Most people register for a charity golf tournament because someone invited them to play. They may know someone who has a connection to your organization, but don’t know a thing about your mission or work.

Tournament day is the first meaningful interaction many participants have with your organization, presenting a huge opportunity for nonprofits to raise awareness and connect with potential donors. Thoughtfully planned mission moments help transform a fun day on the course into an experience with purpose.

Mission moments don’t have to be lengthy presentations or emotional speeches. They can be small, intentional touchpoints that remind golfers why they’re there and how they’re making a difference. While they’ll certainly remember the golf, food, contests, and prizes, they’ll also remember how the day made them feel. Mission moments create stronger emotional connections, inspire generosity, and even help turn first-time participants into long-term supporters.

Here are 10 mission moments to incorporate into your next charity golf tournament.

1. Let Your Mission Shine on Your Event Website

Your golf tournament’s website often serves as a golfer’s first introduction to your organization, so don’t make it all about registration. Instead of just listing the event’s details, answer the question every participant is asking: What difference will my registration make?

Use the site to introduce your mission with compelling photos, videos, impact statistics, and beneficiary stories. Help visitors understand what you do, who you serve, why your work matters, and what tournament proceeds will do. Even a short impact video or photo gallery can create an emotional connection before golfers ever arrive at the golf course.

Your event website is often the first interaction a new supporter has with your organization, so help them understand what your tournament is raising money for.

2. Open the Tournament with an Impact Story

Few mission moments are as memorable as hearing directly from someone whose life has been changed by your organization. Invite a beneficiary, volunteer, family member, client, or community partner to share a brief story during the welcome remarks. Alternatively, or in addition, invite a speaker to share their story at the luncheon, awards ceremony, or banquet.

For example, Riverside Ranch, a therapeutic horse riding program, invites parents of riders to speak at their golf tournament’s luncheon and share what the Ranch meant to their family.

Personal stories like this help golfers connect faces to fundraising dollars, and remind participants that the event is about much more than birdies and mulligans. Keep it conversational and authentic rather than overly scripted, and aim for five minutes or less—long enough to inspire, but short enough to keep the energy high.

3. Put Your Mission on Display on the Course

The golf course itself offers dozens of opportunities to reinforce your mission. Place mission-focused signage in high-traffic areas like registration, driving range, putting green, and inside the clubhouse (near the bar or front door are good choices). Share:

• Impact statistics

• Success stories

• Photos of the people or communities you serve

• Quotes or testimonials from beneficiaries

• Milestones your organization has achieved

Rather than using every sign for sponsorship recognition, dedicate a few to reminding golfers what they’re helping make possible. Add QR codes that link to your event website’s donation page, volunteer opportunities, or a short impact video as a call to action.

Putt Putt Fore Puppies adds information about adoptable pets to its hole signs to add a connection to the event’s mission and beneficiary.

4. Include a Mission-Focused Gift Bag Item

Player gift bags don’t have to be filled exclusively with sponsor swag. Include one meaningful piece in swag bags or on golf carts that tells your organization’s story. This could be anything from a one-page flyer or brochure with photos and outcomes to an annual report summary or beneficiary success story. If your golf facility has carts with video capabilities, inquire about showing a video or photo slideshow on the screens.

The goal isn’t to overwhelm golfers with information, but to provide a memorable takeaway they can read during downtime or take home after the event. Be sure to include a QR code on any printed materials with a direct link to the donation page of your event website, where golfers can donate right from their phones.

5. Introduce Golfers to the People Behind the Mission

Whenever possible and appropriate, invite the people connected to your mission to participate in the event. Personal connections are incredibly powerful, so provide opportunities for them to engage with golfers and sponsors throughout the day.

For example, if your golf tournament benefits a school, teachers, or administrators could greet golfers as they arrive or even be added to teams. A pet rescue organization could have adoptable pets at the golf course and hold an accompanying adoption drive. Or, your nonprofit’s staff members could run an on-course game or contest to interact with golfers throughout the round.

These types of simple interactions often leave lasting impressions and create authentic conversations that no brochure can replicate.

6. Make Downtime Meaningful

Every golf tournament includes natural pauses and waiting—to check in, on the tee box, for a turn on the driving range, for meals, or for final results to be announced. Rather than viewing these as empty moments, use them to deepen engagement with a captive audience.

• Ask your organization’s staff, board members, beneficiaries, or volunteers to mingle with golfers and chat about your mission while they wait.

• Strategically station people on various tee boxes throughout the golf course (perhaps on a par five that typically gets backed up) to talk with golfers and answer questions.

• Display a looping impact video in the clubhouse that golfers can watch while they wait for a drink or dinner.

• Intersperse photo displays that showcase your programs throughout the year among silent auction items or raffle prizes.

These quieter moments during the golf event can lead to meaningful conversations that build new and lasting donor relationships.

Ask staff, board members, beneficiaries, or volunteers to interact with golfers during the golf tournament’s downtime. Chat about your mission, invite them to ask questions, and share stories while they wait.

7. Create an Interactive Mission Experience

Whenever possible and practical, give golfers the chance to experience or see your mission in action instead of simply hearing about it. Interactive experiences create memorable moments that drive home what your organization does and why you do it. These experiences are also good opportunities to involve non-golfers in the event.

Some examples:

• An animal rescue hosts an adoption event alongside the golf tournament.

• A food bank organizes a mini-meal packing activity before play.

• A nonprofit arts organization showcases artwork created by local artists or teaches a painting class.

• A corporate tournament hosts a blanket-tying activity for non-golfers and guests during the round.

8. Share Digital Mission Moments Throughout the Day

If your golf tournament management platform includes a mobile app, use push notifications to share timely mission moments throughout the event. These notifications should be brief, positive, action-oriented, and strategically timed not to interrupt the golfer’s experience. For instance:

• “So far, we’ve raised enough money to provide 500 meals to local families.”

• “Meet today’s featured beneficiary, Name, during lunch!”

• “Help us get to our goal to raise $25,000—we only need $5,000 more! Donate here.”

• “Adoptable pets are in the clubhouse! Meet your new family member after your round.”

Include a link back to your event website, particularly if the message includes a call to action to donate.

9. Honor the People Behind the Cause

Many charity golf tournaments exist because someone wanted to honor a loved one, celebrate survivors, or remember an individual whose story inspired the event. Connect golfers to your mission by creating a dedicated space that recognizes those people.

Display photos, handwritten notes, memorial boards, or tribute signs that explain why the tournament matters. Invite participants to write messages of encouragement or remembrance. These types of displays become natural gathering places and often spark meaningful conversations among golfers who may have personal connections to your cause.

For instance, the Pat Neal Memorial Golf Tournament raises money for brain cancer research in honor of the tournament’s namesake, Pat Neal. A photo of Pat was placed on the course, and golfers were encouraged to sign the photo as a keepsake for Pat’s family. Another example is Project Purple, which includes a hall of fame induction at the tournament’s post-round dinner as a special moment of honor and recognition for individuals who have battled pancreatic cancer. Inductees or their families receive a purple jacket, and their picture hangs in the organization’s offices as a reminder of their fight against the disease.

Project Purple includes a hall of fame induction its golf fundraiser’s banquet to honor individuals who have battled pancreatic cancer.

10. End with a Clear Call to Continue the Mission

The end of the tournament is just the beginning of your relationship with participants. Before they leave, provide them with easy next steps to stay involved and support your mission:

• Set up a donation station where golfers can make a gift before they walk out the door

• Offer the chance to volunteer at an upcoming event or other opportunity

• Have a pop-up shop that sells branded merchandise or products

• Share links to sign up for your newsletter and follow you on social media

• Offer an early-bird rate for golfers to register for next year’s golf tournament

Missions moments are the most effective when they don’t simply inspire people, but encourage action while enthusiasm is still high.

Final Thoughts

Creating memorable mission moments doesn’t make your tournament longer or more complicated. Effective moments intentionally weave your organization’s impact throughout the participant experience.

Technology makes this easier than ever. Your event website, mobile app, signage, online donation tools, email communications, and fundraising platform all work together to help tell your story before, during, and after tournament day.

Golfers that understand the impact of the tournament are more likely to become repeat players, loyal donors, enthusiastic volunteers, and passionate advocates for your organization. The golf tournament may only last a day, but the relationships it creates can help support your mission for years to come.

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

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

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

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

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

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

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Top Golf Tournament Formats

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

1. Scramble

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

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

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

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

2. Shamble

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

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

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

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

3. Match Play

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

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

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

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

4. Best Ball

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

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

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

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

5. Alternate Shot

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

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

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

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

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

6. Stableford

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

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

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

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

7. Bingo Bango Bongo

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

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

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

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

8. Chapman (Pinehurst)

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

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

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

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

9. Skins

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

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

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

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

10. Money Ball (Lone Ranger)

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

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

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

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

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

Golf Tournament Format FAQs

What should I consider when choosing a golf tournament format?

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

• The skill level of your audience

• The size of your field

• The overall goals of your event

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

What’s the most popular alternative tournament type?

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

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

Can you mix different formats within a single tournament?

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

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

Do different formats affect the rate of play?

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

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

Your event website should clearly state the golf tournament format.

Pro Tips for Managing Different Golf Tournament Formats

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

#1 Tip: Use Golf Tournament Management Software

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

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

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

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

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

Other Best Practices

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

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

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

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

Try a New Format for Your Next Tournament

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

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

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

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About the Author

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

By Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager

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!

Get a Free Golf Tournament Website!

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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

Book a meeting with GolfStatus

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

There’s no nonprofit fundraising event quite like a charity golf tournament. It’s a fun, social event that not only raises money, but boosts awareness for your organization and cause, forges or strengthens partnerships, fosters corporate support, and broadens your donor pool.

Because golf tournaments have so much potential to move nonprofits forward, it’s in your best interest to attract as many golfers as possible to play in your event. Here are 11 quick ideas to get golfers interested in your tournament.

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1. use an event website

If there’s one non-negotiable for a successful golf tournament, it’s an event website. You’ll meet people where they already are—online—to share information about your tournament and what you’re raising money for in a professional manner. Share the link in all your promotional materials to drive traffic to the website where they can commit as soon as they hear about the tournament.

2. make registration as easy as possible

Online registration is the standard for events these days, and golf tournaments are no different. It’s quick, convenient, and saves everyone—organizers and golfers alike—time and hassle. Everyone is busy, so an event site equipped with a simple registration checkout process is key to getting them on board. Be sure that the website is mobile-friendly so golfers can register right from their phones!

3. make it irresistible

It starts by understanding your target audience and what would appeal to them. Would they be interested in golfing at (and paying the corresponding registration fee) a high-end, private club? Or is a public course with a lower registration fee more appealing? Both can be a draw for golfers, depending on your supporters’ preferences. Attractive prizes, memorable add-ons, alternative or inclusive formats, and fun contests also go a long way toward getting golfers to say “yes” to your event, so highlight these throughout your promotions.

4. get in touch with past event participants & supporters

If yours is an existing event, start with past golfers. Invite them to come back and play in support of your mission. You might offer a special discount code or registration rate for returning players to sweeten the deal. If you’re getting a new golf event up and running, reach out to past participants in other events your nonprofit has held or participated in. Ask your loyal supporters to share the word about the upcoming golf tournament. You might provide some copy/paste verbiage or social graphics they can use on their personal channels.

5. leverage sponsors & other partners

Sponsors are a major part of your golf tournament’s success. Leverage their participation and networks to help attract players. Sponsors and businesses will often use charity golf tournaments to entertain clients, woo prospects, network, and even reward employees, so it makes sense to build a team or two into some of your sponsorship packages. Not only does this add value, but it also helps fill your tournament’s field in the process. You might also consider providing promotional assets (logos, verbiage, graphics, etc.) to your sponsors and invite them to share them on their social media platforms and with their employees.

6. get your board & planning teams involved

Ask each member of your nonprofit’s board and tournament planning committee to think of five to 10 contacts they’ll invite to play in the event. This bite-sized request makes it easy for them to follow up and broadens your pool of potential golfers. Set them up for success with talking points or email templates to help with their outreach.

7. send promotional emails

Email marketing is a cost-effective way to cast a wide net of potential golfers. Start with a save-the-date email to last year’s golfers and sponsors and/or your nonprofit’s email list as soon as you finalize the date and course. Send strategic reminder emails at intervals leading up to the tournament date. Consider adding an early bird registration period or a registration closing date to help create urgency among potential participants and get them to commit earlier.

8. use social media effectively

Social media is another cost-effective promotional vehicle for your event. Utilize your nonprofit’s presence to drive registrations via your event website. Create a Facebook event and make your planning team co-hosts so they can invite their networks to register and widen your reach. Tap into Facebook groups—there are often groups strictly for sharing nonprofit fundraising events, golf tournaments, or community events. If you have a few dollars to spare, consider a limited paid ad campaign that targets a specific geographic area or interests. If you spend even $100, but get one or two teams to register as a result, you’ve gotten good ROI!

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using social media to amplify your golf fundraiser

Download this free guide to find out how to leverage social media to make the most out of your charity golf tournament and raise the most money possible for your cause!

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9. Promote it to your community

Your community likely has event boards, community calendars, or other similar avenues to promote local events. Submit your tournament to such channels, and consider reaching out to local television and radio stations with a press release or an ask to list on their website. Use community gathering spots such as grocery stores, coffee shops, libraries, community centers, gyms, churches, or other locations to post flyers (with a QR code that links to your event site) advertising your tournament. The host golf facility may be willing to post flyers in the clubhouse as well, so don’t be afraid to ask!

10. leverage your tech stack

When you use GolfStatus to host your golf tournament website and manage your event, your tournament reaches tens of thousands of avid golfers in your area who actively look for local charity tournaments to play in. Your event will be listed on events.golfstatus.com as well as on the GolfStatus mobile app, helping you reach new golfers—and potential new supporters.

11. connect golfers to your cause

Be sure to help golfers understand 1. what they’re supporting by playing golf and 2. the impact of their participation on your work. Use your event website to help tell the story, and build in elements of cause connection to your tournament to help golfers get a tangible understanding—such as one team registration feeds a shelter pet for a month—of how they’re helping move your mission forward. You might use banners, signage, displays, guest speakers, beneficiary testimonials, or elements of on-course games to drive home the goals of the tournaments.

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No-Risk, No-Cost Tech for Your Next Golf Event

No matter if you’re holding your first golf tournament or your twentieth, you need a golf-specific event management tool to make your life easier. GolfStatus’ robust platform is built to handle the unique needs that come with a golf event, like team pairings, hole assignments, handicaps, and more. Built-in fundraising features and exclusive revenue-boosting add-ons and sponsorships help raise more money for your cause, while automations and our industry-leading support team help save you time and effort. Best of all, nonprofits can qualify for a free event website and no-cost access to the GolfStatus platform through the Golf for Good program. Click below to learn more and get qualified!

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Click here to get qualified to use GolfStatus at no cost!

Golf has a ton of giving power. For nonprofits, a golf tournament is the chance to raise mission-critical dollars, engage supporters, build relationships, and ultimately, do more good. And while planning a tournament isn’t a small undertaking, the good news for nonprofit event planners is that the right technology can make it easier, more efficient, and more lucrative to organize a successful golf fundraiser.

So whether you’re planning your first golf tournament or your fiftieth, here are seven ways tournament management tech can upgrade and improve your golf fundraiser.

1. It Makes It Easier on Everybody

Golf tournaments come with a number of moving parts and specifics to handle that are much different than those that come with a gala or auction. Using tech tailored specifically to a golf event makes it simple to handle the golf details, like flighting, handicaps, tie-breakers, and live scoring. You’ll keep everything organized in one easily-accessible place, so you, your planning team, and even the golf facility staff are all on the same page and working with up-to-the-minute information and not bouncing between multiple platforms and spreadsheets.

Golf facilities love tech that makes it easier on them, too—they’ll spend less time in the back office creating cart signs, rules sheets, and alpha lists and more time out front assisting you and your tournament’s golfers.

2. You’ll Save Time, Resources & Effort

It starts with an event registration website with secure payment processing, where golfers, prospective sponsors, and supporters can learn more about your organization and event and commit to participating with just a few clicks. So instead of creating a costly promotional mailer, then asking supporters to fill out the form, track down a stamp, and mail it back, you simply share a link where folks can register online with a few simple, secure clicks.

Online registrations should automatically flow into the software’s backend, where you can instantly find golfer, sponsor, and payment information. That means no processing paper forms, checks, or receipts and no entering and re-entering information in different spreadsheets. What’s more, when it comes time to make team pairings and hole assignments, it can all be done right in the software. Your administrative burden is cut in half

3. Sponsors Get Better ROI

Sponsors get a ton of value out of the digital exposure provided by tournament management tech. Instead of being limited to signage on the golf course the day of the event, it’s amplified with the exposure throughout the platform before, during, and after the event. So every time someone visits your event site to register or just learn more about the tournament, sponsors get eyeballs on their brand.

Combine that with hole-by-hole exposure and push notifications in the live-scoring app, and businesses see even more value and ROI in supporting your tournament. Plus, sponsors can browse available packages, make a purchase, and upload logos and links right through the event website, eliminating time-consuming back and forth to collect assets and providing instant exposure.

4. You’ll Raise More Money

Any tournament management tech should come with tools that boost fundraising. At a minimum, you should be able to collect donations via the event website, but look for additional fundraising features like a donation tracker on the event site, multiple donation calls-to-action throughout the platform, the ability to round up and donate at checkout, exclusive sponsorships that can be sold at a premium, and fun add-ons that drive revenue (and bring fun and excitement to your charity golf tournament).

National Ag Science Center placed banners around the golf course to help golfers better understand their mission.

5. It Engages Golfers, Donors & Sponsors

Engagement—prior to, during the round, and following the tournament—is key to donor onboarding and stewardship. Instead of just sending golfers out on the course and not interacting with them again until after the round, look to technology to engage them in a variety of ways throughout the day. Live scoring is a great way to keep golfers engaged every time they check the current standings on the tournament’s live leaderboards (which also provides additional sponsor exposure and another opportunity for folks to make a donation).

Direct folks to the event website at the end of the tournament and challenge folks to make a donation, perhaps equal to that of the winning team or what their team shot. You can also leverage push notifications and email communications to share information and updates throughout the day. After the event, export your golf tournament donor data for inclusion into your donor CRM for additional follow up and stewardship.

6. You’ll Be Ready for Next Year

Rather than starting from scratch, you can simply copy your event in the golf tournament software platform, update the date and key details, and push it out to your audiences to save the date and keep it on their radar for next year. If you have a date set, include the link to your new event website in any post-tournament thank yous and follow-up communications to get a jump on promotion and sponsor sales.

7. You Don’t Have to Know About Golf

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a golf club, you hit the links a few times a week, or fall somewhere in between, you can plan a successful, lucrative golf fundraiser with the right tools and resources behind you. Your tech platform should come with a responsive, knowledgeable support team that’s there to coach you, answer questions, and troubleshoot issues for you and your event’s participants.

Golf for Good with GolfStatus

GolfStatus works with nonprofits and charities of all types and sizes to launch or level up their golf fundraisers. The robust platform streamlines the process from start to finish and is backed by an in-house support team available seven days a week.

Through the Golf for Good program, qualifying 501(c) organizations and others planning golf events that benefit a charity can use GolfStatus’ tournament management software at no cost, including an event website, online registration and secure payment processing, digital sponsor exposure, robust reporting, and more. Visit golfstatus.com/demo for more information or to get qualified.

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Organization Snapshot

Marriott Business Councils bring together hotel management and employees from across a region to network and work together to give back to the larger community. The Colorado Marriott Business Council has been active for over two decades, with a strong presence in the Denver area and beyond that engages Marriott hotel brands, its employees, and the community at-large. It formed a millennial/next generation committee to involve future leaders and provide direction to the Council at large as well as an active committee focusing on LGBTQ issues. 

Chad Conrad is currently the chair of the Colorado Council and has been involved in its work for over 23 years. “Marriott believes in taking care of its employees while also taking care of its community,” Chad says. “The goal is to make people feel like you’re at home when you’re not at home. Employees are just the ambassadors of that idea, taking care of each other and expanding it into the communities where we operate,” he explains.

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Annual Tournament

20 years +

Dollars Raised

$35,000

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At the national level, Marriott has been a banner sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals for over 30 years. This support has trickled down to local and regional Marriott groups, including business councils. Across its 675,000 associates in the U.S., there’s strong buy-in to the commitment to CMN Hospitals across the country. “Associates’ kids benefit from these top-notch facilities,” says Chad. The tie to CMN Hospitals is important to him personally, as both his daughters have been in children’s hospitals at one time or another. 

For over 20 years, the Council has hosted an annual golf tournament to raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado, the local CMN hospital. He and the planning team have made a concerted effort to set their event apart from other fundraisers and offer a different experience each year, working closely with vendors and other partners. One of its hallmarks has been featuring executive chefs from various Marriott hotels cooking a signature dish on each hole. 

Unfortunately, COVID-19’s profound impact on the tourism industry—layoffs, reduced hotel occupancy, and labor shortages—have impacted the Council’s work and people power. “A lot of our committees fell apart as we lost staff,” Chad explains, but notes that as the workforce rebounds these groups can be rebuilt and re-engaged.

The Challenge

For Chad and Marriott employees from across the state, the annual golf fundraiser’s support of Children’s Hospital Colorado resulted in a meaningful tie to the community. He has been involved in the golf tournament since its inception, and has seen it grow and flourish over the years.

But as COVID-19 hit the tourism industry hard, hotels were short-staffed and the golf event was forced to be pared down. The Council lost several members due to layoffs and closures in hotels, including two who helped Chad head up the golf tournament each year, leaving him as the lone organizer. “It fell 100% on my plate to make it happen,” Chad says. Though he didn’t necessarily want to learn a new platform or system, he knew in order to keep the event alive, he needed to employ some type of technology to save time, automate processes, and make planning as simple and efficient as possible.

The Solution

Chad turned to GolfStatus, the official golf event management platform for events benefiting CMN Hospitals, to get the event back on its feet. He saw its easy-to-use technology as an all-in-one solution to promote the event, register golfers, onboard and recognize sponsors, and collect funds. 

With limited manpower and resources, the switch to GolfStatus for the golf tournament couldn’t have come at a better time. Because the event was raising money for a nonprofit—Colorado Children’s Hospital—it qualified for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s platform through the company’s Golf for Good giveback initiative. 

The Results

Though COVID-19 upended the golf tournament and drew fewer golfers than in past years, momentum is building and Chad hopes to get back to a full slate of teams in the next few years. “Since it’s been around for over 20 years, it was important to me to keep it alive,” Chad says. The tournament date was moved from June to August and couldn’t include any extras beyond the round of golf. And while the tournament attracted about half of its historical attendees, the event still raised about the same amount of money for the hospital, around $35,000. “We were thrilled about that,” he says.

Highlighted Platform Features

• Golf for Good program

• Event website

• Online registration

• Secure payment processing

• Messaging feature

Event Website

Because the golf tournament benefited a nonprofit in Children’s Hospital Colorado, it qualified for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which provides no-cost access to the event planning and fundraising platform at no cost. The GolfStatus team built an event website in partnership with Chad, along with custom team and sponsorship packages that people could purchase directly on the website with just a few clicks. The event website also lets golfers, sponsors, and spectators make a donation directly to the cause, raising even more money for Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Online Registration & Payment Processing

When the tournament was organized by a much larger planning team, one member of the planning team handled all the money—processing paper registration forms and checks, sending receipts, and tracking payments. With a one-man show for this year’s event, Chad says the online registration and payment collection aspects of using GolfStatus was the best upgrade for the event. “I barely had to do anything with it,” he points out, as the platform sends automated receipts upon registration. As an organizer, he could quickly and easily see who had registered in the software’s back-end. “The value behind this was priceless,” he says. What’s more, he heard from golfers how easy it was to register and nice to get a receipt immediately. “It’s expected to have online registration today.” he says.

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“The value behind this was priceless.”

— Chad Conrad, Chair of the Colorado Marriott Business Council

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Sponsor Recruitment & Recognition

Chad has worked with a core group of vendors and partners to support the golf event over its 22-year tenure, but has continued to explore new avenues and opportunities to attract additional sponsor support. “When we partner with a new hotel through the Council, it opens doors to a new set of sponsors,” Chad explains. The golf event’s website and accompanying free GolfStatus mobile app gives sponsors a ton of digital exposure for their investment, before, during, and after the tournament. 

Easy Communication

Chad used the platform’s built-in messaging feature to send emails directly to registrants, alerting them of updates and specifics about the event. He used it to share information about the day’s timeline, where folks should check in, and the included breakfast. Since all registration information is stored in the platform, there was no need for him to export email addresses into another service to send a simple email—it could all be handled within GolfStatus. 

CMN Partnership

GolfStatus has partnered with CMN Hospitals to help event organizers—whether they’re passionate supporters, hospitals or hospital foundations, corporate partners, businesses, or other volunteers—put on a golf tournament to benefit member hospitals. A common technology platform makes it as easy as possible for anyone to organize a golf fundraiser and raise even more money. Marriott’s continued commitment to children’s hospitals is evident in its support of this technology for golf events that benefit CMN Hospitals. What’s more, Chad made sure representatives from Children’s Hospital Colorado were able to share information and explain the tournament’s impact on the hospital, making a connection to the cause the tournament was supporting.

Golf & Fundraising Success

In Chad’s 22 years organizing the golf tournament fundraiser, he’s seen the impact it has in raising money for Children’s Hospital Colorado and the benefit for participating hotels. “So much business is done on the golf course,” he points out. “Whether you’re a good golfer or not, you can still make connections and do business while raising money and having fun.” Chad says his number one focus is to bring the hotels together to raise awareness and funds for the hospital. “We could throw a dinner party or do something different but we wouldn’t have the success of a golf tournament,” he says. “A golf tournament has staying power.”

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“Whether you’re a good golfer or not, you can still make connections and do business while raising money and having fun.”

— Chad Conrad, Chair of the Colorado Marriott Business Council

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Growing With the Event

Though Chad was a one-man show in organizing the event this year, his goal is to build the Business Council back and involve more folks in the golf fundraiser again. “The GolfStatus team made it super easy,” he says, explaining that it would be simple to collaborate with a planning team in the future. “I don’t know that I can ever go back to how I used to do it!”

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Golf for Good

GolfStatus’s Golf for Good giveback initiative through GolfStatus.org helps nonprofits and those holding events benefiting them streamline their golf events to save time and raise more money. It starts with a free event website and no-cost access to GolfStatus’s event management and fundraising platform for qualifying organizations and events. Get qualified here or email [email protected].

From opportunities to engage with vendors, partners, and clients to positive public relations and community outreach, a corporate golf event offers tons of benefits. It’s also an especially ideal way to gather as restrictions loosen, but social distancing and crowd limitations linger. But if you’ve ever put on a tournament—a first-year event or an established outing—you know there are a number of component parts to manage, and they don’t always function in sync. Here are some upgrades that can save you time, cast your brand in a positive and professional light, and make the experience all-around better for players and sponsors.

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1. Launch a website for the tournament.

An online presence for your event makes it easier to spread the word across all your marketing channels. The site should feature all pertinent information about your golf event, including available team packages and sponsorships. It should also show off sponsors, include a place for leaderboards during the event (and final results after), and pull in information about the course (namely its location and scorecard). In fact, a well-comprised event website can even typically replace most printed materials (mailers, paper registration packets, and other collateral that must be designed and managed). Instead, simply link directly to the site in event communications and invites, so potential participants can quickly and easily find the information they need and commit to participating in the tournament.

2. Process registrations online.

The registration process is one of the most important touchpoints for any event. A clunky process soaks up your time, increases the likelihood of embarrassing errors, and can be especially frustrating. Having an event website sets you up to upgrade your registration platform and side-step issues. Be sure to choose a platform that functions seamlessly with the website, securely processes payments, and can accommodate needs specific to the golf event (such as the ability to collect handicaps and apparel sizes and the option for registrants to purchase add-ons like raffle tickets and mulligans). As the organizer, you’ll need to be able to access player and sponsor registrations in real-time, and you’ll want a platform that makes it easy to pass that information to the golf facility in the day or so leading up to the event. There’s bound to be last-minute changes, so you’ll want something that makes it easy for staff at the facility to track those and swap out names on cart signs and other materials so every player has a premier experience. 

3. Display your brand professionally. 

When it comes to showcasing your brand, think beyond tee gifts and goodie bags. Display your company logo (or the event’s logo, if it has one) across materials—starting with your event website and including the leaderboards, scorecards, cart signs, and other on-site materials. These subtle and professional impressions continuously associate your company and brand with the great experience of participating in a fun, well-run event.

4. Put the benefitting charity on display. 

Be sure to include information about the charity your event is supporting on your event website. This should include impact imagery and information that tells the story of the cause and the organization. Take a page from the nonprofit sector’s playbook and look for ways to quantify the impact of specific purchases so supporters know how their dollars make a difference. For example: The purchase of one team provides three meals per day for a child in need for three months. This shows people what they’re supporting and, more importantly, why it matters, and encourages them to give generously.

5. Include on-course contests. 

Adding the opportunity to win prizes is a fun and easy way to make a tournament more memorable. A putting contest is a simple addition. Players simply putt for a chance to enter the contest, where they win an exclusive prize if they ultimately sink the final putt. Hole-in-one contests are also worth considering. For these, one or more holes is designated for the contest, giving players the chance to win a prize if they ace that hole. If your event will be hosting vendors, partners, or B2B clients, consider offering a contest sponsorship that covers the costs of facilitating the package. Be sure to take the opportunity to recognize sponsors as well as folks who qualified for the putting contest, and look for opportunities to acknowledge them with on-course signage and other exposure. 

6. Offer live-scoring and leaderboards. 

At a typical golf event, players and/or teams tally their round, turn paper scorecards in at the end, and then congregate around the clubhouse until the final team finishes and scores can be tallied. Live-scoring improves this flow, allowing teams to input their score into a mobile app in real-time on the course; meanwhile, leaderboards display live scores. The upgrade makes the event more engaging; players check their standings and enjoy poking fun at other teams. Be cognizant that the live-scoring platform you choose is clean, sleek, and easy to use, so inputting a score is simple and not distracting for players. Leaderboards should provide an opportunity to showcase your branding as well as the benefitting charity’s branding—tying everything together professionally. It’s also a good idea to inform staff at the golf facility so they can plan to set up scrolling leaderboards on clubhouse TVs and at the on-course comfort station or halfway house.

7. Add the option to participate remotely. 

With social distancing lingering, it’s a good idea to continue to provide options for folk to support your event in both the traditional format and virtually. Essentially, you’ll plan your traditional in-person, one-day outing at the course, then tack on a virtual option that extends over the week, two weeks, or the whole month in which the traditional event occurs. Folks who aren’t comfortable coming out for the one-day event can register for the virtual round and come out to the course on their own time with their own group or alone. This way, they’re still able to participate, experience the outing, and support the cause, while also feeling safe and comfortable. You’ll need to employ some technology here, but—with the right platform—adding a virtual round is very simple and costs nothing. A hybrid event is also a nice option if you’re wanting to allow more participants, but traditionally have a sold-out field.

8. Collect and manage player information.

It’s often the case that the person who is tasked with running the golf event gets to know the people who attend over the years. When the event has been handed off to someone new, or there’s an effort to expand or evolve it in a more intentional and organized fashion, player and sponsor information becomes especially crucial. Who has supported the event in the past and how can they be contacted? The right technology helps you securely and responsibility collect player and sponsor information, so you know exactly who attends and in what capacity. After the event, that information should be imported back into your company’s CRM.

9. Follow up. 

Knowing who is participating and how allows you to follow up and continue to steward meaningful business relationships: thank employees for joining and supporting the event and the cause it supports; reach out to partners with follow-up communications and gifts; leverage the experience to advance and steward relationships with clients. When the time comes to plan next year’s event, the information you need is at your fingertips, and everything is infinitely easier.

Get Started 

GolfStatus provides all the above and more, making it especially easy to upgrade corporate events from start to finish. This includes a professional event website (that can seamlessly be integrated into your business’s site), secure online registration, the ability to manage teams and sponsors, premier branding opportunities, ways to showcase a cause, live-scoring and leaderboards, secure data collection, and much more. It also includes options for virtual events and rounds—so you’re ready for anything.

Best of all, if your event benefits a nonprofit, your business likely qualifies for no-cost access to GolfStatus through GolfStatus.org and the Golf for Good program.

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