GolfStatus kicks off the fundraising planning season with two new tools that nonprofits and charities can leverage to maximize the impact of charity golf tournaments

Lincoln, NE (March 3, 2026) - (BUSINESS WIRE)--GolfStatus, the industry-leading platform for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers, is proud to announce its new GolfStatus Rewards program to maximize fundraising outcomes for charity golf tournaments and nonprofits.

Golf tournaments powered by GolfStatus raised more than $32 million in 2025. Because golf tournaments continue to provide a viable, scalable fundraising and donor engagement option for all types of nonprofits, GolfStatus continues to improve its offerings, including the newly launched GolfStatus Rewards.

Tournaments that leverage GolfStatus’ suite of Fundraising Enhancers unlock thousands of dollars in valuable rewards from giving partners that can be leveraged as auction items, raffle prizes, or sponsor thank-yous to drive additional revenue from their golf events. Fundraising Enhancers include:

• Technology Sponsorship: A GolfStatus exclusive, the Technology Sponsorship offers premier branding and exposure for the sponsor throughout the GolfStatus platform and app.

• Branded Pin Flags: Pin flags are one of the most visible sponsorships available for a charity golf tournament. GolfStatus’ top-of-the-line pin flags give tournaments a professional look and feel and provide sponsors with unprecedented exposure across the golf course.

• Bundled Hole-In-One Contest: GolfStatus’ bundled hole-in-one package includes premium, high-value prizes at a fraction of the cost of other hole-in-one insurance offerings.

• NEW | Hole Signage: High-quality, all-inclusive hole signage from GolfStatus boosts sponsor visibility and engages golfers at a reasonable price. The GolfStatus team handles production and shipping.

“Golf events play a crucial role in helping nonprofits fund their work and fulfill their missions,” said Steve Mattern, Chief Operating Officer at GolfStatus. “With our Fundraising Enhancers and GolfStatus Rewards, we’re reaffirming our commitment to helping nonprofits, charities, and causes maximize their golf fundraising outcomes.”

GolfStatus’ all-in-one platform makes tournament planning easy and efficient. From custom-branded event websites and online registration to efficient event management and integrated fundraising tools, GolfStatus helps tournament organizers save 40+ hours of planning time and raise thousands of additional dollars. Free tournament planning resources, including webinars, downloadable guides and templates, and case studies, along with expert guidance from Fundraising Specialists and PGA Professionals, ensure nonprofit fundraisers start and finish strong.

As nonprofits kick off event planning season, they’re encouraged to book a free demo of the platform to learn more about GolfStatus Rewards, explore how the software simplifies tournament planning, and discover how GolfStatus maximizes fundraising potential.

About GolfStatus

GolfStatus helps nonprofits leverage the giving power of golf to raise more dollars, engage supporters, and do more good. Its robust golf event management platform streamlines golf tournaments from start to finish to save time and enhance the overall event experience for golfers, sponsors, and golf facilities. GolfStatus combines powerful technology with practical golf fundraising resources and industry-leading support to make charity golf tournaments easy, approachable, and efficient for organizations of all types and sizes. Visit golfstatus.com.

Our PGA Q&A blog series leverages the knowledge, experience, and expertise of GolfStatus’ in-house PGA Professionals: Cash Dinkel, PGA and Jason Meininger, PGA. This series installment dives into two topics that play a critical role in a tournament’s success: choosing a date and tournament format.

Cash Dinkel, PGA

Jason Meininger, PGA

Q: What are some things tournament organizers should think about when choosing a time of year for an event?

Cash Dinkel: Big things are weather, daylight, and what else is happening in your community. You want a window where people can actually commit, the course is in good shape, and you’re not fighting holidays, school schedules, or peak vacation weeks. And if you’re trying to maximize sponsorships and attendance, avoid dates where every other nonprofit in town is doing the same thing.

Jason Meininger: I would avoid holidays, like the Fourth of July and Labor Day. I would also probably stay away from the warmest month in your area (July is usually the warmest month where we are in Nebraska) to avoid the heat, unless you play early in the day.

Q: How about choosing a day of the week?

Cash Dinkel: It really comes down to your audience. If it’s corporate-heavy, weekdays are usually easier because people can justify it as a work/networking event. If it’s more community/family-driven, Fridays and weekends can work, but weekends are harder for courses and sometimes harder for golfers who already have plans. Price and course availability are also factors. Weekends are premium times for the courses, which could lead to a higher per-player cost. Private courses may only be available on Mondays, when they are typically closed to their members.

Jason Meininger: In my opinion, it really boils down to cost. It’s more than likely going to be cheaper to have your event on a weekday versus a weekend.

Tournament organizers should consider their audience, price, and course availability when choosing a date for their golf event.

Q: What’s your favorite day of the week to play in a charity golf tournament?

Cash Dinkel: I personally love a Friday or Monday event. It’s an easy excuse to take a long three-day weekend, and then it doesn’t typically interfere with any weekend plans or activities that my family may have.

Jason Meininger: I prefer a Friday afternoon tournament, if the course allows it. That way, golfers can work a half day before leaving to play in the event.

Q: What was your favorite day of the week to hold an outside outing at your golf facility?

Cash Dinkel: My favorite day to hold outside outings at my facility was Monday. Monday was perfect because we were closed for normal play, so the event wasn’t interfering with our day-to-day golfers at all. We also usually saw strong participation on Mondays, which gave the whole day a really high-end vibe. And since everyone has to work the next day, those Monday outings typically start early and wrap up earlier, too. The day moves well, keeps the pace in check, and makes sure the golfers are having fun… but not get out of hand!

Jason Meininger: When I was at golf facilities, I preferred to have them on Mondays. That was usually the slowest day of the week, so it was an opportunity for the course to generate additional revenue.

Q: What are generally some of the busiest times of year at a golf facility?

Jason Meininger: Specifically in northern states, you’ll see things start to pick up in April and go through October to November; it’s similar in Canada. In the southern states, March to June are busy, things taper off in the hot summer months, and peak again in the fall through early to mid-December. Places like Florida, California, and Arizona see golf events year-round due to their warm climates.

Cash Dinkel: In most places, it’s late spring through early fall, basically when the weather is consistent, and the course is in really good shape. For most of the U.S., late May through September is usually the sweet spot, and then you’ll also see random spikes around holiday weekends and peak summer travel windows.

Late May through September are prime times of year for charity golf fundraisers.

Q: In your experience, what is the most popular day of the week for charity golf tournaments?

Cash Dinkel: Friday is usually the busiest for charity outings. A lot of groups like the “play golf and roll into the weekend” vibe, and it’s an easy sell for teams and sponsors.

Jason Meininger: It really varies, but I would say Friday or Saturday are the most popular, then Monday (especially at private facilities).

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Q: What are the most common tournament formats for golf fundraisers?

Cash Dinkel: The most common ones I see are a four-person scramble, shamble, and best ball/four-ball. Scrambles are the go-to because they keep the pace moving, they’re fun for every skill level, and they help you sell teams and fill a field without scaring off the casual golfers.

Jason Meininger: I would say over 90% of the events we work with at GolfStatus are a four-person scramble format. It really works well to attract casual and avid golfers.

Q: What are some other tournament formats you’ve run into?

Jason Meininger:

• Best ball: Each player on a team plays their own ball throughout the hole. After the hole is completed, the lowest score or scores are recorded for the team total.

• Individual: Each golfer plays their own ball, and each player records a score.

Cash Dinkel:

• Chapman/Pinehurst: Both players hit, swap balls, then alternate shots.

• Alternate shot: Each team has one ball, and golfers take turns taking shots. It’s definitely harder, but fun for competitive groups.

• Stableford: This format has points-based scoring and encourages aggressive play.

• Skins game: Each hole is its own prize, and ties carry over. There’s usually a cash prize for winning each hole.

• Ryder Cup-style: Teams compete across multiple formats like best ball and alternate shot.

Scrambles are a great choice for charity golf events because they appeal to golfers of all skill levels and keep play moving.

Q: What format do you typically recommend for charity golf tournaments, and why?

Jason Meininger: Hands-down, a four-person scramble. A scramble allows people of all skill levels to participate a little or a lot based on their skill level.

Cash Dinkel: By far the best option is a four-person scramble. It’s the easiest format to understand, it keeps golfers in a good mood, it helps pace of play, and it’s the best setup for fundraising add-ons like mulligans, string, throw-a-ball, and all the fun stuff that helps drive more dollars.

Q: Does live scoring work for any tournament format?

Jason Meininger: GolfStatus’ live scoring app works for about 90% of formats, including scrambles. We can create a live leaderboard for almost any format. There are a few more complicated formats that it isn’t able to live score.

Cash Dinkel: Most of the time, yes. Live scoring works great for scrambles, shambles, best ball, and even Stableford if you’ve got it set up correctly. It gets a little trickier with complex formats like Ryder Cups, member-guest, and round robin style formats, but for the typical charity event formats, it works super smoothly.

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Ask the Pros!

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

Planning a golf tournament? You can get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost—get an event website, online registration, communication tools, premium digital sponsor exposure, revenue-boosting add-ons, and more, plus access to GolfStatus’ responsive in-house client success team (including knowledgeable PGA Professionals and Fundraising Specialists). Click the button to book a meeting and learn more.

Few fundraising events check as many boxes as a charity golf tournament. Golf is unique in that it serves as a powerful business connector, built around relationship-building and strategic networking. Unlike traditional networking events or mixers that last 60 to 90 minutes, golf tournaments provide five-plus hours of uninterrupted face time and engagement, making them one of the most valuable formats in professional member programming. Plus, golf events have the potential to raise significant dollars.

Members love golf tournaments for the opportunity to connect with association decision-makers and industry partners, vendors, and suppliers in an informal setting like the golf course. It removes the stiffness of meeting-room introductions and replaces them with shared experiences, friendly competition, and hours of interaction throughout the tournament.

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Start planning!

Download a free golf tournament planning timeline and checklist for a roadmap to a successful golf event. Plug in your tournament date and get a detailed list of to-dos based on your time to plan.

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What it is: A golf tournament presents a chance for your members, people from their networks, and member prospects to build connections over a round of golf. Charge a registration fee for teams to participate and sell sponsorships that cover the event’s hard costs, provide in-kind support, and support your association’s mission.

Why it works: Golf’s popularity continues to surge, and golf tournaments provide great engagement and brand visibility for sponsors. Plus, tech makes planning a successful golf tournament easier than ever, making it an all-around great fundraising idea for associations.

Here are four reasons golf events work so well for associations.

1. Generate Non-Dues Revenue

A golf outing is an ideal way to generate non-dues revenue. Whether your outing channels its fundraising dollars solely back into the association or parts them with a nonprofit beneficiary or beneficiaries, fundraising dollars can be collected from registrations, sponsorships, add-ons like mulligans and raffle tickets, on-course games, and other donation asks. The golf event can also be paired with a luncheon, dinner, a more formal gala, or an auction.

2. Improve Association Member Recruiting & Retention Efforts

Golf outings require participants to field a team, which encourages them to reach out to their networks and naturally leads to new member prospects. If membership growth is a primary goal for your organization, let golf event participants know so they can build their teams accordingly. You can also make the event a member-guest-style outing, so teams include both members of your association and non-members (i.e., prospects). Because of the inherent networking value golf events offer, and the fact that attendees tend to genuinely enjoy them, they’re a great way to keep members engaged and invested in supporting your organization year after year.

Golf events hosted by an association are a great opportunity to engage with members and prospects.

3. Forge & Steward Corporate Partnerships

Golf events are great opportunities to secure corporate support and further existing relationships. Golf’s inherent connection to business keeps it on the radars of business professionals and in the sponsorship and marketing budgets of corporate entities large and small. The event itself provides focused exposure to your members, which is a great value to corporate partners looking to sponsor and participate.

4. Build Goodwill & Spotlight Community Efforts

Golf is a fun community event that brings people together to enjoy a great day outdoors. It’s also inextricably linked to charity. As an association, your goals are to align interests and support causes that matter to your members, and you can leverage a golf outing to do both while also building goodwill for your organization and advancing its positive reputation in the community.

If your event benefits a specific cause or nonprofit organization, let players and sponsors know how much of their investments will go to this cause and what kind of impact those dollars make. Not only are you raising mission-critical funds for a great organization, you’re also building your association’s reputation and brand as a whole.

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Case Study: Louisville Chapter of ASHRAE

The Louisville Chapter of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) provides education to members, promotes students' interest in HVAC&R engineering and technical fields, raises funds for research, and supports the establishment of engineering standards.

ASHRAE has held a golf tournament for several years as a fundraising event, but also to engage existing members and attract new ones. Sponsors from the HVAC industry have jumped at the chance to sponsor the event each year, thgaanks to the valuable exposure they get to their very specific target audience. Tournament organizers leverage the digital sponsorships provided by the event management platform that offered each sponsor much more visibility. Plus, the fundraiser is centered around an event that both the association’s members and sponsors truly enjoy.

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Tips for a Successful Association Golf Event

Reduce staff workload with technology. Association teams are often lean, so manually managing registration, team pairings, sponsorship sales, and coordination can quickly overwhelm staff capacity. Event management tech can automate and streamline prep and planning, freeing staff to focus on member engagement and building relationships with sponsors. Be sure your event has a dedicated website and offers online registration. Association members are busy and expect a simple, sleek way to register for any event. They don’t have time to fuss with forms, checks, and mail-in registrations. Plus, everyone’s online these days; it’s the fastest and easiest way to reach both existing and future members and supporters.

Match your goals with the event’s caliber. Consider the venue, price points, sponsorship options, and other key items as you start planning, and be sure they align with your goals. If your association has the opportunity to attract high-capacity members and big-time sponsors, be sure the caliber of the event is aligned with that opportunity. Be aware that positioning your outing as a high-end corporate entertainment event ensures that members gain substantial value from attending, making them willing to invest in supporting and participating in the event.

Make it inclusive and low-pressure. Choose a scramble format to appeal to golfers of all skill levels. Scrambles remove the intimidation factor for first-timers and ensure healthy competition for seasoned golfers. You might even add a fun theme to the tournament to drive excitement and make it memorable.

Turn up the fun. Incorporate on-course contests like longest drive, closest to the pin, hole-in-one, best-dressed team, or games to boost the fun factor. Add prizes for tournament and contest winners to help increase engagement and give members plenty of shareworthy moments for post-event conversation.

Boost revenue: Build on-course games, challenges, and contests into the tournament. These additional tournament components add more fun, draw additional attendees, offer more sponsorship opportunities, and boost revenue. A hole-in-one contest is a great example—a high-end prize is most certainly a draw for golfers, and you can sell a sponsorship to cover the cost of the hole-in-one insurance in case someone hits the lucky shot.

Offer sponsorships that businesses can’t resist. Your association’s membership is premium access for industry suppliers—and they know it. Corporate partners want visibility with your membership base, making golf tournaments ripe for high-dollar sponsorships. Offer high-end sponsorship opportunities like branded pin flags, hole-in-one contests, hole sponsorships, and tech-based exposure. Provide exposure through physical and digital channels so sponsors get quality, cross-channel impressions that drive tangible results like web traffic and genuine inquiries.

Branded pin flags are a high-end sponsorship that offers unique visibility at your association’s golf event.

Tailor sponsorships to meet business goals. Businesses likely have specific goals or outcomes in mind when it comes to sponsoring events. You can help them meet those goals by working directly with them to create a tailored sponsorship opportunity that’s mutually beneficial and features options for their involvement. For instance, you might offer the chance to mingle with golfers before, during, or after the event. It’s essential to keep lines of communication open and not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Be willing to be flexible and design sponsorships that fit everyone’s needs.

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Work With the Golf Fundraising Pros—At No Upfront Cost

The right tech makes golf events easier and more lucrative than ever. GolfStatus’ golf event management platform seamlessly handles everything from registration, payment processing, sponsor onboarding, and digital exposure to team pairings and hole assignments, golfer communication, and promotion. Get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost and get a free event website, access to Fundraising Specialists, live support seven days a week, and much more. Book a meeting to learn more!

A successful golf tournament starts months before event day, with the right decisions made at the right time. Nine months out from a charity golf tournament is when the foundation is built—the work you do at this stage sets the tone for everything that follows: sponsorship sales, golfer registrations, marketing, and ultimately, how much you raise.

This kicks off a blog series that breaks down priority golf tournament planning tasks at key milestones leading up to event day. We’re starting at the nine-month mark, where strategic decisions around your planning team, golf facility, event website, and packages can make the difference between scrambling later or cruising confidently toward a full field and strong fundraising outcomes.

It’s important to note that while having more time to plan is usually better, it’s possible to plan a successful golf tournament in a matter of a couple of months.

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Download a Checklist & Planning Timeline

Outline every task to keep you on track and on target.

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Pre-Planning & Reference

It’s important to start with an organized infrastructure to keep you on track throughout the planning process:

• Get a GolfStatus demo. GolfStatus is the industry’s leading platform for charity golf tournaments and fundraisers. Save 40+ hours and raise thousands more dollars!

• Get a GolfStatus Education Session. Once you’re on board with GolfStatus, our client success team will walk you through the software’s backend.

• Create a shared project folder using Google Drive, OneDrive, or something similar so all team members have access to assets.
  

Planning Team & Committee Meetings

There’s no need for planning a tournament to be a one-person show. Recruit a team or committee to help share the load.

• Recruit planning committee members. Decide who will help. Whether it’s staff or board members, volunteers, or others, shoot for five to 10 people to keep the group manageable and active.

• Set committee meeting dates. Try to hold a meeting once a month, with more frequent meetings in the month or two leading up to tournament day. It’s a good idea to set all meeting dates and times at the first gathering so everyone can get them on their calendars.

• Hold your first committee meeting. Discuss event goals, potential event dates, options for golf facilities, and ideas for sponsorship packages. Review feedback from previous years (if applicable), and talk through goals for the number of teams, golfers, and sponsors, and the total dollars raised.

Choosing a host golf facility for your tournament is a big decision. Check around with local golf facilities for pricing and availability.

Date & Golf Facility

This is a big item to check off your to-do list—determining when and where you’ll hold your golf tournament.

• Reach out to potential host golf facilities. Events at a public course will cost you less, but you can leverage a higher price point for registration packages if the event is played at a more exclusive facility.

• Determine a date and time. Think about what time of year works best for your organization and what the weather will be like during that timeframe. Check to see if other community events are happening as you hone in on a final date.

• Sign a contract with the golf facility. Be sure to thoroughly understand what's included with your contract, which will help in determining your registration package pricing.
  

Event Website

An event website is a must-have for a successful tournament. It simplifies everything from promotion to registration to sponsor onboarding—and everything in between.

• Create your event website. Work with the GolfStatus team to get your site set up and ready to go, then make edits and updates as needed.

• Go live! As soon as you have a date and course set, launch your website. You’ll get on golfer and sponsor radars sooner rather than later, and you can update information as details firm up.

• Open registration. Once you determine packages and pricing, you can start accepting registrations and selling sponsorships.

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Get a Free Event Website!

Save tons of time with online registration and secure payment processing, promote your event by sharing a link to your site, onboard sponsors and provide digital exposure, and more.

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Team & Sponsor Packages

Building attractive golfer and sponsor packages is the first step to filling your tournament’s field.

• Assign committee members to each sponsorship. Tap committee members to handle building and pricing each package, adding it to the event website, taking the lead on selling the sponsorship, and sharing sponsor assets.

• Build team packages and determine pricing. Be sure to cover all hard costs—greens fees, cart rental, food and beverage, etc.—and add a margin to drive revenue.

• Build add-on packages and determine pricing. These might include on-course games entry, mulligans, merchandise sales, raffle tickets, etc.

• Build sponsorship packages and determine pricing. Much like team packages, you want to make sure you cover all hard costs associated with the sponsorship and build in a margin to ensure a profit. You’ll likely bring in the most revenue from sponsorships.

• Connect with past sponsors (if applicable). If yours is an existing tournament, connect with last year’s sponsors to offer them the right of first refusal for their current sponsorship or first dibs on a higher-value package.

• Create a sponsor media kit. This should include tournament logos, canned social posts, and sample email verbiage to make it simple for the sponsor to share information about the event with their audiences.

  • Add the sponsor media kit to the shared folder for easy access by committee members.

  • Share the sponsor kit with the committee and sponsors.

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Free download: sample golf fundraiser sponsorship packages

Not sure what your golf tournament’s sponsorships should look like? Download this free guide for suggestions on package types, benefits to include, and pricing.

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Marketing & Promotion

The bulk of your tournament’s marketing will happen a bit later in the planning process, but now’s a great time to start thinking about your promotional strategy and channels.

• Send a save the date. This can be as simple as a quick email to past participants and supporters as soon as you lock in a date and golf facility. Be sure to include the link to the event website.
  

Details & Logistics

You’ll tackle most of the logistics closer to the tournament date, but it’s a good idea to plan out a skeleton schedule to add to the event website. Include any information you’ve already determined, such as the time of the shotgun start or if there will be any post-golf awards ceremony or meal.

What’s Next?

Right now, you’re building momentum for success. By locking in the golf facility, assembling the right planning team, launching your event website, and outlining your packages early, you give your tournament the runway it needs to succeed. You’ll also make it easier for sponsors and golfers to commit sooner, before calendars fill up.

As you move closer to tournament day, your focus will shift toward marketing, sales, logistics, and on-course details. But the more solid your foundation is now, the smoother every future milestone will be. Stay tuned for the next post in this series, when we’ll cover the to-dos at six months to keep your tournament on track.

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Planning a golf tournament is no small task. From registration to logistics and sponsorships to scoring, there’s a lot to manage, and plenty of opportunities for things to get unnecessarily complicated.

But—there’s good news for tournament organizers. Modern golf-specific tech has completely changed the game, streamlining planning, improving communication, enhancing the golfer experience, and, best of all, increasing fundraising revenue. Whether you’re just jumping into golf fundraising or need a way to boost efficiency for an existing tournament, here are 10 ways tournament tech makes planning and running a successful golf fundraiser easier and more impactful than ever.

Tech not only makes planning and executing a golf fundraiser easy and efficient, it elevates the tournament experience for golfers.

1. It Keeps Everyone On the Same Page

Golf tournaments have more moving parts than most fundraising events. A golf-specific platform organizes every detail—handicaps, hole assignments, sponsorships, and pairings—and keeps it in one easily accessible place. That means no bouncing between tools, spreadsheets, texts, or email chains. Everyone, including your planning team, volunteers, and even the golf facility, all work from the same real-time information. This means less work, fewer mistakes, and hours of manual effort eliminated.

2. Registration Becomes Streamlined, Accurate & Error-Free

Paper forms, mailed checks, handwritten credit card information, and Venmos all leave room for lost data and frustrated donors and organizers. An event website with online registration and secure payment processing fixes all of that.

Players and sponsors sign up with just a few clicks, and their details flow directly into your platform—with no time and effort required on your part. You get complete, accurate golfer and sponsor information every time, and supporters enjoy a smooth experience from the start.

3. Duplicate Work & Siloed Information Are No More

Committees and volunteers are essential, but without the right management tool, they can unintentionally create duplicative work or inconsistent data. A web-based platform ensures your whole team can collaborate in real time, so everyone sees the same golfer, sponsor, and payment information. This makes planning responsibilities easier to delegate, and no single person has to carry the administrative burden.

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Golf Tournament Fundraiser Checklist & Planning Timeline

Download this free template to get a comprehensive planning checklist, complete with suggested due dates based on your time to plan. Map out and delegate your team’s to-dos to keep everyone on task and on target.

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4. Golf-Specific Details Are Handled (No Golf Knowledge Required)

Details like format, mulligans, handicaps, flights, tie-breakers, and skins are unique to golf and can be confusing, especially if you’re not a golfer. Tech designed for golf events walks you through the details so nothing gets overlooked. Even first-timers can confidently plan and execute a professional, well-structured event with the support of a platform built for golf.

Just as important as the tech itself is the team that supports it. Your golf event management platform should be backed by a knowledgeable, responsible team of golf fundraising experts. Beyond answering questions about the platform, the team should be able to offer guidance on everything from choosing a format to building sponsorship packages—at no additional cost.

5. Live Scoring Makes the Round More Fun & Engaging

Replacing paper scorecards with digital live scoring comes with a ton of upsides. Not only does it eliminate scoring errors and long waits for final results, but it also keeps golfers engaged and excited throughout the tournament. Golfers enter their scores on a mobile scoring app, which syncs to live leaderboards. Because golfers can check the standings every time they enter a score, the tournament becomes more exciting. And—sponsors get yet another digital touchpoint.

Golf facility staff benefit, too. They no longer need to tally scores manually or hunt down missing scorecards at the end of the round. Post-flighting and tie-breakers can be done with just a click, so you can announce the winners sooner and move on to the post-golf festivities.

Live scoring keeps golfers engaged throughout the round and makes finalizing the tournament’s results quick and easy.

6. Sponsors Get More, Better Exposure

Sponsors are the revenue powerhouse of golf fundraisers, and technology makes their support even more valuable. Digital exposure extends exposure far beyond traditional day-of placements. Your software should offer digital sponsor touchpoints throughout the platform, including:

• The event website

• The live scoring mobile app

• Mobile scorecards

• Push notifications and in-app messaging

• Live leaderboards

• Printed cart signs, scorecards, and reports

Sponsors can also upload their own logos and links at registration, saving your team (and the sponsor) time. Better exposure means better ROI, which makes sponsorships easier to sell and renew year over year.

With a golf event management platform, sponsors earn impressions with every visit to the tournament website.

7. Tech Unlocks New Fundraising Streams

A modern platform shouldn’t just make planning easier; it should also increase your tournament’s bottom line. Look for tech that enables:

• Online donations before, during, and after the tournament

• A donation tracker to show progress toward donation goals

• Selling add-ons like mulligans, raffle tickets, and on-course game entry in one checkout flow

• Round-up donations at checkout

• Digital sponsorship opportunities and exposure

• Online auction capabilities

You should also look for other tournament add-ons that help drive even more income, like custom pin flags, hole-in-one contests, and signage.

These revenue boosts add up, bringing in thousands of extra dollars without adding a mountain of work for you and your planning team.

8. Communication Becomes Instant, Targeted & Reliable

Communication can be a challenge for golf events. Outdated email lists, last-minute updates, weather delays, or rule changes can lead to confusion. Tech centralizes your messaging, allowing updates to reach participants sooner. Look for a platform that has communication tools baked in:

• Automated confirmation emails and receipts

• Event-wide email blasts

• Live scoring app notifications

• In-app messaging

• Easy event website updates

Beyond just sharing updates, these communication tools can be used to promote contests, auction items, raffle prizes, donation goal statuses, sponsor messages, and mission information.

9. It Doesn’t Come With a Huge Price Tag

Many nonprofits assume purpose-built tech is out of reach, but mission-driven software solutions are built specifically to fit nonprofit budgets. Because the right tool helps you become more efficient and raise more in sponsorships, registrations, and donations, it typically delivers more in value than in costs.

Even better, some offer no upfront cost access that makes adopting technology a financial win instead of an expense. Look for options to pass processing fees onto registrants, win-win add-on pricing, and cost transparency.

Golf event management tech doesn’t have to come with a huge price tag or line item in your budget!

10. You Save Time This Year—And Next Year Too

Tournament tech pays dividends long after the event ends. When your outing wraps, you can:

• Export donor and participant data to include in your CRM

• Quickly begin donor stewardship, participant thank yous, and sponsor reporting

• Copy your event with a few clicks to launch next year’s tournament

• Keep your audience engaged with early save-the-dates

Because everything is documented and organized, each year gets easier and more efficient than the last.

Final Thoughts

Technology makes golf fundraisers easier, more efficient, and more profitable for organizations and tournaments of all types and sizes. When you pair the fundraising power of the golf event with golf-specific tech, you get a streamlined planning process, stronger donor engagement, happier sponsors, and bigger revenue potential.

In short, tech lets you do more good with less effort, setting your golf tournament up for long-term growth and success to help power your mission.

Work With the Golf Fundraising Experts at No Upfront Cost

Book a Meeting With GolfStatus to Get Started

by Logan Foote, Sales and Education Director at GolfStatus

Golf tournaments remain one of the most reliable, flexible, and mission-boosting events in a nonprofit’s fundraising portfolio. Golf’s popularity continues to trend upwards, and donor expectations are shifting towards convenience and meaningful experiences, which means organizations should rethink how they build, promote, and elevate their golf fundraisers.

Golf tournaments will continue to be a fun, meaningful way to raise funds and connect with donors in the coming year.

Heading into 2026, several key trends are shaping how nonprofits plan and execute successful golf events. Here are the biggest shifts to watch, and how to put them into action for your own tournament in the year ahead.

1. Convenience will become a core part of the donor experience

Today’s supporters value convenience just as much as they value impact. Whether they’re registering to play, making a gift, or participating in on-course activities, donors expect a simple, seamless experience that works on their schedule—and their device.

Modern golf fundraisers will be increasingly focused on removing friction from the giving and registration process. That means:

• Clear, concise event websites

• Mobile-friendly registration

• Straightforward pricing

• Minimal steps to complete a purchase or donation

• Digital receipts and instant confirmations

The easier you make it to sign up, the faster your field will fill. And the easier you make it for people to give, the more likely they are to do so. Convenience isn’t just a better experience for supporters, it’s a driver of increased participation and revenue.

2. Tournaments will find ways to reduce payment friction

Cash is becoming far less common, especially among younger donors and golfers. In-person fundraising activities on tournament day—mulligans, raffle tickets, contests, auctions, and on-course games—can all suffer when supporters don’t have an easy way to pay.

In 2026, more tournaments will turn to payment options that reduce donation friction and increase participation. Quick-scan QR codes, saved payment methods, and mobile check-out pages ensure golfers can contribute in seconds without digging for credit cards or carrying cash in their golf bags.

These small upgrades can create a major bump in revenue. If giving is effortless, more golfers will jump in, resulting in higher totals across contests, raffles, and tournament-day fundraising.

Mobile payments increase convenience and reduce barriers to making a donation and purchasing add-ons on tournament day.

3. Donors will respond to clear calls to action

In a crowded fundraising landscape, clarity matters. Nonprofits are discovering that golfers and supporters respond best when they know exactly what they’re being asked to do—and why it matters.

Strong, effective calls to action (CTAs) are:

• Specific: Provide a clear directive, such as “Become a hole sponsor for $250.”

• Visible: CTAs should be featured prominently on your event website and marketing materials.

• Intuitive: Make CTAs relative to the golf event, such as “Register a team,” “Donate now,” or “Purchase mulligans.”

• Mission-focused: Include the impact of the action, such as “Your support provides three months of meals for local families.”

Strong CTAs guide supporters through the experience, starting with browsing your event site and ending with giving again on tournament day. Whether they’re displayed on your event website, shared via social media and email, or printed on signage at the course, CTAs will play a big role in motivating supporters and driving action.

4. Donors will want simple, accessible ways to support your cause

Even when supporters believe strongly in your mission, they may not always make the leap to register a team or become a sponsor for your golf event. They may feel busy, unsure of their golf ability, or simply prefer smaller commitments.

That’s why more nonprofits will build more accessible ways for people to give during their golf events, including:

• Add-on donations during registration

• Mobile giving links shared before, during, and after the event

• Donation trackers to show golfers the progress toward your goals

• Event opportunities for non-golfers, such as raffles, auctions, entertainment, or social events

• Live leaderboard donation options

• Sponsor-funded matching gifts

When you give donors a simple path to supporting your mission, engagement rises—and so does revenue.

Your event website should include a tracker to help golfers see how you’re progressing towards your tournament’s donation goals.

5. Nonprofits will add a second golf event (often with a new format)

Because golf has become such a dependable fundraising channel, nonprofits are recognizing that one tournament may not be enough. Many organizations are introducing a second golf fundraiser, often in the offseason, to reach new audiences, test new formats, and generate additional revenue without heavy planning demands.

Popular options include:

• TopGolf for driving-range style outings to engage golfers and non-golfers

• Mini golf tournaments are great for reaching families and all ages

• Indoor simulator events for a weather-proof option for colder climates

• Short-format nine-hole tournaments for a shorter time commitment

• Unique themes, such as a glow golf event

These formats can be easier to host, less resource-intensive, and highly appealing for supporters who may not want to commit to a full 18-hole outing. They’re also a great way to attract new donors who may later join in on your larger annual golf fundraiser.

Fun themes, such as a glow golf event, give nonprofits options when considering holding a secondary golf event in 2026.

6. revenue enhancers will become essential for tournament growth

As nonprofits aim to raise more through their golf events, organizers are doubling down on reliable revenue enhancers—add-ons that create a more engaging golfer experience while increasing fundraising totals.

Some of the biggest revenue drivers heading into 2026 include:

Hole-In-One Contests

A well-promoted hole-in-one contest, with attractive prizes, draws excitement and teams to your event. With the right hole-in-one insurance in place, you can offer high-value prizes like cash or golf trips without financial risk.

Hole Signs

High-quality signage not only recognizes sponsors but also gives your tournament a polished feel. Fun designs, custom messaging, directional markers, and QR codes add impact and increase sponsor satisfaction.

Pin Flags

Custom, branded pin flags, whether with a sponsor logo or your nonprofit’s, create a premium look on the course. They deliver high visibility to your partners and can even be auctioned or sold after the event for added revenue.

Digital Sponsorships

Digital exposure gives sponsors more ROI, move visibility, and more engagement to keep them coming back to support your tournament in the future. Best of all, digital sponsorships don’t come with materials costs (like banners, t-shirts, or golf balls), so more dollars go to your cause.

On-Course Games and Challenges

Putting contests, longest drive competitions, beat-the-pro challenges, and mission-related on-course games entertain players while generating income throughout the round.

Tournament organizers are learning that the right mix of enhancements can add thousands of extra dollars without requiring major changes to the core event.

7. Sponsorship packages will get sweeter & be more flexible

Corporate and business partners are one of the most important revenue sources in golf fundraising, and their expectations are evolving. Sponsors want visibility, but they also want alignment, engagement, and opportunities to activate their brands.

To meet those needs, nonprofits will look to refresh their sponsorship offerings with:

• Multiple pricing levels to fit different budgets

• High-end opportunities like pin flag sponsorships, contest sponsorships, or technology-based exposure

• More tailored benefits, such as digital exposure, exclusive experiences, and brand placements

• Flexible packages that give sponsors control over how they’re showcased

• Co-branded or marketing assets that sponsors can share on their own channels

The more value your sponsorship packages can deliver, the more likely sponsors are to return in subsequent years and even increase their support.

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What’s NExt?

Golf fundraisers have always been powerful community-builders and mission drivers. But as donor experiences evolve, nonprofits must also evolve. By embracing convenience, simplifying giving, offering flexible sponsorships, and expanding into new golf formats, nonprofits can build events that resonate with supporters and raise more money year after year.

These 2026 trends point toward a future where golf remains one of the most impactful, sustainable, and enjoyable ways to connect people to your cause. Whether you’re a first-time planner or exploring how to elevate a long-running event, GolfStatus’ tech, support, and resources will help you save time and raise more money.

Save Time and Raise More Money in 2026 and Beyond

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by Andrew Herbert, VP of Charity Golf International

Since 2019, Andrew Herbert of Charity Golf International has helped raise over $3.5 million for charities through golf events.

When it comes to hosting a successful charity golf event, the difference between a good outing and a truly impactful one lies in the strategic approach to fundraising. After supporting thousands of charity golf events and helping organizations raise well over $125 million since 2012, Charity Golf International has learned that the most successful events share three key characteristics:

1. Educating golfers about the mission

2. Celebrate the act of giving

3. Employing a "less is more" approach to fundraising

This guide will explore these characteristics and show you how to effectively apply them to your next charity golf tournament.

1. Educating golfers on the mission of giving

The foundation of any successful charity golf event starts with emotionally connecting your guests to your cause. This goes far beyond simply stating what your organization does—it's about creating genuine connections that inspire action.

Make the Mission Personal and Tangible

• Start with storytelling. Share real beneficiary stories that resonate on a human level. If possible, bring beneficiaries of your work to the event so they can mingle with guests and sponsors, putting a face to the cause they're supporting.

• Use specific dollar amounts to demonstrate impact: "$25 provides a meal for a family of four." This specificity helps donors understand exactly how their contribution will make a difference.

• Create displays that showcase your work in action. Display your fundraising goals prominently and show guests how close you are to achieving them throughout the day.

• Transform hole sponsor signs into mission-focused messaging. Display the sponsor's logo prominently, and add compelling facts about your cause underneath.

Communicate Throughout the Event

• Mission education shouldn't be a one-time announcement. Weave your message throughout the entire event experience.

• Dedicate a few minutes of your welcome speech to mission education.

• Include mission messaging in cart signage and swag items.

• Have staff and beneficiaries available to chat with guests about mission experiences throughout the day.

• Use the awards ceremony to reinforce the day's impact and celebrate both your efforts and the generosity of everyone involved.

Create Relevance to Golfers and Guests

Connect your charity's work to the local community where your golfers live and work, helping them understand how the community and beneficiaries will recognize their contributions and the lasting impact they'll have.

• Share specifically how funds raised at this event will be used. Donors want to see a direct connection between their money and what it will accomplish.

• Provide impact reports from previous years' events or organizational milestones.

• Create urgency by highlighting current needs, new initiatives, and opportunities to support or match previous successes.

Charity Golf International has experience working with charities and golf events of all types and sizes, helping elevate financial results while delivering an engaging and unforgettable on-course experience for golfers.

Pro tip: less pressure, more invitation

Frame donations as "opportunities to make a difference" rather than obligations. Use inclusive language, such as "We have an opportunity today to achieve X together" and "With your help, we have no doubt we’ll reach our goal today," that invite people to give, rather than pressure-filled phrases like "We need you to do this" or "We can't do X unless you do Y.”

Remember that a great experience leads to future support and referrals. The goal here is to make your event the best one on your guests' calendars. Simply put: trust that educated, engaged golfers will give when they understand the impact. Create memories and experiences alongside the act of giving, and the funds will follow.

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See How Much Charity Golf International Can Help You Raise

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2. Emphasizing and celebrating the act of donating

Establish Positive Donation Experiences

The way your organization handles donations can transform the entire giving experience, taking it from a transaction to a celebration.

• Thank donors immediately and publicly when appropriate. Help create proud moments for them!

• Use celebration language like "What an amazing contribution!", "With this donation, we’re now at $X overall today!”, or “This means so much to our team and mission!” Make every donation a celebration of generosity.

• Provide instant gratification by showing running totals, a progress bar, or thermometer displays. This helps make donating feel like winning, rather than giving away money.

Use Recognition Strategies

It’s crucial to express your appreciation to donors for their support of your cause. At your golf event:

• Announce major donations during dinner or after golf. Let guests know there are heroes among them, which may inspire others to step up and contribute more.

• Provide donor recognition with small tokens of appreciation (ball markers, pins, stickers, etc.) that serve as proud reminders of their contribution.

• Take photos of donors making their contributions and share on social media (with permission) so they can see your gratitude and proudly share their generosity with their networks.

Leverage Social Proof to Gain Momentum

Social proof is how people look to the actions and behaviors of others to determine how they should act. This can be especially useful in fundraising—when people see their peers donating, it often prompts them to do the same.

• Share when others have donated: "Team 8 with Company X just donated $500!" This creates social proof and can spark friendly competition between foursomes or companies.

• Use motivating phrases like "We're well on our way to our goal today, help us keep the momentum going!" or "We're close to a new record in fundraising—let’s break that record together!"

• Display real-time fundraising totals to build excitement and provide tangible donation goals throughout event day.

Charity Golf International suggests offering two to three giving activations during the round.

3. The “less is more” approach

Quality Over Quantity Principle

The most successful charity golf events that Charity Golf International supports understand that fewer, higher-impact fundraising moments are far more effective than constant asks.

• Focus on two to three strategic points during the event for major fundraising pushes. Most successful events we support have one or two professional fundraising activations on the course (like Charity Golf International’s Par 5 and Par 3 Pros), along with a small internally run game. You can certainly include additional activities, but we recommend including them in registration fees.

• Make each ask meaningful and well-timed.

  • Pre-round: A light introduction to giving opportunities, such as mulligans, 50/50 raffle tickets, or auctions.

  • Mid-round: One to two well-placed, high-energy fundraising moments, like professional fundraisers or on-course games.

  • Post-round: Major fundraising push when golfers are relaxed and social to help meet or exceed goals.

• Avoid stacking activations. Try to space them out to prevent fundraising fatigue and maintain positive energy for your guests.

Simplify the Giving Process

Remove as many barriers to giving as possible. Offer a simple, hassle-free process and make your asks specific and tangible.

• Offer clear donation levels rather than a generic and vague ask.

• Use round numbers that make sense to you and your guests.

• Spend 80% of your time explaining what donations accomplish and only 20% on logistics, letting the mission sell itself rather than over-explaining the need for donations.

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pro tip: partner with experts

As you may very well know, GolfStatus handles all registration, payment processing, sponsor management, and real-time tracking of your outing. Charity Golf International provides the on-course entertainment and fundraising expertise that creates memorable experiences, allowing you to focus on what matters most: connecting with your guests and advancing your mission during the outing.

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Charity Golf International brings premium prizes to golf events, plus fundraising experience.

Charity Golf International’s partnership with GolfStatus eliminates common pain points of charity golf event management while maximizing both the guest experience and fundraising potential.

When GolfStatus and Charity Golf International work together on your event, the result is simple and clear—your guests will eagerly anticipate the outing year after year, sponsors will see real value in their investment while appreciating your efforts, and organizations like yours consistently exceed their fundraising goals.

Ready to take your charity golf event to the next level? The tools, strategies, and partnerships are all here—now it's time to create something truly impactful together.

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Work With GolfStatus & Charity Golf International for Your Next Golf Fundraiser

Charity Golf International is the leader in on-course fundraising and entertainment, providing proven methods to charities and organizations. Its pros are well-versed in nonprofit fundraising and bring high-energy, high-impact to golf tournaments.

Combining Charity Golf International’s on-course fundraising expertise with GolfStatus’ tech, revenue enhancers, and support maximizes your tournament’s impact to raise mission-critical funds, connect with donors, and share information about your work. Get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost by booking a meeting with a golf fundraising expert.

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Nonprofit golf event organizers are always looking for new and creative ways to boost fundraising, provide sponsors with real value, and deliver a memorable tournament experience for participants. Fortunately, there’s one tournament extra that does all three: pin flags.

Pin flags are one of the most visible—and versatile—sponsorships your tournament can offer. Why? They offer sponsors and your nonprofit unparalleled branding opportunities, elevate the look and feel of your tournament, and perhaps most importantly, create new ways to raise dollars for your cause.

Here are six reasons why you should add a pin flag sponsorship to your next charity golf tournament.

1. New Golf Tournament Sponsorship Option

To build on success, it’s essential for charity golf tournament organizers to continually add value and increase revenue every year. If your tournament has consistently sold out sponsorships and you want to expand offerings, pin flags are a great choice for tournaments of all types and sizes.

Plus, pin flags are flexible. You don’t have to offer them as a one-size-fits-all package. Instead, you can structure them in different ways that meet your fundraising goals, tournament needs, and sponsor budgets. Some common approaches include:

• One sponsor for all 18 holes. This is perhaps the most common approach, and is a great option for a major sponsor who wants maximum visibility.

• Split the course. Sell sponsorships for the front and back nine separately, giving two mid-level sponsors the chance to stand out.

• Individual hole sponsorships. Give multiple businesses the chance to sponsor a single hole with a pin flag, spreading opportunity across a larger group of supporters.

2. premium visibility across the course

Pin flags are found on every single green and are the focal point of every single hole. That means that sponsor logos and branding are front and center as golfers approach and finish each hole. Put simply, pin flags demand attention!

Even smaller-scale events like mini golf fundraisers or simulator-based events can benefit from this exposure. Pin flags (or creative adaptations of them) are highly visible branding opportunities that make an impression no matter the format of your event.

The visibility offered by pin flags is especially attractive to sponsors who want more than a logo on a banner. Pin flags and the accompanying digital exposure provided by your golf event management platform guarantee that the sponsor’s name is seen repeatedly throughout the tournament.

Even mini golf events can benefit from a pin flag sponsorship!

3. Elevate the Look & Feel of Your Tournament

Custom pin flags instantly upgrade your tournament. They give your event a professional, polished look that stands out to golfers, sponsors, and even golf facility staff. Seeing branded pin flags on every green tells golfers, sponsors, and donors that you take the event seriously and value sponsor relationships. The professional impression can help:

• Build credibility with first-time golfers and supporters

• Encourage past sponsors to return and level up their investment in your event in the future

• Differentiate your tournament from others in the area

Golfers and sponsors appreciate when an event feels well-organized and put together. Details like pin flags may seem small, but they help contribute to an overall professional experience that keeps participants coming back.

4. raise more money

Every additional golf tournament sponsorship represents new dollars for your cause and a new revenue stream for your event and organization. Pin flag sponsorships are especially valuable because they’re premium, high-demand options that many businesses find appealing. Plus, this sponsorship comes with a high ROI, making it worth a higher price point because pin flags:

• Offer unprecedented visibility across the golf course

• Have a “wow” factor

• Give sponsors a unique way to stand out

No matter how you sell pin flags—individually, nine, or 18 holes, the income has the potential to add up quickly.

5. extend the value beyond tournament day

Pin flags don’t have to be a one-and-done piece of event signage! With a little creativity, you can continue to leverage them after the tournament ends to deepen sponsor relationships and raise additional funds. Use them as:

• Thank you gifts for sponsors. Invite board, staff, or planning team members to sign the flags and present them to sponsors as a thank-you keepsake.

• Auction items or raffle prizes. Frame a flag, signed or unsigned, and include it in your silent auction or offer it as a fun raffle prize.

• Dual branding. Print the sponsor’s logo on one side of the flag and reserve the other side for your nonprofit’s logo, the name of a key supporter, or fun messaging. It makes the flag a unique memento that ties your mission to the sponsor’s contribution.

These extra uses add even more value to pin flags, extending the life and impact of the sponsorship while showing sponsors that you’re committed to making their investment meaningful.

Camp Hope Foundation, which provides camp experiences to children with pediatric cancer during their treatment, has campers sign their tournament’s pin flags, which are then auctioned off to raise additional funds.

6. There’s no hassle (with the right partner)

If you’re thinking, “This sounds great, but I don’t have the time to handle all those details on top of everything else,” then you simply need to find the right partner for pin flags.

GolfStatus has a turnkey solution for pin flags—you handle selling the sponsorship, GolfStatus handles everything else, including:

• Design. The team works directly with the sponsor or sponsors to secure logos and messaging.

• Logistics. The team works with the vendor to ensure everything looks great on the full-color, dye-sublimated flags.

• Delivery. Flags are shipped directly to the golf facility (or other chosen location) on time ahead of your tournament.

Letting a partner handle the details makes pin flag sponsorships virtually hassle-free for tournament organizers. You can focus on recruiting sponsors, engaging players, and running your event while GolfStatus ensures pin flags look great and arrive on time.

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SAMPLE PIN FLAG SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

To help you get started, here are a few ideas on how to structure and price pin flag sponsorships. You can adjust them based on your audience, sponsor budgets, and event size.

Entire Course Sponsorship: 18 Pin Flags

One package available.

• Exclusive branding on all 18 pin flags across the course

• Company name and logo on the event website and sponsor banner

• Recognition on social media and email blasts

• Opportunity for social media collaboration

• Includes one foursome

• Price point: $4,000 - $6,000+ (depending on your market and tournament size)

Front or Back Nine Sponsorship: 9 Flags

Two packages available.

• Exclusive branding on nine pin flags

• Company name and logo on the event website and sponsor banner

• Recognition on social media and email blasts

• Price point: $2,000 - $3,000+

Individual Pin Flag Sponsorship

18 packages available.

• Branding on one pin flag

• Company name and logo displayed on the event website

• Price point: $250 - $500 per hole

Bundled Hole Sponsorship

18 packages available.

• Individual pin flag sponsorship

• One hole sign, plus exposure in the digital scoring app.

• Company name and logo displayed on the event website.

• Price point: $600 - $1,000

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Final Thoughts

Pin flag sponsorships check all the boxes: they’re flexible, visible, professional, and lucrative. They create a one-of-a-kind branding opportunity for sponsors and your organization, make your event look sharp, and generate additional dollars for your mission.

Whether you package them as a full set, split them by nine, or sell them individually, pin flags are a simple but powerful way to enhance your golf fundraiser.

The Right Partner for Pin Flags

Get Started With GolfStatus

After two years of success, the Putt Putt Fore Puppies mini golf tournament came back for an even bigger and better year three! Planned by GolfStatus staff, Putt Putt Fore Puppies brings the community together to raise funds for Capital Humane Society (CHS), which cares for homeless pets in Lincoln, Nebraska, and helps them find their forever homes.

2025 Recap

• Golfers / Teams: 200 / 50 

• Courses: 3 of 3

• Sponsors: 28 (plus 9 Pet Spotlights)

• Outcomes: Nearly $13,000 donated to CHS

  • $2,000 raised on tournament day

The 2025 Putt Putt Fore Puppies Mini Golf Tournament was another resounding success! While the final amount donated to Capital Humane Society was less than in 2024 (2024’s event benefited from a very generous day-of donation that skewed the final numbers), the tournament actually raised more than in previous years. Here’s how we boosted overall revenue:

• Sponsorships. New packages were added (Tennis Ball Pet Toy Sponsor, Doggie Bandana Sponsor, Drink Ticket Sponsor, Trophy Sponsor), and prices were slightly increased to drive income. 

• Team packages. Two team packages were offered—an “all-in” package and a standard package. Both included t-shirts, dinner, gifts, a drink ticket, and a round of mini golf for each golfer, but the all-in package includes entry into on-course games and 12 raffle tickets. Pricing was increased to cover costs and better reflect the experience.

• Pet showcase. Pet owners had the opportunity to purchase a “sponsorship” to show off their beloved pets on the event website and signage at the tournament. Pet owners got to take their pet’s sign home at the end of the day!

• 50/50 ball drop. Attendees purchased numbered balls for $10 each, giving them the chance to win half of the total dollars raised from the ball drop. Over 50 balls (out of 100 possible) were sold, and all 100 were dropped on one of the holes before the shotgun start. Two balls made it in the hole, and the winners split the pot with CHS. One winner donated half of his winnings back to CHS! This was a relatively late addition to the tournament, with limited time to promote it ahead of event day. Because it was well-received, the planning team will continue it in 2026 and start selling balls when registration opens.

• Merch. A merch sales table was another new addition to the tournament, including ball markers and magnets featuring Pete, the Putt Putt Puppy; stickers with the event logo and likeness of several of the pet spotlight animals; and additional event t-shirts. 

• Additional raffle prizes. This year’s raffle was extremely successful due to the quality and quantity of prizes. Attendees purchased more raffle tickets for the chance to win high-dollar prizes, including an espresso machine, photography packages, gift cards, attraction tickets, and more. And since all prizes were donated, there were no overhead costs.

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2025 Changes

Based on feedback from last year’s participants, the planning team implemented a few changes for the 2025 tournament. 

• New planning team. Planning team members included: Ashley Stahr, Chief Marketing Officer; Payton Prall, Digital Media Manager; Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager; David Li, Graphic Designer; Dane Stahr, Product Designer; Ty Perkins, Account Manager; Paul Sanger, Account Manager; Alex White, Fundraising Specialist; Brenden Holling, Client Success Specialist; Jack Burmeister, Client Success Specialist; Cash Dinkel, Director of Client Success; 

• New schedule. Additional time was built into the schedule to accommodate the extra time required to complete the Backwoods Course and the raffle drawing.

• New tournament day layout. To better facilitate golfer check-in and avoid bottlenecks around the registration area, the layout was revamped. We leveraged some additional green space at Adventure Golf for a smoother flow from check-in and add-ons to dinner, sponsors, and raffle tables.

• New on-course games. New game options were added to each course, including a pet putter (golfers putted with a dog toy, tennis ball launcher, or pooper scooper), alternative ball (putting with the tennis ball dog toy instead of their golf ball), and animal trivia.

Past Tournament Recaps

Here’s a quick rundown of what the tournament accomplished in its first two years:

Year 1: 2023

• Golfers / Teams: 164 / 41 

• Courses: 2 of 3

• Sponsors: 21

• Fundraising Goal: $3,000

• Outcomes: $9,200 donated to CHS

  • $1,100 raised on tournament day

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Year 2: 2024

• Golfers / Teams: 216 / 54

• Courses: 3 of 3

• Sponsors: 31

• Fundraising Goal: $12,000

• Outcome: $15,000 donated to CHS

• $5,500 raised on tournament day

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Thank you sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Flag Sponsor

Golf Ball Sponsor

Doggie Bandana Sponsor

Tennis Ball Pet Toy Sponsor

Flag Sponsor

Dinner Sponsor

Music Sponsor

19th Hole Sponsor

Swag Sponsor

Trophy Sponsor

Batting Cage Sponsor

Hole Sponsors:

Signage Sponsor

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