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.

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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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!

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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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Prizes shouldn’t be an afterthought at your charity golf tournament. They’re more than just giveaways—they’re an opportunity to spark excitement, drive registrations, increase sponsor visibility, and boost additional fundraising revenue from the event. The right mix of prizes can elevate your tournament from a fun day of golf into a memorable experience that helps keep players and sponsors coming back year after year.

Your golf event’s prizes have the potential to do more than simply recognize winners.

This guide will answer common questions about golf event prizes, share 30 prize ideas that you can incorporate into your next golf fundraiser, and offer tips on how to choose, source, and present prizes effectively. Whether you’re launching a brand new tournament or building on years of success, looking for budget-friendly options or big-ticket items, or anywhere in between, your golf event prizes can have a lasting impact

FAQs About Golf Event Prizes

Why Should We Offer Golf Event Prizes?

Prizes have the potential to play a bigger role than just simply rewarding winners. They can impact participation, engagement, and fundraising results. Here’s why they matter:

• Boost participation. Attractive prizes encourage more golfers to register and more sponsors to sign on to support the event (especially if their sponsorship includes a team).

• Drive fundraising revenue. Tournament add-ons like raffles, auctions, and contests that are tied to prizes create extra income beyond registration fees and sponsorships.

• Enhance the experience. Prizes keep the day engaging, fun, and exciting from start to finish.

• Show appreciation. Prizes and awards recognize players, sponsors, and volunteers, reinforcing goodwill and loyalty to your organization.

• Differentiate your event. Unique or high-value prizes set your tournament apart, making it more memorable year after year.
  

How Many Prizes Should a Golf Event Have?

You’ll want to strike a balance between quality and quantity, with a variety of prizes for different tournament components. Plan for a balanced mix of prizes that includes:

• One or two marquee prizes, such as a grand prize for the tournament’s winner, as well as hole-in-one contest prizes.

• A handful of prizes for on-course contests, like closest to the pin, putting, or longest drive contests.

• Smaller prizes for on-course games or challenges, which can be as simple as taking strokes off their score for certain holes, a closer tee off position, raffle tickets, or drink tickets.

• Several raffle prizes or auction items at different value levels to keep everyone engaged.

Every golfer should receive a player gift of some sort as a token of appreciation for their support of your nonprofit through the event, but there’s no need to ensure everyone gets an additional prize.

Securing in-kind donations from sponsors, businesses, and supporters to use as raffle prizes is a great way to maximize value and raise more money.

Where Should We Get Golf Event Prizes?

Prizes don’t have to stretch your budget. In-kind donations are a great way to maximize value and keep costs as low as possible. Connect with your networks to request in-kind donations for prizes:

• Sponsors. Offer logo placement, shoutouts, and recognition in exchange for prize donations.

• Local businesses. Restaurants, breweries, shops, and service providers often appreciate the visibility of an in-kind donation, particularly if they turned you down for a financial sponsorship.

• Supporters and donors. Encourage board members or loyal donors to contribute experiences, products, or even connections.

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PRO TIP: Package several smaller items together, such as a coffee shop gift card and branded coffee mugs or a golf towel, divot fixer, and golf balls, to create raffle bundles with more perceived value.

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FREE GUIDE
Golf Tournament Sponsorships: Businesses to Target & How to Win Their Support

Learn how to use your networks to sell golf tournament sponsorships! Get ideas for building a prospect list, top business categories to target, pitch strategies that work, and more in this free guide.

Get the Guide

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30 Golf Event Prize Ideas

Get inspiration for your next golf event with these 30 prize ideas, organized by categories to help you plan.

Golf Event Prizes for Player Participation & Swag

Everyone loves a great keepsake! These prizes are great for golfer gift bags or participation prizes, as well as sponsor brand exposure.

1. Branded golf balls

2. High-quality golf gloves

3. Reusable water bottles or tumblers

4. Branded golf hats or visors

5. Branded golf towels

Hole-in-One Prizes

Nothing excites golfers quite like the chance to win a great prize in a hole-in-one contest. Make sure your nonprofit isn’t on the hook to cover the cost of the prize if someone gets an ace by securing hole-in-one insurance.

6. $10,000 cash prize

7. High-end golf membership

8. Luxury vacation to a resort destination

9. New car or truck

10. Home entertainment package

Golf event prizes like a stay-and-play trip at a private destination club can help drive participation and excitement.

Golf Prizes for Contest Winners

Reward the golfers who shine on the course! Offer exciting prizes to those who win their flight, the entire tournament, or contests like longest drive, closest to the pin, or putting.

11. Cash prize

12. Rangefinder or GPS golf watch

13. Premium golf bag

14. Custom-engraved driver or putter

15. Pro shop gift certificates from the host golf facility

16. Personalized trophies or plaques

Golf Tournament Raffle Prizes

Raffles get everyone involved and are an excellent opportunity to drive additional revenue. Use your event website to sell raffle tickets ahead of time and on tournament day.

17. Restaurant or brewery gift cards

18. Spa or wellness packages

19. High-end headphones or portable speakers

20. Local attraction or experience passes

21. Concert or live event package

Golf Tournament Auction Prizes

Silent and live auctions can generate significant revenue, especially when you secure donated unique or high-value prizes.

22. Private destination golf trip

23. Signed sports memorabilia

24. Private golf lesson or clinic with a local pro

25. Gift baskets featuring local products

26. Box seats for a professional sporting event

Golf Tournament Awards for Donors and Sponsors

Prizes aren’t just for players. Recognizing the tournament’s sponsors and donors helps build lasting relationships. Consider personalized, thoughtful items that help them remember the event.

27. Engraved plaques or awards

28. Customized wine or whiskey bottles with event branding

29. High-quality event photos in branded frames

30. Signed or framed customized golf pin flags

A framed pin flag is a great way to recognize sponsors, donors, or winners.

Tips for Choosing & Presenting Prizes

• Align prizes with your audience. A tournament made up of corporate sponsors may prefer high-end tech or luxury items, while a community event might lean more toward local experiences and family-friendly items.

• Make prizes visible. Display raffle prizes and auction items prominently, share photos of prizes for tournament winners on the event website, and promote contest prizes on social media to build anticipation before and during the event.

• Bundle creatively. Consider combining smaller item donations into themed packages. For example, a “Night Out” basket could include a gift card to a local restaurant, tickets to a concert, and a rideshare gift card.

• Keep the awards ceremony lively. Plan for a fast-moving, engaging prize presentation that keeps participants excited instead of restless.
  

Final Thoughts

Golf event prizes can be a powerful tool to increase registrations, drive revenue, and create a memorable experience for participants and golfers alike. By curating a mix of participation swag, high-end contest rewards, raffle and auction prizes, you’ll set your tournament apart and strengthen your impact. With the right strategy, even modest prizes can make a big splash. Start sourcing prizes early, leverage in-kind donations, and focus on items that reflect your audience and mission.

Better Prizes, Better Profit

Turn Prize Ideas Into Fundraising Dollars With GolfStatus

About the Author

Jen Wemhoff - Communications Manager at GolfStatus

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.

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

The Arizona Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention uses a glow golf theme to offer an immersive experience for participants.

Planning a charity golf tournament for your nonprofit? Adding a fun, creative theme to the event could be the key to drawing a bigger field, impressing your sponsors, and leaving attendees eager to return year after year. Themed golf tournaments are a unique way to tell your nonprofit’s story that engages your audience—and can even boost fundraising efforts. This guide will explore why and how to add a tournament theme, plus more than 30 theme ideas for your next golf event.

Benefits of a Themed Charity Golf Tournament

A theme adds color, creativity, and connection to your golf event. What’s more, it can help your tournament stand out in a crowded fundraising calendar and keep your mission at the forefront of everyone's mind. Here are just a few benefits:

• Increased buzz around the event. A theme can grab people’s attention and interest and drive more people to participate in the event or make a donation to it.

• Appealing to sponsors. Themed tournaments can make sponsorship and branding opportunities even more visible and engaging to golfers and more appealing to sponsors.

• Stronger marketing. A theme helps you focus your messaging and unify the tournament’s marketing materials and campaigns.

• Memorable experiences. A unique theme keeps people talking about the tournament long after it is over—and coming back in future years.

• Attract new participants. Themes may draw in participants who wouldn’t otherwise think to participate in a golf tournament.

• Mission alignment. A theme can creatively highlight your organization’s cause and present it in a new light that draws in new supporters.
  

Tips for Integrating a Golf Tournament Theme

Adding a theme to your golf tournament fundraiser doesn’t have to be complicated. With some thoughtful planning, a theme can enhance every aspect of your tournament experience. Here’s how to incorporate a theme:

• Choose a relevant theme. Pick a theme concept that connects your mission and audience. For example, if your nonprofit supports school reading programs, your theme could focus on well-known children’s books or authors. Fold the theme into the tournament’s name if possible and appropriate.

• Highlight the theme in your marketing. Use the theme to guide your marketing messaging, visuals, and promotional materials. This is an opportunity to have a lot of fun with tournament logos and graphics, flyers, email campaigns, and social media content that reflects your chosen theme.

• Infuse the theme into the tournament. From decor to on-course games to attire, look for ways to bring the theme to life throughout the tournament. Choose a beach theme? Equip staff and volunteers with leis and floral shirts and run an on-course game that incorporates beach balls. Go with a glow golf tournament? Include glow necklaces and bracelets in player gift bags.

• Use digital tools. Digital event management tools help make the branding more immersive. Customize your tournament’s event website to match your theme, boosting excitement and helping your branding shine.

Leverage your golf event website to promote the tournament theme and help golfers understand what to expect.

30+ Charity Golf Tournament Themes

Themed Golf Tournament Success Stories

Going all-in on a tournament’s theme creates an unforgettable experience for golfers, sponsors, and guests. These tournaments, powered by GolfStatus, saw success by leaning into their tournament’s theming:

• Glow Golf Tournament: The Arizona Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosted a nighttime event that incorporated glow-in-the-dark balls, a cart decorating contest, illuminated pin flags and sponsor signs, and more glowing fun for a unique experience.

• Project Purple Charity Golf Classic: This inspiring tournament raises funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer, themed with purple ribbons, attire, and accents throughout the event.

• Habitat FORE! Humanity: Raising money for home-building projects in the Columbus, Nebraska area, this tournament folds building tools into the event, from a putting contest using sledgehammers and levels to teeing off wearing work gloves and more.

• Putt Putt Fore Puppies. This puppy-friendly mini golf tournament includes animal-themed branding, apparel, player gifts, sponsor signs featuring shelter pets, and visits from adoptable animals.
  

Family-Friendly Golf Tournament Themes

These theme ideas engage younger supporters and can make your event more inclusive of all ages.

• Family Golf Day. Families play together as a team.

• Superheroes Assemble. Teams come dressed as their favorite superhero and participate in superhero-themed on-course games.

• Princess and Heroes. Participants dress up like famous cartoon princesses with a her-themed hole-in-one contest.

• Scavenger Hunt. This theme combines a traditional golf tournament with a scavenger hunt, where golfers solve clues or complete challenges across the course.

• Golf and Games. Combine golf with other family-friendly activities, such as outdoor games like cornhole, giant Jenga, and more.

On-course games are a great opportunity to incorporate your golf tournament theme.

Seasonal Golf Tournament Themes

Bring a festive atmosphere to your tournament with seasonal vibes in these theme ideas:

• Summer Beach Party. Incorporate tropical items like sunglasses, beach balls, and tropical drinks.

• Autumn Harvest. Jazz up your fall golf event with pumpkin decor, apple cider stations, hayrides, etc.

• Costume Party. If your tournament falls near Halloween, set up trick or treat stations on the course and include a costume contest.

• Spring has Sprung. Perfect for a spring tournament, use flowers, pastel colors, and fresh spring decor to bring the theme to life.

• Holiday Classic. A winter-themed tournament with ugly holiday sweaters and hot cocoa.

• Christmas in July. Incorporate twinkle lights, Christmas trees, and even an on-course Santa to bring the holiday spirit to the summer months.
  

Unique Golf Tournament Themes

Give attendees a one-of-a-kind experience that they won’t soon forget!

• Flashback to the… Flash back to a past decade, like the 70s, 80s, or 90s, and invite attendees to dress in fashions and hairstyles from that decade.

• Red Carpet Golf. Add the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with a red carpet, VIP experiences, and photo ops.

• Hometown Proud. Highlight your city or area’s local culture or landmarks with favorite foods, music, and other items unique to your hometown.

• May the Fourth. Celebrate the Star Wars universe with a tournament on May 4th that includes a costume contest and themed foods.

• Franchise Fun. Focus your tournament on popular movie franchises, such as Harry Potter, Marvel, Justice League, Mario Brothers, Pokémon, Indiana Jones, or other favorites.

• Wild West. A cowboy-themed event with Western-inspired decor, contests, and food.
  

Sports-Based Golf Tournament Themes

Blend your golf tournament with the fun and thrill of other sports. These are especially applicable to groups like booster clubs, youth sports teams or associations, and sports clubs.

• Team Spirit Tournament. Golfers represent their favorite sports teams with jerseys or apparel. If you have the proper connections, bring in a local sports celebrity to drive interest and attendance.

• Golf Triathlon. Combine a golf tournament with mini versions of other sports, such as basketball, pickleball, flag football, and more.

• Super Bowl or World Series. Celebrate the teams playing in the Super Bowl or World Series by incorporating team colors, mascots, and cities.

• All-Star Tournament. Celebrate historic sports legends on any level—amateur, collegiate, or professional.

• Golf Olympics. Offer medals as prizes for first, second, and third places in the tournament, as well as for Olympic event mini-challenges on selected holes.
  

Upscale Golf Tournament Themes

• Black-Tie Golf. Pair the golf event with a formal gala and high-end live auction.

• Casino Royale. Host a casino-themed tournament with on-course casino games, plus post-golf poker or blackjack tables, raffle drawings, and exclusive prizes.

• Business Owner Invitational. A golf tournament and networking hybrid event for startups, entrepreneurs, and established business owners.

• Luxe Links. Court luxury brand sponsors and include higher-end player gifts and prizes to make the tournament feel upscale.

Networking is a big plus when it comes to corporate golf tournaments.

Corporate Golf Tournament Themes

Corporate golf events are great options for companies looking to boost morale or network with peers.

• Departmental Face-Off. Teams from different departments go head to head in a team-building event. Up the stakes by offering a donation to the charity of the winning team’s choice.

• Battle of the Businesses. Foster friendly competition between local businesses or companies.

• Executive invitational. Invite top C-suite execs to compete for the Executive Cup.
  

Women's Golf Tournament Themes

Create a supportive, fun environment that champions women in golf and beyond.

• Women’s Community Classic. Include golf with a networking event for women in the community.

• Women in Sports. Celebrate female athletes from various sports and invite them to participate.

• Mother-Daughter Tournament. Encourage teams of moms and daughters to compete in a fun bonding event across generations.

Golf tournament themes targeted at women are a great way to grow the game of golf.

Ready to Plan a Themed Golf Tournament?

Whether your tournament’s theme is silly, serious, or somewhere in between, it can help elevate your next charity golf tournament and help raise more for your cause. No matter what theme you choose, purpose-built tools can streamline the process from start to finish. GolfStatus’ golf event management platform offers time-saving tools, expert advice, and revenue-boosting extras to make your tournament a success. Click below to connect with the golf tournament experts at GolfStatus!

Connect With the Golf Tournament Experts

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About the Author

Jen Wemhoff - Communications Manager at GolfStatus

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.

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Your golf tournament is a key part of your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy. Ensuring your golf fundraiser’s long-term success requires more than just smooth execution on event day. Future-proofing your golf event means setting it up to thrive year after year, even if there are major changes to the planning team. By putting the right systems and processes in place, your nonprofit can protect the tournament’s success for the future while making planning easier for years to come.

Here are six best practices to help your nonprofit future-proof your charity golf tournament so it stays a lucrative fundraising event no matter what changes you face.

1. Use golf event management software

A singular platform is key for ensuring continuity. The beauty of a platform built for golf events is that tournaments can be copied year over year so new event organizers aren’t forced to start from scratch. This helps provide much-needed stability and baseline infrastructure when personnel might be in flux. The right platform should allow multiple users without any extra fees and access to a responsive support team that can walk new users through the software’s back end and provide guidance.

An event management platform built just for golf helps new tournament organizers jump right into planning.

2. document, document, document!

If your lead tournament organizer or key volunteer left tomorrow or had an emergency that took them away from planning, would anyone else know how to run the tournament? Would they know what needs to be done, who to connect with at the golf facility, or what’s been promised to sponsors? Thoroughly documenting your planning process from start to finish, as well as tracking progress during planning, ensures that institutional knowledge isn’t lost when there’s staff turnover or new volunteers come on board.

Start by creating a central event planning document or spreadsheet that outlines the entire process from start to finish, from securing the golf course to sending thank-you notes after the event.

Include key deadlines, contact information for vendors and sponsors, and details about your event management software.

• Track progress as tasks are completed, so if a change occurs mid-planning, others will be able to continue the work without interruption. 

• Make note of what worked well (and what didn’t) to refine and improve your process each year.

• Store the documentation in a shared drive so it’s easily accessible by members of your planning team.

A well-documented process reduces the risk of setbacks and gives future organizers a clear roadmap to follow.

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free planning template

Keep your golf tournament on task and on target. Download this free timeline and checklist to document tasks and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Get the Template

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3. Have Two Points of Contact for Everything

Relying on one person to manage all aspects of your tournament creates a single point of failure. If that person becomes unavailable, it can derail your event. To avoid this, designate at least two people from your planning team to be points of contact for each key element of your fundraiser:

• Sponsorships. Ensure both points of contact know the details of each sponsorship package, including the promised benefits, pricing, and availability. It’s a good practice to CC each contact on email communication with sponsors so everyone is in the know.

• Event management technology. Both contacts should have logins to your event management platform, been introduced to its support team, and know how to contact support so they can troubleshoot issues or get help quickly.

• Golf facility coordination. Ensure that both points of contact have contact information for the head golf pro and/or golf facility sales representative. Both should also have a basic understanding of the course’s layout and logistics.

• Budget. A common budget spreadsheet can help you track dollars in and out and see where your tournament stands. Ensure both contacts have access to the spreadsheet and can track income from registrations and payments in the event management platform.

• Vendor orders. This can be as simple as CCing each contact on communication with vendors on orders, specs, and deadlines for materials like signage, catering, pin flags, or player gifts.

You might also assign a “chair” for various components, such as a chair of sponsorships, volunteers, promotion, budget, and logistics to better share the load and tournament knowledge. While this redundancy may seem unnecessary, it prevents last-minute scrambles and ensures someone is always able to step in to handle key responsibilities.

Having two points of contact ensures planning can move forward if there are changes in your tournament’s leadership.

4. create a succession plan

Unfortunately, staff and volunteer turnover is inevitable, so a strong succession plan is critical for maintaining event continuity. Here’s how to create one:

• Identify key roles and responsibilities for your golf fundraiser, including each “chair.”

• Train backup staff or volunteers to handle each role, including how to use your event software and communicate with sponsors and vendors.

• Keep a running list of contacts and instructions for tasks like setting up the registration website, managing volunteers, handling sponsor invoicing, and running on-course games and contests.

• Hold a post-event debrief with your team and update the plan based on lessons learned.

A clear succession plan ensures that new team members can step in and continue executing a successful event without a steep learning curve.

5. manage sponsorships in your event management platform

Managing sponsorships manually—or across multiple platforms—can lead to missed opportunities and dropped details, particularly if there are any personnel changes. Instead, simplify sponsor management by using an event registration website and your golf event management platform:

• Build sponsorship packages in your software’s back end and link all sponsor outreach to the website to ensure a consistent call to action in your communication with prospective sponsors.

• List sponsorship packages on the event site so sponsors can browse options and purchase their package without needing to connect with a specific member of your planning team. Sponsors can submit their logo and assets during registration, which should automatically populate the site or mobile app and be available in the software for other branding needs.

• Track sponsor commitments, contacts, payments, and benefits in your centralized event management platform. This is particularly useful when copying tournaments in subsequent years.

• Keep a record of businesses that have been approached for sponsorships from each year to help inform future outreach and renewal strategies.

Managing your tournament’s sponsorships with a centralized system helps you better deliver on sponsor agreements, provide valuable exposure, and make it easier to manage renewals.

Sponsors get broad visibility on a tournament’s registration website.

6. connect with the head pro at the host golf facility

The golf facility wants your tournament to be a success—it reflects positively on the facility! To help ensure success, establish a good working relationship with golf facility staff, especially the head pro. This facilitates smooth communication, handling of logistics, and golfer experience. A key part of future-proofing your golf fundraiser is the relationship with the golf facility. If there are changes, golf and sales staff can often help new personnel fill in the gaps.

• Schedule a meeting with the head pro early in the planning process to discuss course regulations, tournament schedules, food and beverage offerings, contract terms, and any potential challenges.

• Confirm how contests, like closest to the pin, hole-in-one, and longest drive will be set up and handled.

• Keep the head pro updated on registration numbers and any changes to the schedule. It’s a good idea to share access to your golf event management software so they can check participation and teams in real time.

• On event day, your two points of contact should check in with the head pro to handle any last-minute adjustments.

Leveraging the expertise of the host golf facility’s head pro will help your tournament run smoothly and that golfers have a positive experience—no matter who’s in charge.

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set your event up for long-term success with golfstatus

Future-proofing your golf fundraiser isn’t just about protecting your current event—it’s about setting up a framework for long-term success. By documenting your process, building redundancy into key roles, creating a succession plan, streamlining sponsor management, and maintaining a strong relationship with the host course, you’ll create a more resilient event that raises more money year after year.

Start with an event management tool that’s built for golf events and fundraisers—GolfStatus. Manage registrations, sponsorships, and schedules right in the platform, and use the free event website to market your event. Plus, you’ll get access to exclusive sponsorships, add-ons, and Fundraising Specialists to help you raise additional funds for your cause—at no upfront cost. Book a quick 15 or 30-minute meeting with the GolfStatus team to learn more.

Future Proof Your Golf Event With GolfStatus

Book a Meeting to Get Started

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Sponsorships are the backbone of any successful charity golf tournament, and none is more critical than your title or presenting sponsor. This top-dollar sponsorship opportunity provides unparalleled visibility and brand exposure for the sponsor while ensuring the event’s overall success for your nonprofit.

Many tournaments significantly underprice and undervalue their title sponsorship simply because they’re unsure of its worth. Here’s how to position and sell your title sponsorship, ensure sponsors see its full value, and use technology to add value and maximize their investment.

Positioning the value of your tournament’s title sponsorship

A title or presenting sponsorship typically offers a business the highest level of exposure and branding available for a golf tournament. Unlike other sponsorships, the title sponsor is often fully embedded in every aspect of the tournament, such as:

• Event naming rights. The sponsor’s name is folded into the event’s title, ensuring top-of-mind awareness. For example, “Putt Putt Fore Puppies Presented by Sinclair Hille Architects.”

• Exclusive branding on marketing and promotional materials. The title sponsor’s logos and messaging appear prominently on the event website, email marketing, printed flyers and invitations, signage, and social media promotions.

• On-site visibility. From tournament banners and cart signs to branded scorecards and giveaways, the title sponsor has a heavy visual presence at the event.

• Direct audience engagement. The sponsor might have the opportunity to speak at the tournament’s opening or awards ceremony, set up a display on a tee box, or perhaps host a VIP area for networking.

• Media and PR exposure. The sponsor’s brand is highlighted in press releases, media coverage, and post-event recaps, reinforcing credibility and reach.

These aren’t all the benefits you can include in your title sponsorship package. You might add value by offering the sponsor one or more teams to play in the tournament, access to the tournament’s participant list, additional logo placements, or additional engagement opportunities.

It’s important to remember that your golf tournament has a unique value proposition, particularly for the title sponsor: exposure, access, and high engagement to an audience of golfers they can’t reach anywhere else. Because golfers generally represent an affluent, influential demographic, they’re often considered ideal clients or customers for businesses. Plus, the sponsor enjoys the brand lift and positive PR of being associated with a good cause like yours.

do this instead: boost the title sponsorship’s value with a technology sponsorship

Adding a Technology Sponsorship takes a title sponsorship to the next level by integrating the sponsor’s branding into the digital and interactive elements of the tournament. This requires the right event management tech—one that’s built specifically for golf events, has baked-in sponsor touchpoints throughout the platform, and modernizes the experience for players, volunteers, and attendees.

GolfStatus’ Technology Sponsorship provides broad exposure across the platform.

Here’s where adding a Technology Sponsorship to the title sponsorship package has the biggest impact:

• Tournament registration website. The title sponsor’s logo should be prominently featured on the tournament website, reinforcing their involvement from the first player interaction and with every site visit.

• Mobile scoring app. The title sponsor’s brand is displayed across the digital scorecard, keeping their brand front and center throughout the tournament round.

• Live leaderboards. Live leaderboards offer a high level of professionalism to your tournament and your title sponsor. The title sponsor’s logo is seen every time a golfer or spectator checks the round’s standings on the event website or mobile scoring app.

• Automated receipts. Add logos to automated payment receipts to increase impressions and engagement.

• Push notifications. Offer sponsors the chance to include messaging in mobile scoring app push notifications.

• Social media and digital marketing. Combining the Technology Sponsorship into your title sponsorship ensures even greater visibility through branded content, hashtag campaigns, and boosted social media posts that link back to your event website.

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Sample title + tech sponsorship package

• Exclusive event naming rights for the tournament, including a co-branded tournament logo.

• Primary logo placement on all event promotional materials, signage, the event website, live leaderboards, cart signs, reports, trophies, and registration and donation receipts.

• Co-branded digital elements, including promotional emails, social media mentions, ad campaigns, PR campaigns, and the opportunity to send push notifications to participants.

• High-value speaking opportunities during the tournament’s kickoff and awards ceremony.

• Exclusive engagement with golfers with a booth set up on the sponsor’s tee box of choice.

• Two complementary foursomes to play in the tournament.

• Data and analytics reporting, showcasing audience reach, contact information, engagement, and digital impressions.

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Taking care of your title sponsor

Securing a title sponsor is just the first step—you need to deliver an exceptional sponsorship experience to maintain and even strengthen the relationship. Here’s how:

• Personalized communication. Keep the sponsor informed about event planning updates, branding opportunities, and impact metrics.

• Seamless integration. Ensure their branding appears flawlessly in all print and digital materials.

• VIP perks. Offer a premier experience at the tournament, such as reserved parking and a dedicated volunteer or staff member to host them during the tournament.

• Post-tournament follow-up. Provide a detailed sponsorship fulfillment report, including event analytics and ROI.

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free template

Sponsor Fulfillment Report Template

A Sponsor Fulfillment Report is a summary of every sponsor benefit you said you would provide and an itemized description of how you fulfilled each. This guide includes components to help you prove the ROI of your tournament to sponsors.

Download

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maximize your title sponsorship’s value with tech

The title sponsorship is the crown jewel of your golf tournament, and pairing it with GolfStatus’ exclusive Technology Sponsorship adds value and amplifies its impact. By integrating digital branding, leveraging high-engagement tech tools, and providing measurable sponsorship fulfillment, you’ll create an unbeatable sponsorship opportunity.

Click below to book a quick 15 or 30-minute call or a full demo with the GolfStatus team to learn more about how the Technology Sponsorship can boost your tournament’s revenue!

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Year two of Putt Putt Fore Puppies was a resounding success!

The GolfStatus and Dormie Network marketing teams had so much fun in the tournament’s first year—and learned so much—that we decided to do it all over again and crush our goals from 2023. Check out the 2023 planning blog to get the rundown on the mini golf tournament.

Putt Putt Fore Puppies raised money to support the pets looking for their forever homes at the Capital Humane Society here in Lincoln, Nebraska. See our journey here and on Facebook and Instagram!

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Thank you tournament sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor - Sinclair Hille Architects

Koozie Sponsor - Red Robin

Swag Sponsor - Raising Canes

Certified Piedmontese - Dinner Sponsor

Golf Ball Sponsor - UNICO Group

Batting Cage Sponsor - Pinnacle Bank

T-shirt Sponsor - Dormie Network

Grand Prize Sponsor - Belmont Veterinary Center

Refreshment Station Sponsor - Firespring

Snack Sponsor - Pillar Restaurant Group

Music Sponsor - Prairie Dental

Hole Sponsors:

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3rd quarter / Post-Tournament update

We did it! The second annual Putt Putt Fore Puppies was an even bigger success than last year. Our goal was to donate $12,000 to Capital Humane Society, and thanks to the generosity of our networks and the Lincoln community, the event raised over $15,000 to help care for homeless pets!

event day & post-tournament recap

The tournament sold out, with 54 teams on all three courses at Adventure Golf. We made some changes to the tournament’s set up, moving check in and add-ons closer to Adventure Golf’s entrance to clear up a bottleneck we saw in that area from last year. Things ran smoothly for the most part, though we may add another station for folks to purchase add-ons next year to keep things moving. Over $5,000 went through our GolfStatus event website on tournament day for purchase of all-in games, raffle tickets, t-shirts, and donations, along with nearly $500 in cash. Golfers browsed raffle prizes, visited sponsor booths, decorated pet bandanas, interacted with adoptable dogs from Capital Humane Society, and enjoyed dinner while waiting for the shotgun start.

Emails were sent to all participants prior to the event reminding them to check their hole assignments and encouraging them to download the GolfStatus app ahead of time. Most teams were ready to go with the app, but QR codes were posted at registration and on the clubhouse for folks to easily download the app if need be.

We adjusted the day’s schedule based on 2023, allowing additional time for the teams on the more difficult Backwoods course to finish (even though it wasn’t quite enough time!). Thankfully, live scoring helped our team finalize the results on each of the three courses in just a few minutes so we could move onto awards quickly.

Overall, the event was a resounding success and Capital Humane Society was overwhelmed by the response to the event and the amount the tournament was able to donate. The planning team met to debrief and have some ideas to make the event even better next year! We sent out a post-tournament survey and will use those suggestions to improve for 2025.

3rd quarter update

The third quarter was a race to sell sponsorship packages, promote the tournament, recruit teams, and handle the final details to ensure a successful event. As we experienced last year, the bulk of the team registrations came in during the month leading up to tournament day.

Having a larger planning team than last year paid dividends in sharing the load of sponsor outreach, tournament prep, and day-of event execution. We continued to meet monthly but increased the frequency to bi-weekly leading up to the tournament. GolfStatus’ downloadable Timeline and Checklist kept our planning and task on target.

We crossed these major planning tasks off the list in the third quarter:

• ✓  Finalized details, logistics, and hole assignments for on-course games.
• ✓  Discussed a plan for inclement weather (which we thankfully didn’t need!)
• ✓  Promoted the tournament through email blasts, posts on local event calendars, hanging up flyers in businesses in the area, sending flyers home with local elementary school students, and word of mouth.
• ✓  Sent an email to last year’s participants with a promo code for $5 off registration on National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day on April 30
• ✓  Sold all but two sponsorships, both of which already had their hard costs covered. Each team member reached out to their networks to promote available sponsorships.
• ✓  Placed vendor orders for signage, koozies, golf balls, pin flags, and t-shirts.
• ✓  Worked with our client success rep to make hole assignments and sponsor hole assignments.
• ✓  Sent emails to all participants via the GolfStatus messaging tool to encourage them to download the GolfStatus app, purchase add-ons, and review hole assignments.
• ✓  Coordinated with Capital Humane Society to have adoptable dogs on site at the tournament.

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2nd Quarter Update

Planning has continued moving along smoothly. Getting the event website up and running was much simpler this time around, since all we had to do was copy last year’s event and update the specifics. We decided to offer two team registration packages, one that included a t-shirt for each team member at a higher price point and one that didn’t.

Each committee member was responsible for developing one or more sponsorship packages, which were added to the newly launched event website. We ran a registration promotion as part of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30, offering a promo code for $5 off registration, which was sent to last year’s participants via GolfStatus’ email tool.

We did run into one major hiccup which necessitated a date change. The event was originally planned for Friday, September 20, but when the Big 10 conference released the 2024 football schedule, we discovered a home Nebraska Cornhuskers football game the same evening as the tournament. In football-crazed Lincoln, we didn’t think we could compete with the Huskers, so the tournament was moved a week earlier to September 13. We made sure all promotional materials (including the event website, flyers, social media graphics, and email blasts) were updated and that we communicated with the teams and sponsors who had already committed. Adventure Golf continues to be a great partner, working with us to seamlessly move the event date.

Perhaps best of all, after learning about the animals in need of homes, one of our planning committee members decided to adopt a cat from Capital Humane Society!

David and Quynh, his new cat from Capital Humane Society!

Here are the tasks we handled this quarter:

• ✓  Finalized registration packages and pricing
• ✓  Finalized sponsor packages and pricing
• ✓  Launched the event website and opened registration
• ✓  Sent an email to last year’s participants with a promo code for $5 off registration on National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day on April 30
• ✓  Created promotional graphics, logos, and flyers
• ✓  Brainstormed revenue enhancers
• ✓  Discussed plans for on-course games
• ✓  Began soliciting donations for raffle prizes
• ✓  Began sponsor outreach
• ✓  Sold 12 sponsorships (thanks Certified Piedmontese, Red Robin, Raising Cane's, 402 Title Services, Upland Software, Nexus Marketing, Vanity Fur, Kyson Denker State Farm, Engineering Technologies Inc, Stewart Title Company, Global Golf Post, Prairie Dental Group, and Luly Motors!)
• ✓  Sold 13 teams
• ✓  Met with Capital Humane Society staff about event promotion and logistics (and got to meet some of the adoptable pets)

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1st Quarter Update

We kicked off planning with committee meetings in February and March to review lessons learned and ideas from the post-tournament debrief and start brainstorming for 2024. The planning committee welcomed several new members, with newer GolfStatus Account Managers and Client Success Reps joining in on the fun. The team now numbers 13, which means more people to share the workload. The decision was made to move the tournament to September, for a couple reasons. One, we hit the jackpot with weather last year—75, sunny, and just a slight breeze. October weather in Nebraska is extremely unpredictable, with more stable conditions in September. Second, Capital Humane Society had no events scheduled for September, so Putt Putt could fill that gap.

Thus far, planning has been easier, as we have actual data and last year’s experiences to draw from. We have a better understanding of costs, revenue, attractive sponsor packages, and how many teams to shoot for. We also have processes and assets in place to use down the road. What’s more, we could simply copy our event in GolfStatus’ backend so there was no need to start from scratch. Stay tuned for the website launch!

Here are the tasks we handled this quarter:

• ✓  Finalized the planning committee
• ✓  Set dates for all remaining committee meetings
• ✓  Set a fundraising goal
• ✓  Reviewed pricing options for facility rental and team registration
• ✓  Brainstormed sponsorship and package ideas
• ✓  Brainstormed revenue enhancers
• ✓  Locked it in with Adventure Golf (September 20!)
• ✓  Confirmed the date with the Capital Humane Society team
• ✓  Divided up sponsorships among committee members
• ✓  Worked on updating the event website so it can launch in April
• ✓  Updated the tournament’s budget spreadsheet

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by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Technology has transformed the way nonprofits and other organizations plan and execute charity golf events, by streamlining processes, increasing participant engagement, and raising more money for important causes. But for many nonprofit organizers, implementing new technology for your golf tournament may require approval from superiors or a board of directors. If you’re in this boat and ready to jump on board with time-saving tech, here’s how to successfully get buy-in from decision-makers.

1. Identify the problems technology will solve

Before getting into the weeds of the features and benefits of the tech platform, start by framing the conversation around the problems it will solve for your tournament and the planning team. Are you spending a ton of time manually processing registrations and payments? Are you bouncing between siloed tools and platforms that create cumbersome processes? Are you spending more time sending payment receipts than promoting your tournament or connecting with sponsors? Is it difficult to communicate with and engage participants?

Example:

“We’re currently manually processing tournament registrations and payments, which takes significant time and leaves room for error. Using a golf-specific event management software would automate this process, giving staff more time to focus on selling teams and sponsorships.”

2. highlight how technology boosts efficiency & revenue

A solution that increases efficiency and revenue from your golf tournament is sure to get the attention of decision-makers! Explain how a tool that’s built just for golf events can help increase the overall impact of your charity golf tournament by:

• Saving time. Automate repetitive tasks like registration, payment processing, donation receipts, registration closing dates, and more.

• Increasing engagement. Tech that includes communication tools and solutions like live leaderboards offers increased engagement with golfers and sponsors, which creates a stronger connection to your nonprofit’s cause.

• Raising more money. The right tech platform brings opportunities to drive revenue, like online donations, a round-up feature at checkout, exclusive sponsorships, premium digital exposure, and add-ons.

• Simplifying post-tournament accounting. If you’re a third party holding a golf tournament to raise money for a charity, your platform can function as the “bank” for the event. Funds are collected and held throughout planning and can be distributed directly to the charity after the event.

Example:

“Golf event management software can save our planning team 40 hours or more and help bring in an extra $4,000 or more in additional revenue.”

3. share real-world examples from other nonprofits

Nothing drives home how well a tool works than showing how your peers have benefited from it. Show decision-makers how other nonprofits and events have successfully adopted tech for their golf events and the positive ROI they experienced. Seek out case studies, talk to other golf tournament organizers, or look at online reviews (such as Google or Capterra) to help make your case.

Example:

“The Golf Fore Kids Classic cut their administrative time in half by using golf event management software and sold out their sponsorships thanks to the extra digital exposure provided by the platform.”

4. provide a cost-benefit analysis

Many boards or leadership teams will likely have concerns about the cost of implementing a new technology—both in terms of the cost to use the software as well as staff time spent learning to use it. Prepare a cost-benefit analysis that outlines upfront costs, any additional fees or estimated costs, and the projected benefits to help alleviate financial concerns. Compare all costs to the potential revenue increase and savings on time and effort.

Example:

“The golf event software I’m exploring comes with no upfront cost and minimal processing fees, which we can pass along to golfers and sponsors. There’s no risk to us to try it.”

5. demonstrate how tech enhances the tournament experience

Your organization’s decision-makers will likely be interested in how any technology will impact tournament participants and the overall experience. Demonstrating how it will improve the experience for golfers, donors, sponsors, and volunteers is a key part of getting their approval. For instance, golfers and sponsors expect online registration with secure payment processing and a simple checkout process. Other experience-enhancing features might include live scoring and leaderboards, online donations, and a donation tracker.

Example:

“Golfers and sponsors will have a better experience with online registration, live scoring, online donations, and digital sponsor exposure, which increases the likelihood that they’ll come back year after year.”

6. Get them to see a demo or explore the software

The best way to convince your team? Let them see it in action! Book a quick demo so they can ask questions firsthand or share access to the software so they can explore it on their own terms. Either way, they’ll see the platform’s benefits and capabilities to ease their concerns about making the jump to a new tool.

Example:

“We can schedule a quick 15-minute call with an account rep to go over the highlights of the software and you can ask questions and have your concerns addressed.”

7. overcome red tape & bureaucratic hurdles

In many organizations, even the most beneficial changes can face obstacles due to red tape or bureaucratic processes. While it can be frustrating, you can take steps to navigate these challenges:

• Anticipate blockers. Understanding the processes will help you prepare for approval, particularly if multiple departments are involved. By identifying delays ahead of time, you can proactively account for them. These might include legal compliance checks, approval from finance or accounting, and a sign off from IT.

• Get the buy-in of key stakeholders. Decisions can be delayed when certain leaders aren’t fully on board. Talk with the necessary individuals or departments ahead of time to explain the benefits and address any concerns at the outset.

• Create a clear implementation plan. Provide a step-by-step plan with timelines and how the tech will be integrated with minimal disruption in the day-to-day operations and the overall tournament flow.

• Address concerns head on. Change can be scary, so think through potential objections and offer clear solutions that address concerns about switching to a new tech tool for your golf event.

• Be patient—but persistent. Overcoming red tape is an exercise in patience, but also in following through. Find a balance between keeping the tech proposal top-of-mind while allowing it to work through the system.

Example:

“I’ll work with finance and IT to get their blessing first, then create an implementation plan that includes ample time for staff training ahead of the golf tournament, and follow up regularly with department heads to keep this request moving forward.”

Other things to mention

• Support. They’ll want to know if there is a team of knowledgeable, responsive folks available to help troubleshoot, provide coaching, and assist you and your golfers—and if there’s any cost to access the support team.

• Security. You might discuss the tech provider’s security standard, such as PCI-compliance (for credit card transaction) and data privacy.

• Long-term benefits. Share how easy it is to copy an event each year so there’s no need to start from scratch. This takes advantage of processes and event infrastructure that have already been built, ultimately saving your team time.

Next Steps

Getting approval to implement new technology for your charity golf event comes down to clearly communicating its benefits, addressing concerns, and showing how it can lead to greater success for both the event and your nonprofit as a whole.

A platform like GolfStatus, which is built specifically for golf events, is a great option to streamline your tournament from top to bottom. It starts with an event website with integrated online registration and payment processing, built-in time-saving automations, and opportunities to raise thousands more dollars. Nonprofits and third parties planning charity golf events can qualify to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program.

Book a Demo to Get Started With GolfStatus!