By Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager

If your charity golf tournament is right around the corner but your golfer numbers aren’t where you need them to be, don’t panic. With the right outreach strategy (and a little hustle), you can still drive golfer registrations to fill your field.

Here are seven last-minute marketing tips to attract golfers to your tournament.

1. Segment Your List, Then Target Messaging

Blasting the same generic email to your entire contact list is a fast way to get ignored. Instead, break your audience into segments and tailor your messaging to the interests and needs of each group.

Think about your list in groups like:

• Past golfers. These are people who played in your tournament but haven’t yet signed up. A “We miss you!” note with a specific call to action (maybe a deadline-driven discount code or special rate) can nudge them off the fence.

• Other event participants. They’ve already had a great event experience with your organization, so a “We’d love to have you at the tournament” message with a link to your golf tournament website can go a long way.

• Sponsors and partners. These folks are already invested in your mission, so ask if they have employees or clients who love golf and would benefit from a day on the golf course.

• General supporters. Your broader donor or email list may include golfers who have never played in your tournament. Remind them what they’re missing!

Segmentation takes a little extra effort upfront, but it produces significantly better results than a one-size-fits-all approach. Your messages will feel personal and relevant.

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PRO TIP:

Use your golf tournament management platform to access past years’ participant data.

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2. Send a Text

Email is a great tool to market your golf tournament, but text messages are another opportunity to reach golfers where they already look multiple times a day—their phones. If you have an opt-in SMS list, now is the perfect time to use it.

Keep texts short and direct, and link to your registration website. For example: “Spots are filling up for [Tournament Name] on [Date], and we’d love to have you there. Register today at [website link]. Questions? Reply to this text!”

You can also use SMS for countdown reminders and to create urgency that prompts action:

• “Only 5 teams remain!”

• “Registration closes Friday!”

• “Don’t miss the hole-in-one contest!”

If you don’t have an SMS list yet, start building one now for future events. Add an opt-in checkbox to your registration form, donor forms, mention it at events, and promote it on social media. The investment will pay off every time you need to drum up last-minute interest.

3. Go All-In on Social Media

Between now and tournament day, leverage your social channels to bring in golfers. A mix of organic content and paid campaigns can quickly generate real momentum.

Free, Organic Tactics That Work:

• Create a Facebook event. Invite your committee, board, members, and volunteers to 1. Mark themselves as “Going” and 2. Invite their networks. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s underused by nonprofit event teams. Facebook Events show up in local search results and the feeds of attendees’ networks, giving you broad, free organic visibility.

• Post daily (or close to it). Share photos from past tournaments, sponsor spotlights, highlights from past tournaments, tournament prizes, raffle prize previews, tease the theme, or even give away a free team to someone who likes and shares the post. Use language that conveys urgency.

• Join relevant groups. Search Facebook and LinkedIn for local groups—golf, nonprofit networking, community events, etc. Post your tournament details (be sure to follow each group’s rules about self-promotion) and let members spread the word.

• Don’t overlook stories or LinkedIn. A well-timed Facebook or Instagram story with a link or a LinkedIn post from your organization’s page can reach people that other channels can miss, especially corporate golfers and potential foursomes from local businesses.

Paid Tactics Worth the Investment

Even a modest Facebook or Instagram ad budget ($100 - $300) can deliver strong results:

• Target ads by zip code so you’re reaching people who are local to your tournament

• Narrow ads to specific interests, like golf, charity, fundraisers, outdoors, and your specific cause (pets, environment, literacy, youth, etc.)

• Boost your highest-performing organic post

• Run a dedicated registration ad with a clear call to action (Register Now!)

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Free Social Media Resources

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4. Pick Up the Phone!

There’s no more powerful outreach tool than a real human asking another real human to show up. In the age of automated emails, social ads, and AI, a personal call or text from someone they know stands out and makes them feel valued.

Here’s how to mobilize your committee for personal outreach:

• Five and Five. Challenge every committee member, board member, staff member, and volunteer to send five texts and make five phone calls asking people to register. Provide a simple script so it’s as easy as possible to execute: “Hey [Name], I’m helping organize [Tournament Name] on [Date], and we’d love to have you join us. It’s a great day of golf for a great cause. Can I send you the link to register?”

• Leverage your past participants. Pull a list of past golf tournament (or other event) participants and prioritize reaching out to people who attended one or two years ago, but haven’t yet registered this time. These are essentially warm leads, since they already know your organization and event, since they liked it enough to come once.

• Make it a group effort. If you’re really close to a target number, consider a focused phone-a-thon day where your team spends a few hours making calls together. Friendly competition (“who can get the most registrations today?”) makes it more fun. People tend to respond to urgency when it feels genuine, so don’t be afraid to use language like “We need six more foursomes to have a full field, and I thought of you.”

5. Use AI to Find Community and Event Calendars

Local event calendars are an underutilized free marketing channel. Local news outlets, community organizations, chambers of commerce, visitors bureaus, and city websites often maintain community calendars that are actively browsed by people looking for things to do. Getting your tournament listed on as many of these as possible is a no-cost way to expand reach.

The challenge can be in finding them all. That’s where AI can help. Use tools like ChatGPT or Claude with this prompt: “Give me a list of community and event calendars in [City, State] and how to submit an event listing for each one.”

You’ll get a solid starting list of calendars where you can post your tournament details. Most of these submissions take just a few minutes to complete and can put your event in front of audiences you’d never reach otherwise. Once you have your list and links, divide them up among committee members and knock submissions out in an afternoon.

6. Offer a Last-Minute Incentive

Sometimes people just need a little push or a carrot to spur them to action. A time-sensitive incentive can convert fence-sitters into registered golfers. Consider offers like:

• A deadline discount. “Register by [Date] to save $25 per foursome”

• A bonus. “Register this week and get five free raffle tickets” or “Register by tomorrow and get an extra entry in the putting contest”

• A complete team freebie. “Include all team members’ contact information to receive a complimentary mulligans package”

It’s a good idea to pair any incentive with a hard deadline, and promote it everywhere—email, social, text, and personal outreach. The combination of value and urgency can be a powerful motivator.

7. Rally Your Sponsors

Your sponsors benefit from a full tournament field as much as you do, so reach out to your top sponsors to ask if they would help you spread the word. Provide quick and easy suggestions to help, like:

• Sharing the event website link on their company social channels or in an internal email to employees.

• Purchase additional teams as an incentive for employees or to entertain clients and prospects.

• Promote the event to their networks of customers, clients, and vendors. Since many businesses see golf tournaments as an opportunity to build relationships, having the sponsor reach out to ask might be the nudge they need to register a team.

Send a quick email or give them a call with the ask, framing it as a mutual win. Use this free Golf Tournament Sponsor Asset Kit, with ready-to-use messaging, graphics, and more, to help turn sponsors into event promoters.

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Final Thoughts

Last-minute marketing pushes work best when they’re focused, personal, and multi-channel. You don’t need to do everything in this list. Choose two or three tactics that best fit your organization’s strengths and capacity, and execute on them consistently and with urgency.

Be sure you have a dedicated golf event website to use in these marketing campaigns. GolfStatus offers a free, professional event website with online registration, secure payment processing, digital sponsor exposure, and more, plus access to its golf tournament management software at no upfront cost. Book a quick meeting with a golf fundraising professional to learn more and get started!

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There’s something powerful about an annual golf tournament that’s become more than just a day on the course and has evolved into a tradition. The same course, the same time of year, the same group of supporters showing up year after year to build community.

That tradition is something to celebrate, but a tradition that doesn’t continue to improve can quickly become stale and a reason for golfers and sponsors not to come back.

If your golf event has been running for five, 10, or even 20+ years, you’ve done the hard part of building something that people care about and trust. Now the challenge is keeping it fresh and exciting enough that last year’s participants can’t wait to register again, while new golfers and sponsors are eager to join in.

You don’t need to completely reinvent your tournament to make it feel new. Small, strategic changes can elevate the golfer experience, keep sponsors excited, improve fundraising results, and keep people excited to show up year after year.

Here are 11 ways to refresh a longstanding golf tournament while honoring the traditions that made it successful in the first place.

1. Debrief After the Event (Every Year)

Before you think about next year’s tournament, gather your planning team and do an honest debrief. Discuss what went smoothly, what felt clunky, and what they heard from golfers and sponsors throughout the day.

You should also build feedback into your planning process so you hear directly from participants through a short post-event survey. Send it to golfers and sponsors to help glean:

• What they loved

• What they would change

• What would make them bring a friend next year

• What experiences or components stood out

Look for insights into which fundraising elements (raffles, auctions, on-course games, merch, etc.) performed best, which sponsor packages delivered the best value, and when (or if) the day lost energy. These responses tell you where to invest time and money for the future.

Make this a formal part of your planning process every year. You’ll find areas to improve because you’re paying attention to what participants are saying, and they’ll appreciate being heard.

2. Evaluate the Golfer Experience

An effective way to refresh a tournament is to consider the tournament—from start to finish—from the golfer’s perspective. Think through every touchpoint of the event:

• Is registration simple and efficient?

• Is communication clear leading up to the event?

• Is check-in welcoming?

• Is signage professional and easy to follow?

• Does the pace of the day feel brisk and organized?

• Is the awards ceremony or program engaging and celebratory?

Big improvements can come from fixing small points of friction. Ensuring the registration process is easy and communication is effective. Making check-in quick and painless. Offering great food and beverage. Keeping a steady pace of play. Maintaining high energy post-round. These details show participants that you want them to have the best possible experience.

Ensuring golfers have a great experience will elevate any golf tournament.

3. Introduce New Contests & On-Course Games

Adding new interactive tournament elements is one of the fastest ways to boost the event’s energy. There’s no need to completely overhaul the tournament’s format. A four-person scramble is the classic choice for charity events for a reason—it’s inclusive, fast-moving, and fun for all skill levels. But small additions can generate excitement. Some popular, low-lift options include:

• Hole-in-one contests

• Longest drive contest

• Closest to the pin challenge

• Putting contests

• Beat-the-pro (or amateur) hole

• Ball drop

• Poker hand

• On-course entertainment

• On-course games or fundraising stations

These activities not only make the day more entertaining, but they also create additional fundraising opportunities. Even introducing one or two new elements each year gives returning golfers something to look forward to and gives sponsors new activation options.

4. Refresh Your Branding & Introduce a Theme

Tournaments often use the same logo and look for years. And while consistency is important, a visual refresh can make your tournament feel updated and exciting without abandoning its identity. Consider tweaks or updates to colors and graphics, a more unified brand across digital and print, and an event website that reflects the caliber of the experience you’re delivering.

Introducing or updating a theme can complement a refreshed brand. You can do as much or as little with a theme as you want. Maybe a patriotic theme, a Masters-inspired tournament, a tropical or beach vibe, or team colors tied to a favorite sports team can all work beautifully. A theme can give golfers and sponsors something new to engage with, creating natural opportunities for fun on-course decor, social content, and creative sponsor activations that feel fresh each year.

Adding a theme, like glow golf, can significantly elevate a longstanding golf event.

5. Upgrade Player Gifts

Golfer gifts are remembered and used long after the tournament ends. If your event has been handing out the same golf balls and koozies for years, it may be time to rethink your swag strategy.

Today’s golfers want high-quality, useful items they’ll actually reach for. Rotating your gifts is a low-effort way to make repeat golfers feel like they’re getting something new, and thoughtful gifts elevate the perceived value of your tournament. Consider items like:

• Premium golf accessories

• Branded drinkwear

• Custom headcovers

• Branded golf towels

• Performance apparel

• Bluetooth speakers

• Portable phone charges

• Local products

• Experience-based prizes (gift cards, tee times)

6. Improve the Sponsor Experience

Sponsors are the financial backbone of your tournament. You can help build strong partnerships with sponsors by helping them feel like active participants instead of just logos on a banner. Each year, think through how you can deliver more value, more visibility, and more engagement to the businesses supporting your cause.

Think beyond static banners and create interactive opportunities for sponsors to engage with golfers:

• Branded tee box activations

• Sponsored contests, on-course games, or giveaways

• Product sampling stations

• Drink or snack stations

• Sponsored text messages or leaderboard placements

• Social media collaborations before, during, and after the event

Digital sponsor exposure is increasingly valuable, so don’t overlook your event website, email campaigns, mobile apps, and live scoring platforms for visibility that extends beyond tournament day.

Consider personalized sponsorship packages instead of the same tiers every year. Add fun, new names to packages and work with the sponsors to design packages that meet the goals of the business and your event.

Give sponsors more for their investment, like digital exposure, to improve their experience with your tournament and keep them coming back.

7. Modernize the Event with Technology

One of the fastest and easiest ways to elevate your tournament is to modernize the experience. Golfers, sponsors, and our planning committee will benefit from tools that streamline management and execution.

It starts with a dedicated event website that gives your tournament a polished, digital home base where golfers can register in minutes, sponsors can purchase packages and upload logos, and supporters can make donations—all without a phone call, paper form, or any effort from your team. This frees you up to focus on the relationships and experiences that make your tournament stand out.

The right tech can also help with:

• Team and sponsor management

• Mobile scoring and live leaderboards

• Auctions

• Raffle tickets and mulligan sales

• Donor tracking

• Payment processing and receipts

• Post-event reporting and accounting

8. Create Memorable Moments

The best tournaments leave people with stories that keep them talking. These might be:

• A surprise guest

• A heartfelt mission moment

• An incredible raffle prize

• A fun on-course challenge

• A unique food or beverage experience

• An emotional speech from a beneficiary

• A dramatic finish

• A hole-in-one contest winner

These transform a golf outing from just another fundraiser to an event that people circle on their calendars year after year. Think intentionally about where your tournament can create emotional peaks throughout the day. The goal is to go beyond simply entertaining golfers to creating memorable moments that they’ll talk about with coworkers, friends, sponsors, and future participants. They don’t have to be expensive; they simply have to be meaningful and well-executed.

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Case Study: Credit Unions for Kids Golf Classic

For 17 years, U.S. Community Credit Union and Enbright Credit Union have joined forces to host the Annual Credit Unions for Kids Golf Classic. Keeping the event fresh and fun every year is a priority for organizers, who have added new games, tech tools, sponsorships, and more, while raising tens of thousands of dollars for Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

READ MORE

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9. Keep the Cause Front & Center

For nonprofit or charity tournaments especially, one of the biggest opportunities is strengthening the connection between the event and the mission it supports. Longstanding tournaments, in particular, can sometimes get hyper-focused on logistics and tradition that the “why” beyond the fundraiser gets lost.

Golfers are more likely to give generously and keep coming back when they feel an emotional connection to the cause, not just the event. Keep the mission visible and personal to strengthen donor engagement and long-term support:

• Mission-focused signage throughout the course

• Videos or impact stories during meals or awards

• QR codes linking directly to your event website’s donation page

• Beneficiary speakers or testimonials

• Updates on how last year’s golf tournament funds were used

• Live fundraising appeals connected to specific outcomes

10. Use Data to Make Decisions

Every year, your tournament generates valuable data that can help improve future event iterations. The key is collecting, analyzing, and using this data to make strategic decisions instead of guessing.

Track and pay attention to:

• Registration trends (when people register, how they pay, if they use discount codes, if they make an additional donation, etc.)

• Sponsor renewal rates

• Contest or game participation

• Raffle ticket and mulligan sales

• Golfer feedback

• Auction and raffle engagement

• Marketing response rates

• Fundraising outcomes

• Expenses

For example, if certain sponsorship levels sell out immediately, consider expanding or restructuring them. If early-bird pricing consistently drives registrations, invest more in early marketing campaigns. If golfers consistently rate check-in as a poor experience, prioritize fixing it next year.

11. Preserve Traditions While Embracing Change

Don’t worry—not everything needs to change! In fact, some traditions are exactly why golfers return year after year. Whether it’s a beloved course, a signature contest, a longtime emcee or auctioneer, or a post-round awards moment people genuinely look forward to, the goal isn’t to erase what makes the tournament the tournament—it’s to evolve it.

You’ll succeed by balancing consistency with innovation. Preserve what people value most while introducing enough new energy each year to keep the event exciting, engaging, and financially strong. And when participants and supporters feel like your tournament just keeps getting better, they’re the ones who help fill your field.

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Modernize Your Tournament With GolfStatus

GolfStatus’ tech is built to help golf fundraisers stay fresh, relevant, and profitable. Its golf event-specific tools help organizers save time, raise more money, and deliver a professional experience that golfers and sponsors love year after year. Learn how you can get started at no upfront cost and get a free event website by booking a meeting with our team!

Keep Golfers and Sponsors Coming Back

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Charity golf tournaments are opportunities for fun, connection, competition, and above all, fundraising. While team registrations and sponsorships typically drive the bulk of the event’s revenue, the most successful tournaments don’t stop there. They layer in thoughtful, well-timed donation asks before, during, and after the tournament to maximize impact and leverage the generosity of golfers.

The key? Make giving easy and aligned with the tournament experience. When done strategically, your asks won’t interrupt the round; instead, you’re simply enhancing the reason people showed up in the first place.

Here are 10 actionable ways to ask for donations during your next golf fundraiser.

1. Use Your Event Website as Your Fundraising Hub

Your golf tournament website should be the central engine for donations. Every ask, no matter where it happens, should point back to a simple, mobile-friendly donation site. This way, there’s no hassling with cash, reconciling Venmos, or processing checks after the tournament. Instead, all funds are kept in a centralized repository for easy post-tournament accounting.

Remove barriers to giving by making sure your event website:

• Clearly communicates your mission, what the tournament is raising money for, and its impact

• Includes a prominent “Donate” button across the site’s pages

• Works seamlessly on mobile devices

• Includes a donation tracker

• Connects to and displays your live leaderboard with a donation call to action

PRO TIP: Incorporate storytelling on your golf tournament website.

Use photos, impact stats, and a clear call to action so visitors understand why their donation matters before they ever even set foot on the course.

Every donation ask should link to your event website, where golfers can donate with just a few taps and see progress toward your goal.

2. Send Strategic Asks Throughout the Day

Communication is one of your most powerful fundraising tools, so use it wisely. You’ll need an easy way to get in touch with golfers and donors at the right moments during the event, like email or push notifications. Timing matters, so spread your messages throughout the day so they feel helpful, not overwhelming.

Use your event management platform to:

• Link to the donation page of your event website

• Announce fundraising milestones

• Highlight contests or challenges

• Share any matching donation campaigns

PRO TIP: Pair donation asks with updates.

Fold your day-of donation appeals into useful updates, like lunch announcements, current standings, or on-course game or contest reminders. This makes them feel like part of the event flow, rather than a disruption.

3. Set a Day-of Fundraising Goal & Rally Around It

A clear, tangible tournament day fundraising goal gives golfers and sponsors something to rally behind and can motivate them to make an additional contribution. Instead of a vague ask, be as specific as possible. For example:

• “Help us raise $5,000 today and feed shelter pets for three months.”

• “We’re halfway to our goal of $7,000—help us close the gap!”

Leverage your event management platform’s donation tracker to keep attendees up to date on your progress, building momentum and urgency. What’s more, when the overall tournament experience is top-notch, golfers are much more likely to chip in to help you reach the day’s goal.

PRO TIP: Tie your goal to a specific outcome.

Donors tend to be more motivated to make a contribution when they can visualize its impact on your mission.

4. Use a Compelling Story to Help Make the Ask

Not every golfer at your event will have a deep connection to your cause. Many are there because they were invited to play by a friend or family member or to fill their company’s foursome.

Your golf tournament is an incredible opportunity to connect these new potential donors to your mission. Consider these ideas:

• Share an impact story during the tournament’s kickoff

• Feature a beneficiary’s story during the awards ceremony

• Display signs, banners, or posters around the course that describe your work

• Include brochures or handouts in golfer gift bags

Follow these up with an ask that helps attendees understand how their donation makes a difference.

PRO TIP: Keep mission moments concise and emotional.

A brief two or three-minute story from a beneficiary or your nonprofit’s executive director with a clear takeaway is much more effective and memorable than a long presentation.

Tie donation asks to compelling stories to help the audience connect with your mission.

5. Have Donation Stations Around the Course

Make giving accessible—and visible—with designated donation stations in strategic locations at the golf facility. Staff them with knowledgeable volunteers, staff members, or even beneficiaries who can answer questions, share stories, and assist with donations.

Place donation stations in high-traffic, but unobtrusive, areas, like:

• Registration/check-in

• The turn or comfort station

• A par five tee box that’s likely to get backed up

• Near the clubhouse

• Near the bar at the post-round gathering

PRO TIP: Use QR codes that link to your event website.

Place signage with QR codes that link golfers to your event website’s donation page at every donation station. This way, golfers can donate using their phones (and you won’t have to hassle with handling cash) and instantly get a receipt.

6. Leverage Live Leaderboards for Real-Time Giving

Live leaderboards aren’t just for tracking scores—they’re a powerful engagement and fundraising tool. Anyone, anywhere can follow along with the tournament’s progress via online and in-app live leaderboards, expanding your reach beyond the course and keeping people engaged in real time. Encourage giving by:

• Sharing leaderboard links on social and via email before and during the event

• Inviting spectators and remote supporters to donate while following along

• Creating fun pledges (donate a specific amount for every birdie, eagle, or bogey)

PRO TIP: Use social media to engage donors.

Give social media shoutouts to online donors, consider having a special prize drawing for day-of donors, and be sure to follow up after the tournament with a thank you.

Live leaderboards are a great way to engage donors throughout a golf tournament.

7. Turn On-Course Moments Into Giving Opportunities

Your golf tournament is full of natural pauses, so take advantage of these lulls (and captive audiences) to ask for a donation. Keep these asks light, fun, and optional. The goal is to invite participation, not pressure it.

Consider adding donation prompts at:

• Contest holes (hole-in-one, longest drive, closest to the pin, putting)

• High-traffic wait areas

• Comfort stations

• Driving range

• Practice green

PRO TIP: Pair donation asks with games or incentives.

Keep the energy high and the atmosphere casual by pairing donation asks with on-course games, drawings, or other incentives.

8. Introduce a Score-Based Giving Challenge

Tie donations directly to the tournament by asking golfers to donate based on scores. It’s simple, memorable, and easy to execute! Some ideas include:

• Donating an amount equal to their team’s final score (if they shot a 72, they would donate $72)

• Matching the winning team’s score

• Using the last-place score for a fun twist

PRO TIP: Make this ask during awards.

The awards ceremony, banquet, reception, auction, or other post-golf gathering is a great time to make this particular ask. When you announce the winning teams and scores, challenge attendees to get out their phones and donate.

A tournament’s post-round meal, ceremony, or reception is a perfect opportunity to make a donation ask.

9. Add a Post-Round Call to Action

Golf is over, but post-round gatherings are prime opportunities to raise additional funds. People are relaxed, engaged, and reflecting on the fun they had during the event, making it an ideal moment to ask for contributions.

Share impact stories, progress toward the day and overall event fundraising goals, celebrate the day’s successes, and make a final, direct donation ask.

PRO TIP: Display a live fundraising total during the reception.

Project your event website’s donation tracker on a screen during the reception, showing real-time updates towards your goal to encourage last-minute donations.

10. Follow Up After the Tournament

Some of your best donation opportunities can happen after the tournament. Not everyone will give on tournament day, but many will once they’ve had time to reflect. Within a week or so after the tournament, send a follow-up email that includes:

• A thank-you message

• Event highlights, photos, and videos

• Fundraising totals

• A clear link to donate

PRO TIP: Segment your follow-up messages.

Tailor your asks specifically for players, sponsors, and non-attendees who engaged online.

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Raise More Money With Your Golf Event

When it comes to donation asks, success isn’t necessarily about doing more—it’s about doing it better. Strategic timing, clear messaging, and seamless tech make all the difference. The easier you make it to give, and the more connected people feel to your mission, the more likely they are to support your cause.

GolfStatus’ full-service golf event management and fundraising platform helps you do exactly that. From mobile-friendly event websites and live leaderboards to built-in donation tools and communication features, everything works together to create a smooth, engaging experience for your supporters.

Click below to book a meeting with GolfStatus’ team of golf fundraising experts to find out how you can get started at no upfront cost.

Save Time & Raise More Money

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

If you’ve ever thought about hosting a charity golf tournament but immediately felt overwhelmed by the idea, you’re definitely not alone. In fact, many event planners are scared of tackling a golf event because they assume it’s complicated, expensive, or requires deep knowledge of the sport.

The truth is, planning a golf tournament isn’t as scary as you might think. With the right tools, resources, and support on your side, even small teams and first-timers can pull off a successful, profitable event that their supporters love. Here’s why.

Planning a golf tournament doesn’t have to be scary!

The Right Tools Save Time & Effort

In the past, tournament organizers had nightmares about spreadsheets, paper registrations, phone calls, and handwritten scorecards. Today, technology takes care of the heavy lifting. Modern golf event management platforms streamline everything from registration to sponsorships to live scoring. Such tools automate tedious tasks so you can focus on big-picture planning.

Instead of spending countless hours creating and sending mailers, figuring out how to accept credit card payments, and trying to keep your planning team up to date, lean on tech to quickly and easily:

• Set up a branded event website with online registration and secure payment processing

• Build sponsorship packages and collect logos and assets

• Track players, teams, and sponsors

• Display live leaderboards at the golf facility and online

• Automate receipts, reminders, and thank you emails

• Share access with your planning team and the golf facility

All of this means you can plan and manage a golf tournament in less time. And because everything lives in one centralized, easily accessible platform, you can easily keep everyone organized and on the same page.

In short: you don’t need to be a golf pro or tech expert to be successful; you just need the right tools.

You won’t have nightmares about your golf tournament when using the right tools.

You Don’t Need Startup Funds

Many would-be event planners worry that a golf event requires significant upfront investment. But with smart planning, your tournament can pay for itself (and then some!).

Charity golf events typically see the bulk of their revenue from sponsorships rather than player fees. Sponsors are drawn to golf tournaments because they offer high visibility, engagement, and networking in a fun, relaxed atmosphere that allows them to connect with potential clients.

When building your team and sponsor packages, be sure to cover all your costs and build in additional revenue to go towards your cause. Build sponsorship packages at tiered price points that clearly outline benefits. For example:

• Title Sponsor ($5,000): Event naming rights, logo on all materials, prime logo exposure on the event website home page and live leaderboards, one complimentary team

• Pin Flag Sponsor ($3,000): Logo on branded pin flags on each hole, logo on event website, one complimentary team

• Hole-In-One Contest Sponsor ($1,000): Logo on contest holes, opportunity to be present at the hole to engage with golfers, logo on event website

• Hole Sponsor ($500): Signage at one hole, logo exposure in the live scoring app, logo on event website

Target local businesses, corporate partners, and long-time supporters to play in or sponsor the tournament, and start your outreach as early as possible. Use the funds that come in from teams and sponsorships to cover any invoices or costs as planning progresses.

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You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

No one expects you to plan a golf tournament from scratch without any support. In fact, help is everywhere if you know where to look.

The host golf facility is a great resource for helping you choose a date and format, and handle logistics such as start time, contests, and set up. Golf facilities rely on charity golf tournaments as part of their bottom line and are there to help you be successful.

Your golf event management platform should also give you access to golf fundraising experts who know the ins and outs of golf fundraisers. They can help walk you through setting up your golf tournament website, answer questions, and coach you on sponsorships, contests, and event-day logistics.

Don’t overlook your organization’s staff, board, and volunteers. Many likely have golf experience and community connections that can help you recruit golfers and sponsors. Delegate tasks like registration, coordinating the raffle or auction, and running on-course games or contests so you can focus on creating an exceptional experience.

Golfers are a generous bunch and jump at the chance to play golf for an important cause.

Golfers Love Playing for a Cause

Golfers are a generous, loyal, and community-minded group. When you invite them to play in a charity golf tournament, you’re offering more than just a round of golf—you’re giving them the opportunity to support a cause they care about while doing something they enjoy.

If your nonprofit’s supporters aren’t avid golfers, don’t fret. People are generally excited to join a day of fun with friends or colleagues, especially when it’s for a good cause. Beginner-friendly formats like scrambles make your tournament accessible for newbies while still keeping things fun and competitive for more seasoned players.

What’s more, golfers tend to come back year after year, especially when the tournament is well-run and they have a great time, and often bring others with them to learn about and support your mission.

Your Event Can Grow With You

One of the best parts of golf fundraisers is that they can grow with you. You can start small, as you get your footing and gain some experience, and build from there. Once you’ve run your first event, you’ll have templates, sponsor relationships, and processes you can use again and again.

Over time, many nonprofits turn their golf tournaments into annual signature fundraising events that raise thousands of dollars each year. And because golf events combine fundraising, networking, and donor engagement, they often become one of the most valuable events on a nonprofit’s calendar.

Don’t be afraid to start small and scale the tournament as you gain experience.

You’ll Have Fun, Too!

Yes, planning any successful fundraiser takes work, but golf tournaments have a way of reminding you why you do this.

On tournament day, you’ll see donors and sponsors connecting, volunteers smiling, and supporters having a great time, all while making a real impact for your mission. There’s something special about watching the tournament come together after months of planning and knowing that you helped make it happen.

And once you’ve planned one, you’ll realize it wasn’t nearly as scary as it first seemed.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let fear or inexperience keep you from tapping into one of the most successful and sustainable fundraising event models available to nonprofits. With the right tools, mindset, and support, you can plan a professional, lucrative golf event that strengthens relationships, builds community, and advances your mission.

When you’re ready to get started, GolfStatus makes it simple to plan, manage, and grow your golf fundraiser from start to finish. Intuitive software, in-house golf fundraising experts, and planning resources turn planning a golf tournament from something scary into an opportunity waiting to happen. Find out how you can get started at no upfront cost by booking a meeting with the GolfStatus team.

by Logan Foote, Sales and Education Director at GolfStatus

Businesses are looking for a win-win when it comes to sponsoring events. They want to be associated with a worthy cause while also gaining positive exposure for their brand to an audience of their ideal clients or customers. Charity golf tournaments do both, making sponsorships a win-win opportunity for your nonprofit and sponsoring businesses. Knowing who to ask is key to successfully securing golf tournament sponsorships.

• Golf tournament sponsorships are essential for driving revenue from your event and expanding your supporter network in your community.

• Some industries and types of businesses are especially suited to be golf tournament sponsors, and are outlined in detail in this guide.

• Sponsorship tiers are a great way to involve businesses with varying budgets. You can find sample golf tournament sponsorship tiers later in this guide.

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Table of Contents

Golf Tournament Sponsorships FAQ

Types of Businesses to Target for Golf Tournament Sponsorships

Best Practices for Golf Tournament Sponsorships

Sample Golf Tournament Sponsorship Tiers

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Golf Tournament Sponsorship FAQs

What Are the Benefits of Golf Tournament Sponsorships?

FOR BUSINESSES

Golf tournaments have a unique value proposition for businesses. With the right event management platform, sponsors get high engagement with an affluent audience of golfers through exposure before, during, and after the tournament that’s non-intrusive, but memorable. Businesses also benefit from:

• Exposure to the golfer demographic. This population segment is an especially desirable marketing target for businesses as it includes middle to high-income individuals. Consider the following data points about the average golfer:

  • Average household income: $125,000

  • Average net worth of golfers: $768,000

  • 33% are top-level managers

  • 25% own their own business

  • 91% are homeowners

  • 86% own life insurance

  • 74% dine out at least once a week

Many businesses are interested in gaining exposure to the golfer demographic, which gives your golf tournament an edge in recruiting sponsors.

• Multiple exposure touchpoints across the event management platform, earning impressions throughout the tournament.

• Positive brand lift that comes with being associated with and supporting a good cause.

• Increased customer loyalty from people who value businesses that give back to the community.

• Community engagement in a casual setting and as part of a fun and memorable event.

• A competitive advantage in employee recruitment. In fact, 71% of employees think it’s important to work at a company that gives back through philanthropy.

FOR NONPROFITS

Nonprofits stand to gain even more from golf tournament sponsorships, including:

• Financial support to make the tournament a success and help power their missions.

• Strong partnerships with sponsoring businesses that can open doors to high-level donor relationships.

• Credibility, especially for first-year or young events. Having a well-known business involved as a sponsor helps build a positive reputation.

• Access to new audiences when the sponsor promotes the tournament to their audiences, giving the tournament and the cause increased visibility.

What do businesses want out of golf tournament sponsorships?

• Brand awareness. It’s not just a benefit of a golf tournament sponsorship; it’s one of the primary drivers behind a business’s support.

• Support of important work. Many businesses see golf tournament sponsorships as an opportunity to not only support the work of nonprofits that enrich the community, but also to enjoy the good press that comes with it.

• Opportunities to connect with potential clients or customers. Sponsors often want to engage with golfers throughout the tournament, making connections that lead to new business.

• A positive ROI. Businesses are choosing to invest their dollars in your tournament and want to see a return on that investment.

• Custom opportunities. If you’re not sure what a particular business wants out of sponsoring your tournament, simply ask! Work together to build custom sponsorship packages or benefits to help them meet their goals for their support of the tournament.

What golf tournament sponsorships stand out?

• The Technology Sponsorship is a next-level sponsorship offering exclusively for GolfStatus clients. It offers premier branding and exposure for the sponsor throughout the GolfStatus platform and app, driving higher revenue and more engagement.

• Pin flags are one of the most visible sponsorships available for a golf tournament. Branded flags give the tournament a professional look and feel, and provide sponsors with unprecedented exposure across the golf course.

• Hole-in-one contests give sponsors broad visibility, high engagement with golfers, and association with a fun and exciting part of the tournament. A sponsorship covers the cost of hole-in-one contest insurance, which protects your organization from financial risk while offering valuable, attractive prizes.

• Hole sponsorships are a common entry point for sponsors to support your tournament. Level up hole sponsorships with high-quality hole signage and hole-by-hole digital exposure in a live scoring mobile app.

Types of Businesses To Target for Golf Tournament Sponsorships

When it comes to how your organization will secure sponsors for your golf tournament, targeting the right businesses is crucial:

• Start with businesses you already have a relationship with. They don’t have to be previous sponsors—they could be corporate entities that your volunteers or board members own, or even those that are within your supporters’ sphere of influence. 

• Look for businesses that want to reach golfers. Ideal candidates to reach out to are businesses interested in getting their brand on the radar of affluent, influential members of the community—the same folks spending their time on the golf course. 

• Target local businesses in the industries outlined below that have a generally wealthier clientele.

• Target regional and national companies where you have a connection or those that are headquartered or have offices in your area.

1. Food & Beverage

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

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

• Wineries/vineyards

• Beverage distributors

• Sports and cocktail bars

How to Win Their Support

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

2. Healthcare

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

• Primary care physicians

• Dentists/orthodontists

• Chiropractors

• Physical therapists

• Surgery practices

• Dermatologists

• Other specialty practices

How to Win Their Support

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

3. Sports & Fitness

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

• Gyms/fitness centers

• Personal trainers

• Sporting goods stores

• Golf equipment stores

How to Win Their Support

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

4. Business-to-Business & Financial Services

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

• Financial advisors/wealth management services

• Insurance companies/agents

• CPAs/accounting firms

• Banks/credit unions

• Advertising agencies

• PR companies

• Technology companies

• Consultants

How to Win Their Support

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

Businesses in the home service industry are good candidates for golf tournament sponsorships.

5. Home Services

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

• Home builders

• Architects

• Real estate companies/agents

• Home remodeling companies/contractors

How to Win Their Support

More than 90% of golfers own a home. These types of businesses jump at the chance to show off their properties and services at your golf event, perhaps with a tent on the course. Home builders and remodeling companies can showcase their work and high-quality materials, and real estate professionals have the opportunity to show off their listings and upcoming open houses.

6. Luxury Brands

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

• Jewelers

• High-end clothing brands

• Local boutiques

How to Win Their Support

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

7. Travel

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

• Car dealerships

• Car services

• Rental car companies 

• Travel agencies

• Hotels and resorts

How to Win Their Support

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

Allowing sponsors the opportunity to engage with golfers or offer product demonstrations is a great perk to include in sponsorship packages.

Best Practices for Golf Tournament Sponsorships

Sponsorships are where your tournament will likely raise the most money. 

• Offer multiple opportunities for support. Give businesses with marketing or philanthropy budgets of all sizes the chance to get involved with multiple sponsorship tiers or packages at varying price points.

• Leverage digital exposure. Use your event management platform to provide digital sponsor exposure that guarantees impressions throughout the tournament’s lifespan, including every time a golfer registers for the event. There’s no overhead cost to your nonprofit, and sponsors love the added exposure.

• Engage sponsors before, during, and after the tournament. Communicate with them as soon as they come on board, share updates as the tournament gets closer, recognize them during the event, and send a heartfelt thank you after the tournament concludes.

• Report on ROI. Wow your sponsors by sending a report after the tournament that details each deliverable you promised, outcomes, impact stories, testimonials, and imagery to demonstrate the ROI of their support.

Perhaps the most important best practice is using a tech platform like GolfStatus to manage your tournament’s sponsorships. Prospective sponsors should be able to browse available packages on your dedicated tournament website, then submit payment and assets right through the platform. They start to earn impressions right away, and you’re not burdened with time-consuming back and forth to secure payment, logos, and messaging.

Master sponsorship management with a specialty solution

Book a Meeting With GolfStatus

Sample Golf Tournament Sponsorship Tiers

Your golf tournament’s sponsorship offerings should be customized to your event and organization’s needs. A good rule of thumb to consider when building sponsor packages is to look at your tournament’s hard costs and create a sponsorship that covers those costs and adds additional revenue.

How you price these packages depends on a number of factors, including the type of golf facility (public or private), the number of golfers, and the sponsor perks you’ll provide. It’s a good idea to offer sponsorships at varying levels, tiers, and price points to allow businesses with different budgets to support the event. Don’t be afraid to work with prospective sponsors to create custom sponsorship packages or themes that fit both the sponsor’s and your tournament’s needs.

Sponsor logos should always be included on your golf tournament website, earning them valuable impressions before, during, and after the tournament, as well as in the accompanying live scoring mobile app.

Title or Presenting Sponsor (often includes GolfStatus’ Technology Sponsorship)

The highest tier of sponsorship with the highest price. This sponsor should receive broad recognition on all promotional materials, throughout the tournament, and include one or more teams. Folding in the Technology Sponsorship adds additional value and robust exposure throughout the GolfStatus platform.

Gold / Silver / Bronze Sponsor

This tier of sponsor may or may not have hard costs associated with it and can be considered pure tournament revenue. The accompanying sponsor benefits should be enough to justify the business’ investment and often include one or more teams.

Pin Flag Sponsor

Pin flags not only give your tournament a professional feel, but they offer unprecedented visibility throughout the golf course. Sell separate front and back nine flag sponsorships or bundle them into one sponsorship for all 18 holes.

Food Sponsor (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc.)

This sponsorship should cover the cost of the associated food and provide the sponsor’s logo on boxed lunches, banquet tables, snack packages, etc. An in-kind donation of food or beverage works well here (if the host golf facility allows outside food and beverage).

Hole-In-One Contest Sponsor

Hole-in-one contests offer premium exposure and associate the sponsor with a fun and exciting tournament component. Selling a sponsorship covers the cost of the hole-in-one insurance. Separate sponsorships can be sold for each contest hole, if desired.

Other Contest Sponsor

If your tournament includes contests such as putting, chipping, closest to the pin, or longest drive, you can significantly boost revenue by selling a sponsorship for each and allowing the sponsor to run the contest and engage with golfers.

Beverage Cart Sponsor

One of the most popular parts of any golf tournament is the beverage cart! Add a sponsor’s logo to the cart and offer them the chance to ride around the course and interact with golfers. The sponsorship could cover the cost of beverages, if desired.

Game Sponsor

On-course games add even more fun (and fundraising) to your tournament. You might sell a sponsorship for each game or a comprehensive games sponsor. Volunteers from the sponsor could be in charge of running the game.

Hole Sponsor (with or without a team included)

This is often an entry point for companies as they come at a lower price point and you can sell one or more for each hole. Signage on each hole, as well as their logo in the live scoring app, provides excellent exposure and a great experience for the sponsors playing in the event. Hole sponsorships can also include a team, if desired.

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Sample Golf Fundraiser Sponsorship Packages

This free guide outlines three sets of golf tournament sample sponsorship packages, including pricing, benefits, and golfer registration costs. You’ll find examples for small, mid-sized, and large tournaments that you can adapt based on your tournament’s unique needs.

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Get Exclusive Golf Tournament Sponsorships With GolfStatus

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

Sponsors want results, so you need the right tools.

Book a meeting with GolfStatus for smarter sponsorship management!

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

There are a ton of ways to boost your golf tournament’s fundraising revenue. This blog series has explored various ideas to not only raise more money, but make your golf tournament even more fun and engaging for everyone.

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posts in this blog series

Hole-In-One Contests

On-Course Games

• Golf Tournament Ideas That Raise More Money: Hole-In-One Contests

• Golf Tournament Ideas That Raise More Money: On-Course Games

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What Are In-Kind Donations?

In-kind donations are donations of any kind other than cash. They could be things like goods, services, or expertise. In-kind donations are attractive to businesses because they don’t necessarily have to consider budgets and cash flows to make such a gift. They might have excess inventory or products they’re looking to move or have already spent or allotted their charitable dollars for the year but still want to find a way to support your event. In short, in-kind donations can be a simpler way for businesses and companies to give.

How Can I Use In-Kind Donations for My Golf Tournament?

There are a number of ways to leverage in-kind donations for your golf tournament, for everything from player gifts to auction items to food or drinks. They can enhance the overall tournament experience for golfers, as they walk away with great gifts and have the chance to win exciting prizes.

Keep in mind that in-kind donations can also be considered sponsorships, in lieu of a monetary contribution, so be sure you’re recognizing in-kind sponsors the same way you would traditional sponsors. For example, a restaurant might be willing to donate boxed lunches to your tournament, so it’s appropriate to recognize them on your event website and any promotional items as the Lunch Sponsor.

How Can In-Kind Donations Help Raise More Money?

In-kind donations replace tournament items you might otherwise spend money on, which leaves more dollars for your cause. These can also help drive participation from both golfers and sponsors, filling your tournament’s field and driving revenue. More commonly, in-kind donations can be leveraged for raffle prizes, pin prizes, and auction items.

Some examples of in-kind donations for golf tournaments include:

• Golfer swag bag items

• Pin prizes

• Auction items

• Contest prizes

• Raffle prizes

• Food and beverage

• Logo or graphic design

• PR or promotional services

• Printing services

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Our friends at Dormie Network Foundation are committed to supporting nonprofits by offering in-kind donations of national golf membership and Stay and Play Packages. These high-end donations can help raise thousands of dollars for your cause. Find out more and request consideration.

GrayBull Club

Maxwell, Nebraska

Opening 2024

Victoria National

Newburgh, Indiana

Hidden Creek

Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Dormie Club

West End, North Carolina

Briggs Ranch

San Antonio, Texas

Ballyhack

Roanoke, Virginia

ArborLinks

Nebraska City, Nebraska

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How Do I Ask for In-Kind Donations?

Reach out the same way you would for the rest of your sponsorship offerings. Make a formal, specific request, then follow up if you don’t get a response. Start with businesses your organization or planning team members have a relationship with for the best response, but don’t be afraid to make a cold request. Consider reaching out to the sponsors who are already on board to see if they have any promotional items they would be willing to donate for player gift bags or raffle items. They get additional exposure and you get another chance to boost revenue.

If a business says no to a monetary contribution for a sponsorship, shift your ask to any in-kind donation instead. Be specific in your asks, otherwise you might end up with items that are of no use to your organization or event. You might also list specific in-kind sponsorships on your golf tournament’s event website so folks can jump onboard.

SPONSOR REQUEST & FOLLOW UP Template

Use this customizable template to help you reach out to prospective sponsors.

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Raise More Money With GolfStatus

GolfStatus’ exclusive sponsorships, built-in fundraising tools, and tournament add-ons can help you raise more money for your cause. Plus, the platform’s time-saving automations and tournament management tools will make sure you spend less time dealing with spreadsheets and bouncing between platforms and more time stewarding donors, selling sponsorships, and making your tournament unforgettable. Nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus at no cost through the Golf for Good program. Click the button below to find out more and get in touch with our team.

An offhand comment about a golf tournament in a group text among Adam Sedivy’s friends was the spark for raising over $22,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Adam’s son, Brantley, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a newborn. The longtime friends are all avid golfers, and in a group chat, someone jokingly suggested that they put together a golf tournament. As time went on, the joke became serious, and it turned into the Brantley’s Buddies Golf Classic.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation says that close to 40,000 kids and adults in the U.S. are living with cystic fibrosis. “Brantley is a great kid and such a trooper when it comes to all the medicines and treatments he’s on,” says Adam. Cystic fibrosis is a progressive disease, but thus far, Brantley is taking it all in stride.

Adam and Brantley Sedivy

“We all love to golf and decided we could do it for a good cause,” says CJ Barone, a member of the Brantley’s Buddies board. “We kept thinking, ‘why not us?’ We had nothing to lose and everything to gain with a tournament.”

In April of 2022, the group, consisting of Adam, Brantley’s mom Logan, CJ, Dylan Frank, and Garrett Riley, officially started planning for their first annual event for November. While Dylan has been a PGA Pro at several golf facilities in the area and has experience with golf tournaments, the rest of the group wasn’t sure where to start. They stumbled upon a website for a local tournament in North Carolina that used GolfStatus. “We were originally going to find a way to build our own website for the tournament, but then we found GolfStatus,” says Adam.

TECH DRIVES SUCCESS

Brantley’s Buddies qualified to use GolfStatus’ tournament management software at no cost through the Golf for Good program since it was raising money for a 501(c) nonprofit in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. GolfStatus gave the group an easy way to consolidate everything they needed all in one place—registration, sponsors, teams, hole assignments, and payments. “Especially as a group of guys who hadn’t done this before, it was nice having everything in one central location that we could all access when we needed to,” says Dylan. Adam says having a singular place to collect and hold funds just for the tournament was especially helpful.

Because the tournament was just starting out, the planning group wasn’t sure what kind of sponsor or golfer interest they would see right off the bat. But the tournament was an instant draw, thanks to the support from the surrounding community. “We sold out our teams in just over three weeks, which was incredible,” says Adam. He says they utilized online channels to promote the event, and the interest was very organic. Because they had a GolfStatus event website, they skipped printing flyers or mailers, and used online channels like social media, email, and word of mouth to drum up interest.

An event website made it simple for Brantley’s Buddies to promote the tournament, collect registrations, and sell sponsorships.

Sponsorships had similar success, with the team tapping into their networks to reach out to local businesses and some corporate sponsors. Brantley’s Buddies took advantage of GolfStatus’ exclusive Technology Sponsorship, building it into the title sponsor. They sold a pin flag sponsorship and purchased GolfStatus’ hole-in-one contest package, building the cost into the Par 3 sponsorships. In-kind sponsorships were just as important. Food for the tournament was donated in exchange for a sponsorship, along with silent auction items.

The tournament also utilized GolfStatus’ hassle-free live scoring to track scores for the round. They sent emails ahead of the event reminding golfers about the live scoring feature and asking them to download the free GolfStatus app ahead of time. Most teams used it to submit their scores, which made finalizing the tournament’s results easy and efficient.

Adam says having the right people involved was a huge part of the tournament’s success in its first year. They leaned on each person’s individual strengths to make the tournament happen—from organization, sponsor sales, promotion, and the golf specifics—combined with the infrastructure GolfStatus provided. “GolfStatus helped us find ways to make the tournament so much more professional than we ever could have dreamed out of the gate,” says CJ. “It gave us the platform to be able to raise money for our buddy’s kid and propelled us to success.”

GOLFING FOR GOOD

Every cent raised from the tournament—around $22,000—went directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Adam says the Foundation has been so helpful during their family’s journey and they wanted to contribute to finding a cure. The organization also provides counselors, parent and family groups, and a variety of resources on topics like day-to-day patient care and understanding hospital bills.

The Sedivy family: Mom Logan, dad Adam, big brother Rylan, Brantley, and Fosters the Australian shepherd

The Foundation sent a team to the golf event, where they set up a booth on the first hole and mingled with golfers, passed out materials, and helped bring awareness and connect people to the cause. “They’ve been a great partner, and we’re excited to have them at the event again this year,” Adam says.

building momentum

Brantley turned four this year and started taking golf lessons, so naturally he’s excited to be back on the course at this year’s tournament. And now that they have one year of planning under their belt, Adam and the rest of Brantley’s Buddies are bringing the excitement and momentum from the inaugural event into its second year. In addition to expanding the silent auction, they’re bringing in GolfStatus partner BackSwing Golf Events for a closest to the pin contest on a par three hole, both to drive additional dollars and make the tournament more fun and exciting.

Adam Sedivy, CJ Barone, Dylan Frank, and Garrett Riley

The 2023 tournament sold out in just two weeks, with much of the 2022 field returning for the second year. Because of the high interest and community support, they were able to raise sponsorship pricing to drive more revenue and an even bigger donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They’re also applying for 501(c)(3) status for Brantley’s Buddies as an official nonprofit organization so they can do even more to raise funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis.

Brantley’s Buddies are once again leaning on GolfStatus to help streamline planning and tournament execution. After a successful first year, it was a “no brainer” to continue to use the software. “GolfStatus was a game changer for us,” says CJ. “We probably said no less than 20 times throughout planning, ‘thank goodness for GolfStatus!’”

Qualify for Golf for Good

Nonprofit organizations and third parties (like Brantley’s Buddies) planning golf tournaments to benefit one can qualify to use GolfStaus’ tournament management tech at no cost. Save time with built-in automations and time-saving tools, and raise even more money with fundraising tools and exclusive sponsorships. Plus, take advantage of GolfStatus’ in-house client success team to coach you every step of the way. Click below to learn more and get in touch with the GolfStatus team!

As summer draws to a close, your nonprofit is likely turning your attention to year-end giving campaigns and begin planning for 2024 fundraising initiatives. If a golf tournament is a regular part of your fundraising event calendar, or you’re looking to add a spring or summer golf event to your fundraising portfolio, now’s the time to get started.

Keep your planning team organized and on track for a successful golf fundraiser by focusing on these six key planning tasks yet this year:

1. Book the Golf Facility

As the height of golf season winds down, facilities are also beginning to plan for next year. It’s a good idea to get a date on their calendar sooner rather than later, especially if you’re eyeing a high-end facility where your organization might be competing for a limited number of open dates for fundraisers and other outside outings.

2. Secure Your Tech Stack

Nonprofits are constantly looking for ways to be more efficient, stay organized, and streamline operations. Planning and executing the annual golf fundraiser are no different. Because golf tournaments come with unique details that must be appropriately handled to ensure a flawless event, finding the right tools and resources and getting them in place as soon as possible is crucial. Look for an event management platform that’s built for golf and can natively manage critical components like handicaps, flighting, hole assignments, and scoring without clunky workarounds.

3. Launch an Event Website

Getting your event website up early makes it easy to begin accepting registrations and donations and selling sponsorships now. Ideally, your website should be up before the first communication about the event goes out, including save-the-dates. In fact, it’s a good idea to open registration for next year’s event on the heels of the current outing if at all possible so folks can commit when the golf event is top of mind. An event website is also a great place to display pertinent information and updates. The sooner your site is live, the sooner you can communicate about the event in a context that makes sense. 

4. Market the Event Early 

Start marketing your event as far as four to six months in advance, especially if the golf tournament is a new fundraiser for your organization. Early communications can be quick and straightforward (such as a simple save the date that links folks to the event website). Start with donors who have supported the golf event in the past, as well as general organization supporters and those who have attended other fundraising events.

Early communications also allow you to get on sponsors’ radars ahead of their annual budget planning. For this reason, it’s a good idea to send save-the-dates for spring and summer fundraisers ahead of year-end. Also be sure to target not only veteran donors and year-over-year event participants, but the new supporters they’ve invited to fill out their teams; these attendees provide an opportunity to target new sponsors and garner additional support. Make an announcement on social media, and if you have some dollars available, consider running paid ads to cast a wider net of potential new golfers and sponsors.

5. Leverage Your networks

Your organization likely has some powerful connections in its collective personal and professional networks. Give yourself plenty of runway and start calling on your planning committee, board of directors, staff, regular donors, and dedicated volunteers and asking them to tap into their networks to:

• Identify contacts at local and national businesses that should be targeted as potential tournament sponsors.

• Invite friends, family, colleagues, and peers who might be interested in playing in the event.

• Solicit in-kind donations for auction items, raffle prizes, pin prizes, other giveaways, event food and beverage, or post-round entertainment.

Ken’s Krew includes a putting contest in their annual golf fundraisers.

6. think about add-ons & extras 

How are you going to make your tournament stand out? What can you do to make it memorable for golfers and sponsors? Golf tournaments come with a ton of options to boost revenue while elevating the overall experience to keep supporters coming back year after year. Fun add-ons are sure to leave a lasting impression and bring in even more dollars for your cause. Start thinking about ways to connect any on-course games or contests to your cause, get pricing and details for on-course entertainment, and secure hole-in-one contest insurance. Getting these pieces in place early in the planning process gives you more time to secure sponsorships (and cover hard costs) for these add-ons.

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Get Qualified for No Cost Golf Event Tech

GolfStatus’ robust tournament management software streamlines and simplifies golf fundraisers to save busy nonprofit event organizers time and effort. Its built in fundraising tools, exclusive sponsorships, and premium add-ons help raise even more money for your cause. Nonprofits and those planning a golf event to benefit one can qualify to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost—including an event website, online registration, custom sponsor packages, live scoring, and much more—through our Golf for Good program. Click below to learn more and get qualified!

There’s no doubting it: 2020 has forced organizations, industries, and entire sectors to adapt. Event fundraising is no exception and, within the category, the golf fundraiser has become especially critical. With other major events going completely virtual and, in many cases, being altogether canceled, nonprofits have looked to the golf tournament as a live event that’s not only salvageable, but grounds for improvement and innovation. What fundraisers have realized along the way is that this traditional and long-standing event is rife with opportunities to upgrade, streamline, and improve outcomes altogether. Indeed, golf outings are having something of a renaissance in a time when corporate connections, donor engagement, and outreach efforts are perhaps more important than ever.

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1. Focus on audience

Any seasoned event planner knows that it’s not just about how many people you attract to a key fundraiser—but whom. Demographics and networks are important, and golf’s demographic tends to include high-capacity donors with powerful networks. In fact, golfers report an average household income more than twice that of the national average, the average net worth of a golfer is nearly $1 million, one in three are top-level managers and/or key decision-makers within their organizations, and the vast majority are invested in stocks or mutual funds.

The most successful event organizers understand the rarity of having four focused hours of access to these influential community members and capitalize on it by strategically aligning the event’s goals accordingly. This value can get lost when an annual event is passed to a new volunteer every few years. The shakeup of a crisis like COVID-19 has forced organizations to get to the heart of why their golf event matters and evaluate where it might be missing the mark.

2. Golf events are an entry point for corporate partnerships

Fundraisers are realizing that the golf outing’s unique tendency to attract wealthy and connected community members makes it a useful way to not only steward existing corporate partners, but to onboard new ones. This requires a more focused effort on approaching new sponsors and asking for their support amid a tumultuous economy. The ask is substantially easier because nonprofits are able to bring additional value to the table for sponsors who benefit from networking opportunities, exposure to an affluent and influential demographic of potential customers, and the especially crucial brand lift that comes with supporting a fun community event tied to a great cause.

3. Have a website for your golf event

Virtual events have brought to light the importance of a communication plan that engages participants before, during, and after the event in a meaningful way. What’s more, online followers and supporters are beneficial whether the event is virtual or not. For the golf outing, that has made an event website common practice. Having a website to display updated information about the event that includes the ability to register or sponsor the outing instantly and on the spot makes sharing the event in the time leading up to it easier and more effective. The event website is also an easy place to display and share live leaderboards and post final results.

4. Utilize live leaderboards

Access to live-scoring technology that’s easy, inexpensive, and glitch-free has made live leaderboards common practice. It used to be that live-scoring required devices on carts or supplied by third-party event companies, but today’s technology makes it possible for players to enter their scores and view standings in real-time from their mobile device. Live leaderboards also save the golf facility time, help organizers avoid that awkward downtime after the outing, and keep competitive players more engaged in the outing. They’re also a great sponsorship opportunity—one that resembles the high-end look and feel of professional-caliber events.

5. Solicit online donations from event spectators

Event organizers are also capitalizing on the opportunity to collect donations from supporters following and engaging with their golf event online. Event organizers do this by including asks in their communications plans and making it easy to donate from places like the event website and the leaderboards. Not only is this an outreach effort, it’s also an easy way to generate additional fundraising revenue.

6. Offer digital sponsorship opportunities

Digital sponsorship opportunities provide more opportunities for premium exposure and are helping event fundraisers attract and retain sponsors during this crucial time. With elements like registration websites, mobile scoring, and live leaderboards improving planning efficiencies and making it easier for players to commit and engage—they’re also a great opportunity for sponsors.

7. Extend golf events to engage online spectators longer

Restrictions and regulations have forced many organizations to consider and execute on creative formats in order to keep players safely socially distanced. This includes extended play options, multi-course options, and live online leaderboards that engage a following and keep supporters interested in the event for longer than a single day. What event organizers are realizing is that extending play and opening up multiple courses provides convenience to online spectators.

Before these innovations, event organizers might miss out on a key team or a number of key teams due to busy summer and fall schedules. Technology provides the ability to extend play over multiple days or even weeks, and include multiple courses in the outing—not only making it possible for more players to (safely) participate, but making it easier and more convenient for them to do so.

8. Embrace technology & professionalism

2020 has necessitated a no-frills approach that reinforces the importance of smooth logistics and an overall smooth and professional look and feel for the event. In short, it’s less about the tee gifts and more about having a relaxed, enjoyable time on the course. Donor expectations include an easy and convenient registration process, organized day-of operations, and an effortlessly high-end look and feel in line with a professional-caliber outing.

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Take the next steps

The technology overhaul that happened years ago for large-scale fundraising events, such as galas and walk/run-a-thons, has finally come to golf events. What was once done by hand or through spreadsheets has been overhauled with better systems and processes—many of which are inexpensive, make it easy to underwrite or cover costs, or are no-cost altogether.

GolfStatus.org is designed specifically to streamline and upgrade the quality of your outing while also saving you tons of time. In short, when you have the tools and knowledge you need to position your golf outing in the right light and with less and less overhead, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to outreach, fundraising, stewardship, growth, and the overall success of the event.

This article was originally published by Nonprofit Tech for Good.

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Interest in learning more about GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program? Submit an inquiry here to get qualified or email us directly at

[email protected].

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