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.

---

Download a Checklist & Planning Timeline

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

---

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.

---

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.

Book a Meeting With GolfStatus

---

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.

---

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.

Download Now

---

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.

Get Started with GolfStatus at No Upfront Cost

Save time every step of the way. Book a meeting to learn more!

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.

---

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.

Download Now

---

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.

---

Need Sponsorship Package Ideas? Download this Free Guide!

---

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

Get Started With GolfStatus

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.

---

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

---

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

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Volunteers are a critical part of a successful charity golf tournament. Whether they’re helping with check-in, running contests, or handing out swag bags, volunteers keep things moving and help make it all possible. The must-dos to ensure a smooth experience for everyone involved? Planning ahead, staying organized, and showing your appreciation.

Here are seven tips to keep your volunteers happy, engaged, and ready to go on tournament day.

Effectively managing your golf tournament’s volunteers is key to its success.

1. START WITH A SOLID PLAN

The more prepared you are leading up to your golf tournament, the better your volunteer team will perform. Make sure you address these key areas:

• Define roles and responsibilities. Outline every volunteer role in detail, including specific duties, time commitments, and any skills required (like comfort with a tablet or event management software). Clear instructions and checklists help prevent confusion and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

• Determine how volunteers will sign up. Linking out to your chosen sign-up on your event website is an easy way for volunteers to get involved with your event.

• Create a schedule with shifts. Charity tournaments can last four to six hours, not counting setup and teardown. Offering shorter shifts makes it easier for volunteers to commit and ensures you have coverage from start to finish.

• Assign lead volunteers. Designate a point person for critical areas like registration, food and beverage, or on-course games. These leads can help answer questions and solve small issues, so you’re free to focus on the big picture.

---

Pro tip:

Ask volunteers to arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of their shift start time to get settled and receive any last-minute instructions.

---

2. MAKE VOLUNTEER ONBOARDING A PRIORITY

A smooth onboarding experience builds confidence and helps volunteers feel connected to your mission. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming—just thoughtful.

Here’s how to do it:

• Collect information up front. When volunteers sign up, ask for contact info, availability, preferences, and any relevant skills. Let them pick roles or shifts that work for them.

• Host a kickoff meeting. Use this time to:

  • Share your organization’s mission and how volunteers are making a difference

  • Walk through the tournament schedule

  • Answer questions and build excitement

• Provide training materials. This could include:

  • Written step-by-step guides

  • Live or recorded demos for tasks like using software or managing contests

  • A quick overview of golf basics and etiquette

• Set expectations. Be clear about shift times, dress code, responsibilities, and who to contact with questions.

• Create a communication plan. Use email, group text, or a volunteer app to share reminders, updates, and check-ins before and during the event.

• Make it fun. Share wins from previous tournaments, encourage camaraderie, and build a sense of community. People are more likely to come back next year if they have a great time.
  

Provide volunteers with the training they need to take on their assignments with confidence.

3. Delegate with confidence

Trying to do it all yourself? That’s a fast track to burnout. Instead, strategically delegate tasks among your volunteers who are willing and able to help. When someone inevitably asks, “How can I help?” have a task or two ready to assign. Trust your volunteers to step up—remember, they signed on to help, so have the confidence that they’ll follow through on what needs to be done.

4. Keep systems organized

Whether you’re using a spreadsheet, Google Form, or a dedicated volunteer management tool, keep your systems tidy and accessible. Share access with your planning team and make sure everyone’s on the same page about who’s doing what, and when. You should also share access to your golf event management tool with key volunteers so they have access to up-to-date golfer, team, and sponsor information.

---

free guide

This a-to-z guide outlines effective volunteer strategies for nonprofit golf fundraisers. Get ideas and tools to help leverage volunteer time, energy, and enthusiasm to execute a flawless golf event.

Get the Guide

---

5. Communicate early & often

Once a volunteer signs up, send a confirmation email so they know what to expect. Then, provide all the details they’ll need ahead of the tournament:

• What to wear (and when/where to pick up any branded gear)

• When to arrive and where to park

• Where to check in and who to check in with

• What their assignment is, where they’ll be stationed, and what materials they’ll need

• Where and when they can grab food or drinks

• Shift start and end times

• Who to contact if they have questions or issues

Holding a volunteer meeting? In-person is great for camaraderie, but virtual briefings or even recorded videos are good alternatives for busy schedules.

6. Build in flexibility

Even the best-laid plans can go sideways. You might want to have a few “floater” volunteers on standby to fill in if someone cancels last-minute or if another area needs some extra help. Think through your backup plan in advance so you’re not scrambling on tournament day to cover assignments.

---

Pro Tip:

Make sure your lead volunteers have been connected with the golf facility staff so they know who to go to if there are issues or questions on event day.

---

Having a lead volunteer for things like golfer check-in frees tournament organizers up to engage with and thank golfers and sponsors.

7. Show appreciation

Remember, volunteers are giving their time and energy to support your cause, so show them some love.

• Provide meals, snacks, drinks, and a thank-you gift or token of appreciation.

• Recognize them during your awards or welcome remarks.

• Assign a planning team member to check in with volunteers throughout the day to see how they’re doing and offer support.

• Personally thank them during the tournament and send a handwritten thank you after the event.
  

Volunteers = A better tournament experience

Your volunteers, and how you manage them, can make or break your tournament day. Investing time in planning, onboarding, and communication will pay off in a smoother event and a group of happy volunteers who are excited to support your cause again.

Keep Your Tournament Running Smoothly With the Right Tech

The right event management tech can help your tournament run smoothly from planning, execution, and follow-up. GolfStatus’ golf tournament software is built to save organizers a ton of time and help raise even more money to support your mission. With time-saving automations, revenue-boosting sponsorships and add-ons, and access to a responsive support team seven days a week, GolfStatus helps you hold your best golf tournament yet. Best of all—nonprofits can get started at no upfront cost. Click below to book a meeting with one of our golf fundraising specialists to get started.

Book a Meeting With GolfStatus to Start Planning!

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Corporate fundraising presents a valuable opportunity for nonprofits and businesses to make a meaningful impact on their communities. For nonprofits, it means additional funding, resources, and greater visibility. For businesses, raising money for charity as a third party boosts brand reputation, engages employees, and fosters connections with new audiences.

Whether you’re a nonprofit looking to secure corporate support or a company looking to give back, these key strategies and fundraising ideas will help you maximize your impact.

Skip to:

• Corporate Fundraising FAQ

• Best Corporate Fundraising Idea: Charity Golf Tournament

• Event-Based Corporate Fundraising Ideas

• Workplace Giving & Employee Engagement Fundraising Ideas

• Community-Focused Fundraising Ideas

• Virtual Fundraising Ideas

• Seasonal Corporate Fundraising Ideas

Corporate Fundraising FAQ

What Are the Benefits of Corporate Fundraising for Nonprofits?

• Increased funding and financial stability. Corporate sponsorships and donations create a reliable funding source for nonprofits.

• Expanded audience and brand awareness. Corporate partnerships introduce nonprofit causes to new audiences and raise awareness about important issues.

• Access to valuable resources and expertise. Corporate partners may provide helpful resources like in-kind donations or skilled volunteers, along with industry expertise.

• Long-term strategic partnerships. These collaborations provide ongoing support for sustained impact.

• Increased credibility and public trust. Aligning with respectable brands or well-known businesses helps build trust among the community and with donors.
  

Why Should Businesses Invest in Corporate Fundraising?

• Reputation boost. Corporate giving enhances your social responsibility profile, enhancing and strengthening your brand and reputation.

• Introduction to new audiences and customers. Supporting a nonprofit can help businesses engage with new customers. For instance, fundraising events that attract higher net-worth individuals—like charity golf tournaments—help businesses attract valuable clientele.

• Improved employee engagement. Giving back can boost employee satisfaction and engagement, foster connection between teams, and improve team-building.

• Diverse giving opportunities. There are multiple ways companies can support charitable causes, including in-kind donations, monetary sponsorships, cause marketing campaigns, and more.

Corporate partnerships have a number of benefits for businesses and noprofits.

What Are Some Best Practices for Organizing Corporate Fundraising Events?

For all parties to maximize the impact of charitable partnerships, the following best practices should be considered:

Nonprofits

• Educate partners on any other corporate giving opportunities that may exist to further maximize their charitable efforts, such as matching gifts, volunteer grants, or payroll giving.

• Mobilize your donor network to spread the word about your corporate partner’s contributions, share information about the upcoming fundraising event, and encourage participation.

• Set goals that are both ambitious and realistic, based on past fundraising efforts, successes, and lessons learned.

Businesses & Third-Party Fundraisers

• Be transparent about the scope of your support and involvement in the fundraising event.

• Align fundraising events with your company’s mission, brand, and audience.

• Collaborate with the nonprofit to create compelling event promotional materials, such as a compelling event website with storytelling, visuals, and many opportunities and tiers for involvement.

Both Parties

• Work with partners that share your goals and values for the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.

• Choose the right event that will appeal to each organization’s audiences.

• Follow up after the event to reflect on its success, demonstrate its impact, and express gratitude.

• Create an event plan that details event tasks, assignments, and timelines.

• Outline a budget so both parties are on the same page.

• Use purpose-built tech to effectively and efficiently streamline planning and event management. For example, if you choose a charity golf tournament, choose a solution built specifically for golf, like GolfStatus.

The Top Corporate Fundraising Idea: Charity Golf Tournament

What Is a Charity Golf Tournament?

A charity golf tournament is a premier fundraising event that offers numerous benefits for the host company and benefiting nonprofit. Golf events bring people together like no other event can, combining philanthropy with networking, camaraderie, and an activity people genuinely enjoy. Golfers pay a registration fee to participate as an individual or a team and businesses purchase sponsorships to support the cause.

Charity golf tournaments bring people together to raise money, make connections, and strengthen relationships.

Why Is a Charity Golf Tournament the Best Corporate Fundraising Idea?

• Golf events have high revenue potential. Player registrations, sponsorships, and add-ons such as contests, on-course games, mulligan sales, auctions, and raffles drive revenue.

• Golf tournaments appeal to sponsors. Golf events provide excellent branding and exposure opportunities for businesses of all types, plus access to an audience that can’t be found with any other event.

• Golf events attract decision-makers. Golf attracts corporate executives and higher-than-average net-worth individuals. 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs are golfers, and one in three golfers are in top-level management.

• Golf is more popular and inclusive than ever. Golf continues to see record popularity, attracting new audiences of beginners, women, and young adults.

• Golf builds relationships. Because the focus of the event is on an enjoyable activity, it’s easy for donors and sponsors to build relationships and positive memories that keep them coming back year after year.

• Golf events strengthen community engagement. Golf events planned by a third-party corporate partner deepen community ties and engagement.

• Golf tournaments are customizable. Choose the golf facility, format, and competition level that best suits your combined audiences.

• There are multiple opportunities for support. Golf tournaments offer a plethora of opportunities to support a nonprofit partner—monetary sponsorships, employee volunteering, in-kind donations, and more.

Tips for Launching a Charity Golf Tournament

With the right strategy and tools in place, it’s easier than ever to plan and execute a successful charity golf tournament. Follow these tips:

• Use an event website. A dedicated golf tournament website with online registration makes promotion, registration, sponsor onboarding and exposure, sharing information about your cause, and communication with supporters simple and efficient.

• Offer sponsorship packages at varying price points. This best practice allows businesses with different budget capabilities to support your tournament. High-end exposure, like a pin flag sponsorship, should be sold at a premium,

• Maximize additional fundraising. Incorporate tournament components such as mulligan sales, raffle tickets, auctions, on-course games, and hole-in-one contests to boost fundraising outcomes.

• Enlist volunteer help. Work to engage volunteers from both the corporate partner and nonprofit to help in tournament prep and day-of execution.

Most importantly, use a golf-specific event management platform. Golf tournaments come with a unique set of details that must be handled, including handicaps, hole assignments, team pairings, flighting, and scoring. Standard ticketing software and nonprofit CRMs simply aren’t built to handle this level of specificity without requiring time-consuming workarounds.

GolfStatus’ golf event management software addresses the golf specifics and has baked-in tools to save organizers time and opportunities to raise more money:

• Event websites with online registration, secure payment processing, broad digital sponsor exposure, the ability to collect donations, and more.

• Robust reporting and data management in one easily-accessible web-based platform.

• A user-friendly back end where team members can collaborate, manage payments, track team and sponsorship sales, make hole assignments, and more.

• Reliable live scoring that engages golfers throughout the tournament and makes the tournament more fun.

• Exclusive sponsorships and add-ons to raise thousands more dollars.

• A responsive, in-house client success team comprised of PGA Professionals and fundraising specialists.

For third party fundraisers like corporate entities, GolfStatus can essentially be the bank for the golf event. GolfStatus makes it simple to collect and hold funds that can be paid out directly to the nonprofit after the tournament concludes.

---

Get started with golfstatus

Schedule a Quick 15-Minute Call

---

Other Event-Based Corporate Fundraising Ideas

1. Corporate gala or charity ball

2. Trivia night

3. Charity game night

4. Wine and dine fundraiser

5. Benefit concert (could also accompany your charity golf tournament)

6. Networking event or conference

7. Executive challenges (like dunk tanks or pie-in-the-face challenges)

8. Giving days

9. Corporate field day

Workplace Giving & Employee Engagement Fundraising Ideas

10. Donation matching

11. Payroll giving

12. Company-wide donation challenge

13. Internal company charity raffle

14. Company silent auction

15. Cause-related product sales

16. Peer-to-peer company-wide fundraising competition

17. Office bake sale

Companies can further the impact of their charity golf tournament by holding an accompanying donation drive.

Community-Focused Fundraising Ideas

18. Charity car wash

19. Restaurant fundraising night

20. Food or in-kind item drive

21. Charity run

22. Community festival for charity

Virtual Fundraising Ideas

23. Online fundraising gamification or rewards-based campaigns

24. Social media challenges

25. Crowdfunding campaigns

26. Livestream fundraising event

Seasonal Corporate Fundraising Ideas

27. Halloween costume contest

28. Valentine's candy-gram fundraiser

29. Holiday gift drive

---

Final Thoughts

Corporate fundraising strengthens communities, builds partnerships, and makes a lasting impact. Whether you’re hosting a charity golf tournament or launching another fundraising campaign, the right tools and strategies help ensure success.

GolfStatus simplifies golf event planning and management while maximizing fundraising potential. Click below to learn more!

Make Your Golf Event a Swinging Success!

Click Here to Get Started 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.

by Logan Foote, Sales and Education Director at GolfStatus

If you’re looking for a way to bring fun and fundraising to your charity golf tournament, on-course games are a great option for events of all types and sizes. An on-course game is an addition to your tournament that involves an activity on one or more holes on the golf course that golfers pay to participate in. The games can have a variety of outcomes, like improving the team’s score, providing a better tee off location, removing an obstacle, winning a prize, or just to add an element of fun.

Games can be added to your tournament at any time, well in advance or right before the event. You can opt to have golfers pay to play when they register or pay the day of the tournament. Make sure you have an easy way to collect credit card payments in case golfers don’t carry cash (your GolfStatus event website is a great option for this). An all-in games package is the easiest option—folks pay one flat fee to participate in all the games. Use wristbands or something similar to signal to the volunteers working the games on the course that those golfers have already paid.

On-course games come with a ton of benefit for your event, including:

• Fun, fun, and more fun! Golfers of all skill levels can participate in on-course games and enjoy the extra entertainment.

• You’ll raise more money. Games bring in additional revenue, whether you sell one or more game sponsorships or just rely on golfers paying to play.

• They’re memorable. Golfers are guaranteed to remember the tournament where they shot the ball down the course with an air cannon or had to tee off or putt wearing Mickey Mouse gloves. Games add to a more enjoyable overall tournament experience.

• Cause connection. Tying a game to your cause in some way helps golfers better understand and connect with what they’re helping raise money for.

The Credit Unions for Kids Golf Classic adds extra fun to its tournament with on-course games, like kicking soccer balls onto an inflatable dartboard.

31 Ideas for Golf Tournament Games

The possibilities are endless, so gather your planning team to brainstorm ideas. Reach out to the Pro at the host golf facility, who might also have ideas for games that have been popular at other tournaments. These ideas can help get you started.

1. Golf Ball Cannon

Give golfers the chance to shoot their ball down the fairway using an air gun or golf ball cannon, instead of hitting a tee shot.

2. hole of fortune

Choose one hole that’s dubbed the “hole of fortune.” Golfers pick a card, play Plinko, or spin a wheel to determine the club they’ll use to tee off or play the entire hole with or the tee boxes they’ll start from. Prizes could also include an extra mulligan, an automatic hole-in-one, or a free drink. Alternatively, some slots or cards could result in something not as rewarding, such as teeing off while blindfolded or getting a penalty stroke.

Pro Tip: Some slots or cards could result in something not as rewarding, such as teeing off while blindfolded or getting a penalty stroke to give it a true “wheel of fortune” feel.

3. marshmallow drive

Have golfers tee off with a marshmallow. The golfer with the longest “drive” wins a prize. You could change this up to have golfers chip with a marshmallow, and the golfer with the closest chip to the hole gets the prize.

4. Plinko

Give golfers the chance to drop a puck on a Plinko board to win a prize, earn a drink or raffle ticket, or improve their score.

Plinko is fun for all ages and can be used with a variety of golf tournament formats, including traditional nine or 18-hole events or putt putt tournaments.

5. Roll-a-score

Have golfers roll a set of dice and give them the option to replace any score from the event with whatever they rolled.

6. Single Club hole

Participants play with the same club for the entire hole. They could choose a card, spin a wheel, roll dice, or other method to determine which club they play with. 

Pro Tip: Consider limiting clubs to those that would present the most challenge across the hole, such as the driver, wedge, or putter.

7. Wrong Hand Challenge

Participants play the entire hole “wrong-handed”, i.e. with their non-dominant hand. You may need to have clubs available in case no one in a group has left-handed or right-handed clubs. 
Pro Tip: Give teams the option to pay a fee to play the hole normally.

8. Scavenger Hunt

Place items around the course (these could be related to your mission in some way or just for fun). Participating teams get a list of the items to hunt for and take a picture of them once found. Teams that find every item could earn a prize or the chance to better their score.

---

Get Started With GolfStatus at no upfront cost

---

9. Club Game

Teams are given the chance to purchase a certain number of club lengths to move their ball closer to the hole without taking an additional stroke.
Pro Tip: Have a volunteer stationed on the tee box and another one near the green to sell club lengths. Choose an especially challenging hole to make the purchase more appealing.

10. Poker Hand

Teams draw a card on each of five designated holes to make up a poker hand. The team with the best hand at the end of the round wins a prize or you can offer prizes for specific hands (i.e. three of a kind wins a gift card to the pro shop).

11. Speed Hole

See which team can play the entire hole—from tee shot to sinking a putt—the fastest. You’ll need a volunteer to serve as the timer. The team that logs the fastest time wins a prize.

---

Free Download

The Complete Event Day Guide for Charity Golf Tournaments

Download this free guide to get tips and strategies for ensuring everything—including your golf tournament games—is prepped and ready to go for a flawlessly executed golf event.

---

12. Trivia hole

Station a volunteer on the tee box to ask golfers trivia questions before they tee off to win a prize or move to closer tees.
Pro Tip: Relate the questions to your nonprofit’s mission to help connect golfers to your cause.

13. Shot Clock Hole

The entire team must tee off within a certain amount of time or must take a penalty stroke. Set up a large countdown timer or have a volunteer count out loud.
Pro Tip: Sell extra increments of time to take the time pressure off.

14. Ball Toss or Kick

Great for a booster club or team! Instead of hitting a golf ball off of a tee for their tee shot, golfers throw a football, baseball, softball, tennis ball, or other ball and play from there. Alternatively, they could kick a football or soccer ball for their drive.
Pro Tip: Have a local sports figure (high school, college, or even professional) run the game. For an extra fee, they can make the throw or kick.

American soccer legend Clint Dempsey kicks a soccer ball for his tee shot at a golf event benefiting Team Red, White & Blue.

15. Closest to the…

A spin on the classic closest to the pin contest, this game can be customized to your event. Determine an object either placed or naturally occurring—anything from a prize like a Yeti Cooler or golf bag, distinct tree (or other feature on the course), or an item related to a sponsor (one GolfStatus client places a rubber chicken on a hole, and the game is sponsored by a chicken company). The team that gets the closest to the object wins a prize (or wins the prize they were hitting at).

16. Speed Putting

Golfers try to make as many putts from one location in a certain amount of time as possible to win a prize. 
Pro Tip: Run multiple rounds of the contest, moving the ball further away from the hole.

17. Sitting Drive Challenge

Golfers take their tee shot while sitting on a chair. Offer the choice to pay a fee to opt out of the challenge.

18. Ball Swap

Golfers play the hole like normal until they reach the green, where they mark their spot and play the rest of the hole with a racquet ball or ping pong ball.

19. Blind Putt

Golfers wear sleep shades or blindfolds when they putt and have to rely on verbal cues from their team to try to make the shot.

20. Alternative Putter

Golfers putt using objects other than their putter, like a croquet mallet, hockey stick, or baseball bat. This could be on the practice green as a separate contest or as part of a specific hole. 
Pro Tip: Pick putting objects that help golfers understand what your nonprofit does. For example, Habitat for Humanity of Columbus, which helps provide affordable housing and homeowner education, had a game on the practice green where golfers putted with building tools, like sledgehammers and levels, instead of their putters.

Golfers at Habitat for Humanity of Columbus’s golf tournament used building tools to putt as part of a golf tournament game.

21. Caddie Auction

Teams bid on volunteer caddies to join their team. Recruit well-known locals, such as your nonprofit’s Executive Director, the mayor, coach, local news anchor or weathercaster, or influencer as caddies. 
Pro Tip: Use an online bidding software and allow teams to bid over the week leading up to the tournament so the caddies are set when event day arrives.

22. hit it & Get it

Set varying prizes up on the practice green. Golfers get the chance to putt and win a prize if they hit it.
Pro Tip: Place high-value prizes further away to up the challenge.

23. Skins Games

Skins games create mini-competitions where teams (or individuals, depending on the event’s format) compete against each other based on their score on a given hole, in addition to their overall score. Event organizers can use skins games to fundraise by setting a dollar amount for participants to buy in to compete. 
Pro Tip: Display skins results on real-time digital leaderboards to keep golfers engaged and make the skins games more competitive.

24. Dizzy Bat

Golfers take turns putting their forehead on the end of a baseball bat and spin around multiple times, making them dizzy, and then attempt to tee off.

25. Goggle Putt

Golfers wear goggles that impair their vision in some way—such as being impaired by alcohol or make everything appear upside down—and attempt to putt.

26. Bingo Bango Bongo

Players earn points for being the first on the green (bingo), closest to the pin once all balls are on the green (bango), and sinking the first putt (bongo). 
Pro Tip: Raise extra funds by selling a Bingo Bango Bongo sponsorship or encouraging donations for each point earned.

Book a GolfStatus Demo

Golf Tournament Contests

27. Hole-In-One Contest

Players take their best shot at acing a designated par-three hole (or several holes) for the chance to win an exciting prize, like cash or a golf getaway.
Pro Tip: Be sure your contest is covered by hole-in-one insurance so your nonprofit isn’t stuck footing the bill for the prize if someone gets an ace. Sell a contest sponsorship to cover the cost of the insurance to boost revenue.

28. Longest Drive Contest

Participants compete to see who can hit the ball the farthest off the tee while keeping it within the fairway on a selected hole.

Contests are easy ways to improve the overall experience at a charity golf tournament.

29. Closest to the Pin Contest

Golfers test their accuracy and compete to see whose tee shot lands closest to the hole on a designated par-three hole.

30. Chipping Contest

Players demonstrate their short-game skills by chipping the ball as close to a target as possible, often set up near the practice green. 
Pro Tip: Boost revenue by selling mulligans specifically for shots in longest drive, closest to the pin, and chipping contests.

31. Beat the Pro Contest

Players take on a pro in a head-to-head challenge to see if they can hit their tee shot closer to the hole on a specific hole.

Best Practices for Running Golf Tournament Games

• Sell a games sponsorship! There are a few ways to structure a games sponsorship for your golf fundraiser:

• Individual games sponsorships. Sell a sponsorship for each individual game on the course and encourage the purchasing business to run the game the day of the event. This gives them great brand exposure and ample opportunity to connect with golfers.

• Overall games sponsorship. An overall games sponsorship encompasses every game on the course. This sponsorship should sell for more than the individual game sponsorships and provide premium exposure for the sponsoring business.

• Front and back nine games sponsorships. Offer two separate games sponsorships, one for the front nine and one for the back nine.

• Connect golfers to your mission. Games that connect golfers to your mission in some way have double the impact—they get a deeper appreciation for your cause and are more likely to chip in additional money. For example, Outlook Enrichment, a nonprofit that serves the visually-impaired, uses the blind putt game to help golfers better understand the struggles of vision loss.

Outlook Enrichment uses sleep shades for a blind putt hole to help golfers better understand vision loss.

• Leverage social media. Go live from one of the games, create a specific hashtag for a new game, and assign someone to share photos from each game throughout the tournament to get more people excited about participating in the games.

• Hype it up. Ask a volunteer, a staff or board member, or recruit a local celebrity to announce or emcee a game to hype golfers up to participate (and make extra donations!). 

• Keep pace of play in mind. You don’t want teams piling up on a hole with a time-consuming game. Keep games easy to explain and quick to play to keep the round moving and golfers happy. 

• Recruit volunteers. These can be staff or board members, other volunteers, or even sponsors. Depending on the length of the round, you might want to have two shifts of volunteers. They need to be comfortable explaining the rules and procedures, how to pay online via your event website, or collect cash payments.

• Incorporate team-based challenges. Create ways for teams to compete against each other in the games. For example, if you use the marshmallow drive game, you can keep track of distance across all teams and award a prize to the overall winner.

• Use real-time leaderboards. When you use a software solution that provides hassle-free live-scoring, you can use real-time standings as part of your games. Perhaps teams that are under par at a certain game hole get a free extra wheel spin or Plinko drop, or teams that are more than a few strokes over par get an additional try at the marshmallow drive.

• Take online payments. Whether you’re selling supertickets, wristbands, or individual game entries or collecting donations, the ability to collect payments online via your event website helps bring in more dollars and makes post-tournament accounting easier. Post a sign with a QR code that links directly to the packages page to make it super simple for golfers and your planning team, and you won’t have to deal with keeping track of cash payments.

---

Golf for Good

Nonprofits, charities, and third parties planning charity golf tournaments can get started with GolfStatus at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program! Get access to GolfStatus’ golf event management platform—with a robust event website, time-saving automations and built-in fundraising tools, premium sponsorships, trusted partners, and an A+ in-house support team—to make your next golf event the best one yet. Click below to connect with our team!

Make Your Golf Event a Swinging Success!

Click Here to Get Started 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.

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

Golf tournaments can be a big lift for nonprofit organizations, but with the help of dedicated volunteers, you can pull off a memorable event that drives your mission forward (and doesn’t burn anyone out). Here are some help tips and context about how to effectively recruit and engage volunteers for your golf event and create a memorable experience that keeps them coming back.

Why volunteers are essential

Volunteers are the backbone of successful charity golf tournaments. Here’s why:

1. They fill gaps in people power. Volunteers provide the extra hands needed to execute a seamless event. From planning to cleanup, their support ensures sponsors and participants enjoy a top-notch experience from start to finish.

2. They develop a stronger connection to your cause. Volunteering fosters a deeper connection to your organization. Many volunteers become lifelong supporters, often contributing both time and financial resources.

3. They build important relationships. Volunteers create a support system for your nonprofit and often bond with each other through shared experiences. These relationships often lead to ongoing engagement and advocacy centered around your cause.

4. Everyone benefits. Volunteering benefits both your nonprofit and the volunteers themselves. The Mayo Clinic reports that volunteering reduces stress, boosts mental and physical health, provides a sense of purpose, and even teaches volunteers valuable skills. For nonprofits, volunteers help build capacity, gain loyal advocates, and convert volunteers into regular donors.

---

sample golf tournament volunteer assignmentS

Pre-tournament:

• Tournament promotion

• Sponsor introductions or asks

• Assemble player gift bags

• Assemble signs

• Manage volunteers

Tournament day set up:

• Registration desk

• Place hole signs

• Direct traffic

• On-course games and contests

• Raffle or auction

• Awards

registration:

• Check in golfers, sponsors, and volunteers

• Sell raffle tickets, mulligans, and on-course game entry

• Collect donations

During the round:

• Run on-course games and contests

• Distribute food

• Check pace of play

Post-tournament:

• Assist with awards

• Tear down and clean up

• Pick up pin prizes and hole signs

• Write thank yous

---

Volunteers can serve as witnesses for a hole-in-one contest at a golf tournament. (Image courtesy of Flickr)

recruiting volunteers

If you don’t already have a volunteer base, your golf tournament is a great chance to establish one! It’s also an opportunity to beef up your volunteer pool for other events and initiatives where your nonprofit needs assistance. Before you start recruiting volunteers, make sure you have somewhere to send folks to sign up. Add a link to your volunteer sign up on your golf tournament website so people who want to know more about the event also have the information they need to help out.

• Use your networks. Start by asking your nonprofit’s staff, board, and current volunteers to commit to volunteer at the golf event and invite a friend to help. This leverage’s social proof, which is the tendency of people to follow others’ actions when making decisions. Personal invitations and word-of-mouth are powerful motivators.

• Leverage local community and service groups. Your community likely has people interested in volunteering—you just need to find them. Tap into service clubs in your community, such as Kiwanis or Rotary Clubs. Use the alumni associations of universities or colleges in your area or that people in your network belong to. You might also check to see if local high schools require community service hours and if volunteering for your tournament might qualify.

• Use matchmaking websites. There are a number of volunteer matchmaking websites that can help you find local volunteers. A simple Google search will give you some great options. RiseUp Malawi used VolunteerMatch to source volunteers for their golf event’s planning committee and day-of execution.

• Work with local media. Consider sending a press release about your golf tournament to local media outlets, such as television and radio stations and newspapers, that includes a call for volunteers. Don’t forget to list your event and volunteer opportunities on local community calendars.

• Leverage social media and ads. Your nonprofit’s Google Ad Grant, which provides up to $10,000 in monthly ad spend, is a great way to promote your golf tournament and volunteer opportunities. You should also post content on your social media channels that show volunteers in action, data that demonstrates your impact, and stories about your work to get people excited to volunteer. You might also consider a small social media ad campaign to target potential volunteers, if your budget allows.

---

Using Social Media to Amplify Your Golf Fundraiser

Social media is a huge opportunity to level up your golf fundraiser, helping promote the event; recruit volunteers, players, and sponsors; thank donors, and much more. This free guide will help tournament organizers of all skill and experience levels leverage social media to make the most out of your charity golf tournament and raise the most money possible.

---

Keeping volunteers engaged

Your volunteers want to be engaged and in the know when it comes to their contributions and responsibilities. Keeping them engaged before, during, and after the tournament is key to volunteer satisfaction and retention.

before the tournament

• Get volunteers excited. When volunteers sign up to help, personally reach out to thank them for their commitment and share the impact they’ll help make as a result of their time. This gets them excited both for the event and about your cause, and is key to building a long-term relationship with that volunteer.

• Help them feel a sense of ownership. Loop volunteers into the planning process (when appropriate) so they feel a sense of ownership in the event and have a vested interest in its success.

• Create a clear onboarding process. Before you begin recruiting volunteers, document the roles and responsibilities of each assignment. Use online tools to manage sign-ups and assign roles, and share those details once they commit so they understand exactly what’s expected of them. If necessary, offer training ahead of the tournament. For example, if they’re running a hole-in-one contest, walk them through how the contest works, what they need to communicate with golfers, and what to do if someone gets a hole-in-one.

• Communicate effectively. There’s a balance between under and over communicating with volunteers—don’t overdo it, but make sure they know enough to be helpful. Volunteer management tools make it easy to communicate with volunteers and keep correspondence in one place.

during the tournament

• Keep volunteers in the loop. If there are any updates or changes to on event day, be sure to communicate those to volunteers via your online volunteer management tool. Let them know how the tournament is progressing, what’s happening next, and if there are any changes to their assignments.

• Take care of them. You want your golfers and sponsors to have a great experience, but you also want your volunteers to remember your tournament fondly. Simple things like providing hot or cold beverages, food, a place to sit and rest, hand warmers on a cold day, or handheld fans on a hot day make volunteers feel more appreciated and more comfortable.

• Say a public thank you. During the tournament’s kickoff and wrap up remarks, be sure to thank both your sponsors and volunteers for making the event a possibility. If there are only a handful of volunteers, consider recognizing them each by name.

after the event

• Say thank you (again!). Much like with golf tournament sponsors, a handwritten thank you or a phone call can be huge in keeping volunteers engaged for subsequent years and cultivating their support of your organization. Invite volunteers to attend any post-golf gathering and perhaps provide a complimentary drink or raffle ticket. You also might consider holding a volunteer appreciation reception at your office after the golf event to say thank you. Above all, be sincere and personal in expressing your gratitude.

• Ask for their feedback. Send a survey or have informal conversations with volunteers to find out what went well, what can be improved, and what suggestions they have for next year. This helps them feel ownership in the tournament—making them more likely to return to help again in the future.

• Involve them in other parts of your nonprofit. If the golf tournament is the first time a volunteer has engaged with your organization, now is a good chance to share other volunteer opportunities with them. Fold volunteers into your regular organization communication so they’re aware of other events and volunteer opportunities. And be sure to share the impact their volunteerism has had on your organization. For example, assisting with the golf tournament raised funds to feed 20 shelter dogs for a year.
  

Make volunteering for your tournament easy & rewarding

Above all, remember that when volunteers feel valued, they’re more likely to continue supporting your organization. Recruit volunteers with purpose, communicate with them effectively, and show gratitude every step of the way to build lasting relationships.

Your golf tournament can be more than just a fundraiser—it can become a community-building event that strengthens your mission and leaves a lasting impact.

golf for good with golfstatus

Organizing and executing a charity golf tournament is easier than ever with GolfStatus. You’ll get a free event website where you can recruit volunteers, promote your tournament, sell teams and sponsorships, and solicit donations. The software’s back end makes it simple to manage teams, sponsor assets, and payments and seamlessly collaborate with your planning team and the golf facility. The software is backed by an in-house client success team that’s there to help seven days a week. And best of all, there’s no cost and no risk to get started with GolfStatus. Click below to book a demo with our team or get started in the software on your own.

Get started with GolfStatus

No Cost, No Risk

---

by Jen Wemhoff, Communications Manager at GolfStatus

If you’ve never planned a golf tournament before or your organization doesn’t currently have a golf event as part of its fundraising portfolio, you’re likely wondering about what it takes to raise money with golf. Planning a successful golf fundraiser starts with a solid understanding of some fundamentals, paired with a golf tournament checklist to keep you on task and on target.

Want to brainstorm ideas for your charity golf event?

Check out this guide.

What to Know Before Organizing a Charity Golf Tournament

1. You don’t have to be a golf expert.

2. Most of your fundraising revenue goes to your cause.

3. Golf events are more popular than ever before.

4. Golf events bring new donors to the table.

5. Sponsors are interested in connecting with your donors in new ways.

6. Golf tournaments are fun and exciting.

7. Organizing a charity golf event is worth the work.

8. Use a checklist to stay organized.

1. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A GOLF EXPERT.

Many event planners aren’t golfers—and don’t need to be to hold a lucrative golf tournament. All that’s really needed is a tool that helps organizers, committees, and volunteers navigate the intricacies of a golf event and that’s purposefully designed to save novice and seasoned golf event planners time and resources.

An event management platform designed specifically for golf fundraisers makes things easier and walks you through planning and executing every step on your golf tournament fundraiser checklist. Look for a tool that makes it easy to collaborate and exchange information with the golf facility and one with a responsive customer success team that’s there when you need them.

2. GOLF FACILITIES ARE EAGER TO HOST GOLF TOURNAMENTS.

Outside golf outings like memorial tournaments, charity outings, major fundraisers, and small local events are essential to a golf facility’s bottom line. You’re essentially guaranteeing the course that you’ll fill the tee times for the day, plus any additional revenue from the pro shop and food and beverage, not to mention exposure to avid golfers who could become members. This gives you, the event organizer, leverage when it comes to negotiating better pricing for the event. Certainly, the more high-end the facility, typically the higher the green fees will be. That said, here are some things to consider to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the facility:

• Tap into your networks. Ask board members, volunteers, and other supporters who are members at higher-end facilities if they have connections and can facilitate a favorable rate.

• Hold the event on an off day. Try to avoid busy holiday weekends and other high-traffic dates for courses. Ask about slower days of the week; rates on Mondays, for example, are typically lower than rates on Fridays or Saturdays.

• Consider adding a virtual option. A virtual tournament extends the event to multiple days or weeks and/or across multiple courses. With this option, players and teams participate on their own time, scheduling their tee times directly with the facility, so your organization doesn’t actually need to occupy the facility on a specific date for a specific period of time. You can also consider holding a virtual event in tandem with a traditional one-day event to allow for more participants and revenue.

3. GOLF EVENTS ARE MORE POPULAR THAN EVER BEFORE.

Golf has seen record-setting popularity over the past few years. Nationwide, the game has seen a net game of more than 2.3 million on-course golfers since 2020. More than 123 million Americans consumed golf in some way in 2023, an increase of 14% over the past five years. Retail equipment sales continue to remain strong. 

Golf fundraisers have enjoyed a similar surge in popularity, with nonprofits of all sizes launching first-year tournaments to capitalize on golfers’ eagerness to get on to the course. These fundraisers are now building on their success as third or even fourth-year events! Golf outings may have emerged as a viable option for in-person fundraising events, but organizations discovered how these events connect them to exactly the types of donors and sponsors that turn into sustainers and long-term corporate partners.

---

Active Golfers

1 in 9 Americans

Average Golfer's Net Worth

$768,000

---

4. GOLF EVENTS BRING NEW DONORS TO THE TABLE.

In general, golfers tend to represent an affluent, influential demographic. Its participants report higher household and discretionary income (more than double the national average) and thus a higher capacity to give. Younger golfers are also increasingly taking up the sport, with more on-course golfers between the ages of 18 and 34 than any other segment.

When golfers tap into their personal and professional networks to field a team (particularly in tournaments with a scramble format that allows for a wider range of skill levels), it instantly broadens your prospective donor base and exposes new people to your mission. What’s more, your tournament’s sponsors give your development and major gift teams an “in” to potential high-capacity donors and corporate partners. Indeed, golf presents an opportunity to connect with new sponsors and supporters through a sport that people want to play. There’s never been a better time to get in front of golfers and sponsors eager to support golf events.

5. SPONSORS ARE INTERESTED IN CONNECTING WITH YOUR DONORS IN NEW WAYS.

High quality, professional golf course signage certainly has its place in terms of sponsor recognition, but sponsors are increasingly looking for avenues to both support organizations and get their brands in front of the affluent golfer demographic. The good news for both nonprofits and sponsors is that the same technology that streamlines golf events opens doors for digital sponsorship exposure. Digital sponsorships can be sold at a premium, giving sponsors exposure to an audience they can’t get anywhere else and offering a high return on their investment. 

Corporate partners and sponsors have a vested interest in supporting the tech that helps organizations streamline clerical tasks and eliminate duplicative work. Plus digital exposure is easy to manage—just plug in a logo on a website, in a mobile app, or on your event’s live leaderboards. These methods take less time and effort, have little to no overhead costs, and have substantially lower expenses compared to traditional branded pieces.

What’s more, golf tournaments offer sponsors high engagement over the course of several hours on the course. Whether it’s sponsoring a golfer-favorite hole-in-one contest, setting up a booth on a tee box as a hole sponsor, or running an on-course game, golf events give sponsors the opportunity to engage with participants in meaningful ways.

6. GOLF TOURNAMENTS ARE FUN & EXCITING.

The difference between a good golf event and a great golf event is the overall experience. There are many ways to add fun and excitement (and raise a few more dollars along the way). On-course competitions like hole-in-one contests, longest drive contests, closest-to-the-pin contests, and putting contests let golfers test their luck (or skill) to win great prizes—and are premium sponsorship opportunities. 

For example, you can add a buy-in to your tournament’s skins games, which creates mini-competitions between individuals or teams. Displaying skins results on real-time leaderboards keeps golfers engaged.

Other fun add-ons might include:

• A celebrity appearance

• A professional long-driver on a designated hole or holes

• Games or demonstrations on each tee box

• Custom player gifts

• Live or silent auctions

• Post-golf entertainment

The options are endless—but the key is to choose components that contribute to a well-executed event and memorable experience that will keep golfers and sponsors coming back year after year.

7. ORGANIZING A CHARITY GOLF EVENT IS WORTH THE WORK.

Golf’s fundraising capacity is unmatched. And while golf events have a number of moving pieces and unique details to handle, the right tools can ease the administrative burden as you tick items off of your golf tournament fundraiser checklist. Golf event management tech eliminates manual registration and payment processes and siloed information, making it easier to collaborate and delegate tasks to teams, board members, volunteers, and even staff at the golf facility. 

Your golf event management software should have robust reporting capabilities so you can easily track payments and who is supporting your cause. It should also handle golf-specific tasks, such as:

• Building custom sponsorship packages

• Syncing GHIN handicaps

• Simplifying team pairings

• Streamlining hole assignments and hole-by-hole sponsor exposure

• Making live-scoring super simple

If you’re a third party—a business, corporate entity, passionate volunteers, or other group—holding a golf tournament to raise money for a charity, your event management platform should be able to serve as the “bank” for your tournament. Funds collected through donations or purchases of teams, sponsorships, and add-ons can be held by the platform and distributed directly to the benefiting charity after the tournament is complete.

Truly, a fundraising platform designed specifically for charity golf tournaments ensures that no detail is missed. Look for the solution that leaves organizers free to recruit players and sponsors, solicit donations, and upsell and steward donor relationships in ways that advance the event and the organization forward.

Golf Tournament Fundraiser Checklist

A checklist, with an accompanying timeline of tasks, is a tried and true method to staying organized throughout the golf tournament planning process. Depending on the size, scope, and goals of your golf event, a good recommendation is to give yourself at least four to six months to plan. An event management platform built for golf is also a must-have to streamline the process and keep everything organized in one place.

Here’s a quick checklist of important tasks and to-dos to get you started.

3-6 Months Out: Laying the Foundation

• Outline goals and objectives for the tournament based on your mission and fundraising goals

• Assemble a planning committee

• Get your golf tournament management software in place

• Set a budget based on how much you aim to raise, income streams, and estimated expenses

• Choose a date and host golf facility for the tournament

• Start outlining team and sponsor pricing

• Launch an event website

• Create a marketing plan for the event

• Determine whether you’ll have any add-ons, like contests, on-course games, raffle drawings, or an auction

2-5 Months Out: Big-Picture Finalization

• Finalize sponsorship offerings and team packages

• Get quotes from vendors

• Meet with your planning team

• Reach out to prospective sponsors

• Promote the tournament

1-2 Months Out: Countdown Preparation

• Continue promotion and marketing to sell teams 

• Meet with your planning team

• Finalize on-course games and purchase hole-in-one insurance

• Determine a contingency plan for inclement weather

• Recruit volunteers and determine roles

• Continue sponsor outreach

2 Weeks Out: Final Touches

• Meet with the planning team to tie up any loose ends

• Finalize details and food and beverage with the golf facility

• Check on outstanding vendor orders

• Close registration

1 Week Out: Crunch Time

• Collaborate with the golf facility to finalize team pairings, hole assignments, logistics, vendor deliveries, and setup

• Gather supplies and materials (registration items, signage, banners, golfer gifts, raffle prizes, auction items, etc.)

The Big Day

• Set up registration, signage, contests, screens for leaderboards, and awards

• Take photos and post on social media

• Take time to connect with sponsors to build donor relationships

1-2 Weeks Post-Event: Following Up

• Export the donor data from your event management software to include in your nonprofit’s CRM

• Debrief with your planning team to review goals, outcomes, and improvements for next year

• Report on the event’s success to donors, volunteers, and sponsors

• Send thank yous to event sponsors and participants

---

For a more in-depth list of planning tasks with a customizable timeline, download GolfStatus’ free Golf Tournament Fundraiser Timeline and Checklist.

---

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Golf tournaments offer a ton of fundraising potential. Understanding the basics of charity golf events and staying organized and on track are keys to planning a successful golf tournament. Start by getting a golf event management platform in place as soon as possible, then outlining all your priorities and to-dos in a golf tournament fundraiser planning checklist.

Get qualified to use GolfStatus’ tournament management software at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program! You’ll save 40 hours or more in planning time and get access to tools to help you raise thousands more dollars for your cause. Click below to connect with our team and get started.

Level up your next golf tournament!

Get a demo of GolfStatus today!

About the Author

Jennifer 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.

---