by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus
Golf tournaments are ripe with ways to build in revenue-generating components, both by leveraging the generosity of golfers and providing extras that make the tournament more fun and exciting. While sponsorships will likely make up the bulk of your tournament’s revenue, you can level up your fundraising power with these 22 add-ons that bring in more dollars and enhance the overall event experience for golfers and sponsors.
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Golf Tournament Fundraiser Ideas FAQs
Top Golf Tournament Fundraiser Ideas
1. Hole-In-One Contest
One of the most popular golf tournament fundraiser ideas is a hole-in-one contest. Golfers get the chance to ace a par-three hole or holes. Golfers love the excitement a hole-in-one contest brings to a tournament, and sponsors love the high visibility they earn for sponsoring the contest.
2. Longest Drive Contest
Work with the golf facility staff to identify a hole (or holes) that is long and straight, and have one contest for men and another for women. As the name implies, the winner is the person who hits the drive the farthest within the fairway. The golf course will provide a marker to mark the distance of drives. It’s a good idea to secure a sponsor for the contest. Make an ask to businesses to either provide an in-kind donation or underwrite the cost of the prize.
3. Closest to the Pin contest
This contest is held on a par three hole and can be run alongside your hole-in-one contest, if desired. The winner of the contest is the golfer who hits a tee shot the closest to the hole. Much like the longest drive contest, you’ll want to have separate contests for men and women. And much like the previously mentioned contests, it’s a great opportunity to sell a premium sponsorship.
4. Putting Contest
A putting contest is typically held before or after your golf tournament, though it can be held during the round if that’s what works best for your event. A putting contest has the potential to boost revenue, as participants pay to enter the contest and qualify for the grand prize. Plus, you can encourage anyone to try their hand at sinking a long put, even tournament spectators.
Pro Tip: Sell entries or tickets for golfers to participate in contests, both when they register and on event day, to drive revenue.
Ken’s Krew
Ken’s Krew, a nonprofit that serves adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities, raises additional dollars with a putting contest at their golf fundraiser.
5. Auctions
Silent and live auctions are popular components of golf tournaments—and for good reason. They leverage the generosity of golfers, the euphoria of spending a day on the golf course, and a friendly desire to beat out their friends or colleagues. Whether you choose an on-site auction following the golf tournament or an online silent auction, you’ll want to promote it and any special prizes on your event website.
Pro Tip: Donated items are key to raising the most money possible, so put out calls to your networks and challenge the planning committee and board members to secure auction items. Also, try offering in-kind donations to your auction as a sponsorship option.
6. Mulligans
Mulligans are essentially a “do-over” that lets golfers retake a shot they weren’t happy with. Mulligans are an easy add-on to any registration package and are popular among golfers of all skill levels. Include them with team packages or sell them as a standalone item ahead of time and on event day.
Pro Tip: Ensure you’re using a mobile-friendly event website to make it easy for golfers to purchase mulligans right from their phones on the day of the event and eliminate the need to handle cash payments.
7. Skins Games
Skins games encourage friendly competition between golfers while raising more dollars for your cause. They create mini-competitions where teams (or individuals, depending on the event’s format) opt to compete against each other based on their score on a given hole, in addition to their overall score. Event organizers can use skins games to fundraise by setting a dollar amount for participants to buy in to compete.
To up the ante, display skins results on real-time digital leaderboards to keep golfers engaged and make it more competitive. Choose a software solution with reliable live scoring that automatically syncs with live leaderboards on your event website and mobile app.
8. Raffles
Approach businesses, sponsors, and the community for in-kind donations to use as prizes for a fundraising raffle or host a 50/50 cash drawing (in which the total prize money is split between the raffle winner or winners and the benefiting organization). Much like mulligans, raffle tickets can be built into team packages or offered as a standalone item. And also like mulligans, you can offer them for sale on the day of the tournament on the event website.
Pro Tip: Be sure to check for any legal requirements or restrictions on raffles in your state before incorporating one into your tournament. Laws and limitations vary by state.
9. Matching Donations
Matching donations can supercharge your golf tournament’s fundraising efforts. This can work a couple of ways:
Sell a “Matching Gift Sponsor” that pledges to match donations made to your event, likely capped at a certain dollar amount or number of donations. Recognize this sponsor the same way you would any other high-dollar sponsor, and consider sending a news release inviting the community to contribute to your event.
A generous donor who wishes to stay anonymous or just doesn’t want to be considered a sponsor. Work with the donor on how or if they would like to be mentioned or recognized for their support.
Either way, communicate this opportunity to golfers leading up to and throughout the day of the event:
Include it on your event website’s home page
Add a QR code with a direct link to your event website on any printed materials or signage
Mention the opportunity when golfers check in, during any kick-off address, or awards ceremony speeches
Send push notifications and emails to golfers through your tournament management software.
Be sure to stress that their donation will go even further, thanks to the generosity of your sponsor or donor, and that donations must be made that day.
10. Virtual Round
Adding a virtual round lets golfers play in support of your cause from anywhere without being present at the actual tournament. Golfers register for the virtual event via your event website, choose the date and location where they want to play, and submit their scores via a live-scoring app. If yours is an event that typically sells out, a virtual round opens doors to additional participants playing for your organization without the risk and costs of adding a second day to the tournament.
11. Food and Drink Tickets
After a day of golfing for a good cause, your participants will likely be parched and hungry. Sell them food and drink tickets and put that money towards your campaign. Consider asking local restaurants and supermarkets for in-kind food and drink donations (check with the golf course on their policies for outside food and drink).
12. On-Course Games
The possibilities for games as golf tournament fundraiser ideas are endless. Golfers and sponsors alike will remember the fun they had shooting a golf ball cannon, putting blindfolded, or using a seven iron to play the entire hole. Golfers pay to participate, boosting tournament revenue and making people more likely to return year after year.
Pro Tip: An all-in games package is a simple option for entry—golfers pay one flat fee to participate in all the games. Use wristbands or something similar to signal to the volunteers working the games on the course that those golfers have already paid.
13. Technology Sponsorship
This unique sponsorship gives the sponsoring business unparalleled exposure across the tournament management platform and accompanying mobile app. The Technology Sponsorship is only available to GolfStatus clients and, on average, raises an additional $4,000 or more for your mission. Sell it as a standalone sponsorship or build it into your title or presenting sponsorship to provide even more value.
GolfStatus’ Technology Sponsorship offers premium exposure and touchpoints across the platform.
14. Pin Flag Sponsorship
This high-end sponsorship gives your tournament a professional feel. Sell one pin flag sponsorship for all 18 holes and premium exposure, split it into a front nine and back nine sponsorships, or sell them individually. No matter how you approach it, sponsors will appreciate seeing their logo on high-quality pin flags that make a great keepsake.
15. Celebrity Appearance
Celebrities raise visibility for your tournament and your cause. You’ll likely need a sponsor to cover the hard costs associated with bringing a celebrity to your tournament (unless you have direct connections with a celebrity), but it’s a great chance to raise the income potential for your golf tournament. You don’t necessarily need an A-lister to have an impact—consider local celebrities, such as the mayor, college athletes, local news anchors, or well-known business owners.
16. Ball Drop
This golf tournament fundraiser idea can be done in several ways. One easy way is to structure it like a raffle. Sell balls that have a unique number on them, like you would raffle tickets, using your golf tournament website to process payments to simplify post-tournament accounting. Balls are then dropped from something like a helicopter or crane, and the closest ball to the target wins the prize. Securing a sponsor is a great way to ensure you’ll come out ahead.
17. Golf Clinic
Adding a clinic is a solid golf tournament fundraiser idea that grows the game and encourages those who aren’t golfers or are interested in improving their skills to participate. There are several ways to approach a clinic. You can work with the golf pro and the host golf facility to host a clinic the day before or the morning of your tournament, or work with local college teams to volunteer their time to run the clinic. Take it a step further and try to land a professional or semi-professional golfer to run the clinic, if it’s feasible.
18. VIP Package
Sell a specific VIP package as an add-on to regular team or sponsor registration packages. To make it appealing enough that folks want to upgrade, consider including things like:
Premium parking spots
Exclusive tournament merchandise or gift packages
Meet-and-greet with organizational beneficiaries or any celebrities in attendance
Discounted entries into the contests or games mentioned above
Complimentary raffle tickets, food and drink tickets, or mulligans
19. Event-Specific Merchandise
Offering exclusive tournament merchandise creates an element of scarcity among attendees to make a purchase. They won’t want to miss out on the chance to commemorate the event with special items. Pick merchandise that’s useful and likely to be popular among golfers and tie it to the event theme, such as golf shirts, t-shirts, head covers, golf balls, golf towels, water bottles, or hats. Incorporate your organization’s or tournament’s branding into the merchandise design, and work with a partner that can handle the logistics of producing the merchandise on time.
20. Pledge Drive
A pledge drive gets your donors and their broader networks involved, even if they can’t play in the tournament. Donors ask their friends, family, and colleagues to pledge to donate money based on their participation in the tournament. For example, someone would pledge $10 for every birdie or $5 for every par that the golfer achieves.
Pledges could be tied to contests, such as pledging a donation of $50 if your golfer wins the longest drive or closest to the pin contest. Another idea is to base pledges on overall performance, perhaps $100 if the team finishes in first place or $25 if they finish in last place. Use the donate button or build a specific package on your golf tournament website to easily collect pledge payments.
21. Beat the Special Guest Challenge
Having a special guest play in the event and offering folks a chance to go head-to-head against that person is a great golf tournament fundraiser idea. Whether it’s a well-known golfer, local celebrity, executive director of the nonprofit, or president of the board of directors, the special guest can be stationed on a specific hole. Participants pay to compete against the guest on the entire hole, or see who can hit a longer drive or sink a longer putt to win a prize.
22. Golf Tournament Bracket
Before the event, give participants the chance to buy into a “fantasy golf” bracket to predict the tournament’s overall winners, specific scores, or winners of contests. If your tournament’s field is close-knit or well known to each other, you might offer a Calcutta pool, in which participants “bid” on a specific team. If that team wins, the winning bidder gets part of the overall prize money, with the rest going to your organization.
Golf Fundraiser Revenue Calculator
Get an idea of your golf tournament’s potential revenue by using this calculator!
Golf Tournament Fundraiser Ideas FAQs
What are the benefits of charity golf tournaments?
High revenue potential: Golfers tend to have a high net worth and give generously, especially when the experience is top-notch.
Easy to manage: The right event management tool, built specifically for golf, streamlines everything from registration to sponsorship management to logistics.
Flexibility: From contests and games to sponsorships and auctions, there are opportunities to layer in multiple revenue streams.
Relationship-driven: Tournaments create meaningful face time with donors, sponsors, and supporters, which builds and strengthens relationships.
Broad appeal: Golf is more popular than ever, and with the right mix of golf and non-golf activities, you can engage a wide audience.
Sponsor-friendly: Golf events provide natural, high-visibility branding and engagement opportunities, such as hole signage, pin flags, and your event website.
Do we need golf tournament software to run a successful event?
Using a dedicated platform significantly improves both efficiency and results. The right tech saves time for your team, creates a better experience for golfers and sponsors, and improves fundraising outcomes:
Streamline registration and payments
Centralized sponsor management
Mobile scoring and live leaderboards
Fundraising enhancers and add-ons
Real-time communication with participants
What are the most common formats for charity golf tournaments?
For most nonprofit golf events, simplicity and fun should be the priority.
Scramble: By far the most popular option for charity tournaments. Each player hits from the best shot, making it fast-paced and beginner-friendly.
Best ball: Each player plays their own ball, and the best score on each hole counts for the team.
Alternate Shot: Golfers take turns hitting the same ball, making it more competitive and less common for fundraisers.
Shamble: A hybrid format that combines a scramble off the tee shot, then individual play afterwards.
Pro Tip: If your audience includes casual or first-time golfers, stick with a scramble format to keep things fun and inclusive.
How long does a typical golf tournament take?
Most charity tournaments take four to five hours to complete 18 holes, plus additional time for pre- and post-golf activities. Timing can vary based on:
Number of golfers and groups
Format
Course difficulty
Pace of play
Weather conditions
Pro Tip: Build buffer time into your schedule to account for delays, especially before dinner or your awards program.
How much should we charge per golfer?
Pricing depends on your market, your audience, and your overall fundraising strategy. Consider these factors when establishing pricing:
Course quality and prestige
Included value (meals, gifts, contests, games, etc.)
Local market and audience expectations
Your fundraising goal
How do we attract non-golfers to the event?
Promote non-golf options clearly on the event website so people not interested in playing understand that they’re welcome to attend.
Offer dinner-only or social tickets for networking and post-round activities
Include on-site experiences like putting contests, raffles, or auctions
Provide golf clinics for beginners or those wanting to learn more about the game
How far in advance should we start planning a charity golf tournament?
For best results, start planning at least six to nine months out, which gives you enough runway to secure sponsors, fill your field, and build momentum.
9 months out: Secure your course and date.
6 months out: Launch your event website and begin outreach
4 months out: Open registration and start promotional campaigns
2 months out: Finalize sponsors, contests, and on-course details
Event month: Confirm logistics, communicate with participants, and drive last-minute engagement.
It’s important to note that it is possible to plan a successful tournament in just three or four months with the right tools and an expedited planning timeline:
3 - 4 months out: Secure your course and date.
2 - 3 months out: Launch your event website and begin outreach, open registration, and start promotional campaigns
1 - 2 months out: Finalize sponsors, contests, and on-course details
Event month: Confirm logistics, communicate with participants, and drive last-minute engagement.
How to make a Donation Appeal to Golfers
Your golfers attend your fundraiser for a reason: they’re passionate about your mission and want to help your cause. Appeal to this generosity both on and off the green, and you’ll be surprised at how much more money you can raise. Here’s how:
Provide context about your mission, fundraising goal, and initiatives on your event website and invitations so new donors understand the purpose of the event. Ensure your content is emotional, impactful, and tangible by featuring stories, photos, testimonials, or videos of your work.
Keep people updated on your progress during the event with email, in-app, or push notifications. This will up the urgency of your cause and encourage your donors to contribute to your goal.
Set up a donation station near the registration area or somewhere on the course to remind donors why they’re there: to make a difference. Leverage this opportunity to encourage your golfers to give certain amounts of money, such as an amount equal to their final score or the winning team’s final score.
Pro Tip: If your event includes an awards ceremony, it’s a great time to make a donation ask, particularly the option to donate the final score. A platform with the ability to collect donations is key!
Final thoughts
Once your event ends, your work isn’t done yet! Immediately after the golf tournament, crunch some numbers and see which components of your golf event raised the most money. Factor in time spent by staff or volunteers on each part to determine the cost beyond its monetary face value. Then, look at ways to improve for next year, whether it’s raising the price of specific sponsorship packages, approaching new and/or different businesses to sponsor the event, or trying out different fundraising ideas.
Pro Tip: When you use GolfStatus for your golf event, you can simply copy this year’s event for next year, eliminating the need to set the event up from scratch. Update the date, time, and location and you can start promoting the event right away!
Whichever golf tournament fundraiser ideas you end up using, you need a powerful software solution on your side. GolfStatus offers solutions for charities and event organizers with its industry-leading golf event management and fundraising software. Its full-featured platform streamlines golf fundraisers to save time and raise more money, and its responsive support team is there to help every step of the way. Click below to get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost.
