Adding Fundraising Potential to Golf Tournaments
Making a Charity Event Even More Worthwhile
Sep 28, 2009
A great deal of time and effort goes into planning a good golf tournament as a fundraising event, and a savvy planning committee can take advantage of the publicity and planning time to offer value-added activities to the event that will maximize profits.
Without much additional planning time or effort, a number of ancillary events can be added to the day of a tournament that can make the tournament more appealing to both participants and non-participants who wouldn’t normally attend a tournament. Some of these events, if coordinated well, can extend the event into a full-day or even a two-day event that encourages family participation and attracts the greater community rather than just 36 teams of golfers!
Adding a Silent Auction to the Event
Although a traditional auction might compete with awards and other post-tournament festivities, a silent auction can bring in considerable cash in addition to tournament activities without being obtrusive or annoying. Set up in the banquet room of the country club during the awards meal, a silent auction can be a great mingling place as golfers and their families await the end of the tournament. What better way to raise more funds than to appeal to the golfers whose team expenses were probably paid by corporate checkbooks!
Organizing Mini Tournaments
A great way to appeal to golfing families is to run a fun tournament the day or evening before the main event. These can be for spouses, kids, or both. If held at the end of the day and only for nine holes, the course director might offer the course time for free as a donation to the fundraiser. Fun prizes, cool contests on each hole, and other activities would make it fun and different and attract a different crowd than will register to play at the official tournament the next day.
Planning a Dance for the After Party
A dance in addition to the celebration meal will extend the day and give an organization more time to run a silent auction. In addition, tickets can be sold to just the dinner and dance, which will improve the bottom line for the day and attract non-golfers for a night out after the golfing is done. A savvy planning committee can often get the extra time in the club donated so that the extra ticket sales are pure profit. Bands can be located who will donate their services in exchange for publicity and a mention in post-event media coverage.
Coordinating Raffles Alongside the Golf
A very easy way to add profit to a golf tournament is a raffle. Raffles are almost expected at golf tournaments! A raffle can be as simple as a 50/50 activity that divides the pot equally between the winner and the fundraising organization, or a big-ticket item such as a fancy gas grill or a trip for two to somewhere exotic. The type of raffle is totally dependent upon the creativity of the person or persons organizing it, but rarely costs the organization any extra money.
Adding Music to the Event
Hosting a music festival or karaoke contest in conjunction with a golf tournament can increase the “fun factor” at the event and attract people that don’t normally enjoy just the tournament. Spouses of golfers, the volunteers, and even members of the organization can enjoy a little music and loosen up after a long day out on the course. Tickets can be sold separately to the community at large and given complimentarily to the golfers, or any combination thereof. Although not a big money-maker, it can keep the crowd at the club longer and promote the purchase of additional food and drink, thereby increasing concession sales.
The idea of adding ancillary fundraisers to a golfing event should not scare a tournament planning committee. The little things that add value to the day’s activities or that bring in participants that wouldn’t otherwise participate are all worth consideration. Adding complimentary fundraisers to a large event like a golf tournament can significantly increase the organization’s fundraising effectiveness.
Related Articles:
Fowle, Lynanne. "Six Secrets to Running Great Golf Tournaments." August 27, 2009
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