing feature to simplify accounting for sponsors that requested invoices. The sale of the Technology Sponsorship and purchase of add-ons qualified the tournament for a Stay and Play package donation from the Dormie Network Foundation, which was leveraged as a high-end live auction item that brought in thousands of extra dollars. An accompanying silent auction also featured signed memorabilia from the Texas Tech Athletic Department and items donated by local businesses.

The chapter used its relationship with the main Texas Tech Alumni Association to involve some big names in the Athletic Department in the tournament. Head men’s basketball coach Grant McCasland, head football coach Joey McGuire, and the Red Raider mascot were in attendance, which attracted both golfers and sponsors to the tournament and added value and legitimacy to the overall event experience. 

“Incredible” Support

Sam says the support he got from the GolfStatus client success team was second to none, responding to questions and addressing any challenges right away. GolfStatus has PGA Professionals on staff, who provide a unique perspective and know the ins and outs of golf tournaments. Sam says he’s worked in customer service as an account representative before, and he says the service provided by GolfStatus “put me to shame! They were so knowledgeable and responsive.” Sam worked closely with Paul Murcek, PGA on the client success team. Paul helped build the event website and provide guidance on hole-in-one packages, and provided “incredible support, which is huge when throwing a big event like a golf tournament.”

The tournament achieved its goals of raising funds for the chapter and connecting with alumni.

Lessons Learned

As a first-time tournament organizer, Sam says that early on, he worried that he was behind the eight ball with planning, when in reality, many of the details come into place closer to the event date. “I wish I knew that from the get go,” he says. “In reality, getting the golf course booked and the website live are the first major things to check off the list. After that, we had to just wait to finalize a lot of the details.”

He says having a committed group of at least four volunteers was key. “Don’t try to do it by yourself!” Sam says, and make sure those folks are going to be in it for the long haul to make the tournament a success. 

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“I’ve worked in customer service before, and GolfStatus put me to shame! They were so knowledgeable and responsive.”

— Sam Clark, Golf Committee Chair, Texas Tech Alumni Association of Collin County

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The biggest lesson learned Sam says he’d share with other first timers? “Things are going to happen the day of the tournament, but more than likely, golfers and sponsors aren’t even going to notice and it’s not going to ruin the day.” Having a good support staff—including the GolfStatus support team—in place is key, Sam says, to ensure any issues that arise can be handled in a timely fashion and not interrupt the flow of the event. “When you’re bringing 150 people out for the day who are looking to you, it’s nice to know you have people in your corner so it’s not all on you to figure out.”

Building for Future Success

The chapter is excited for year two of the event, especially with the experience they gained with the inaugural tournament. They hope to expand the event to both courses at the host golf facility, Gleneagles Country Club, part of Invited Clubs, and fold in additional contests. “We’ll debate a lot of things about next year’s event, but it won’t be a debate at all over whether or not we’ll use GolfStatus. We’ll be back!” Sam says. 

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Get qualified for golf for good

Texas Tech Alumni Association of Collin County was able to utilize GolfStatus’ golf event management platform at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program. You can get a free event website with online registration, access to exclusive sponsorships and add-ons, tournament planning guidance, and more at no risk. Click below to book a meeting with GolfStatus and get qualified!