Planning a charity golf tournament is an effective way to raise funds for your nonprofit through a fun, social activity, but if you’re unfamiliar with the sport, the terminology can feel overwhelming. Don’t sweat—this guide will walk you through some essential golf definitions, key terms, and basics of the game so you can confidently organize your golf fundraiser.

the very basics: what is golf?

Golf is a sport where players hit a small ball with clubs into a series of holes across a golf course in as few strokes as possible. Golfers often compete individually against the course to achieve the lowest score, but golf can also be played in teams.

A golf course usually has 18 holes, though some have only nine. Each hole presents a unique challenge with different distances, layouts, and obstacles (like sand bunkers or water hazards).

Common golf terms tournament planners should know

Understanding the basic terminology will help you when working with course staff, sponsors, and players. Here are some common terms you should know:

• Birdie: Completing a hole using one fewer stroke than par. Two strokes under par is called an eagle.

• Bogey: Completing a hole using one more stroke than par. Two strokes over par is called a double bogey.

• Chip / Chipping: A short shot used to move the ball onto the green from a relatively close distance (usually hit with a wedge or shorter iron club).

• Drive: A long-distance shot hit from the tee box, using a driver.

• Driving Range: A practice area where players practice hitting balls toward targets.

• Fairway: The well-maintained area of short grass between the tee box and the green. Golfers want their tee shots and subsequent approach shots to stay in the fairway.

• Foursome: A team of four golfers. Most charity tournament teams are foursomes.

• Green: The area around the hole with very short, manicured grass, designed for putting.

• Handicap: A numerical measure of a golfer’s playing ability, representing the number of strokes above or below par they expect to shoot, which helps level the playing field by allowing players of different skill levels to compete more fairly.

• Hazards: Obstacles on the course like bunkers (sand traps) and water hazards (ponds, lakes, or streams) that make the game more challenging and the course more visually appealing.

• Hole: A circular hole in the ground in the green where players aim to get the ball into using the fewest possible strokes.

• Hole-In-One: When a golfer gets the ball into the hole on their first shot. Charity tournaments often offer hole-in-one contests that award exciting prizes (backed by hole-in-one insurance) for achieving a hole-in-one.

• Mulligan: Essentially a “do over” for a shot, where the golfer can hit the ball again without penalty. Mulligans are often sold at charity golf tournaments to raise additional funds.

• Par: The expected number of strokes it should take a golfer to complete a hole. For example, a par-3 hole should take three strokes to finish.

• Pin: A tall pole with a flag on the end that’s inserted into the hold to identify the location of the green. Sometimes also referred to as a flagstick.

• Practice Green: A well-manicured area of the golf course where golfers practice putting. It usually includes several different holes to practice hitting into.

• Putt / Putting: The shorter strokes used to roll the ball into the hole, using a putter.

• Rough: Areas of longer grass or uneven terrain surrounding the fairway and green where it’s typically much harder to hit the ball accurately.

• Stroke: The act of hitting a golf ball with a golf club.

• Tee Box: The starting point for each hole where players make their first hit, known as the tee shot or teeing off.

Golf equipment

Golf tournament participants typically bring their own equipment to play with, but it’s a good idea to know what some of the basic pieces of equipment are called:

• Ball Marker: A small, flat object about the size of a coin that’s used to mark the position of a player’s ball on the green so it doesn’t impede another golfer’s shot.

• Divot Repair Tool: A tool used to repair any scrapes or ball marks on the green to keep the playing surface smooth and playable.

• Golf Bag: A large bag that holds and organizes a golfer’s clubs and other equipment, like golf balls, tees, glove, towel, etc.

• Golf Balls: A small, typically white, ball designed with dimples to improve flight. Golfers usually carry several balls with them in case they lose one (which often happens in a water hazard or rough).

• Golf Cart: A small vehicle driven by golfers to move across the golf course. Carts drive on the fairway or cart path, if one is available, but should never be driven on a green or tee box. Staff at the host golf facility can share more information about event day cart rules.

• Golf Clubs: A set used to play golf that includes different types of clubs, each with a specific purpose (listed from longest to shortest):

  • Driver: This is the longest club in a set that golfers use for long distance shots. This club has the largest head.

  • Woods: Clubs with a round head that are used for long distance shots.

  • Irons: Versatile clubs that are numbered from three to nine; the higher numbers indicate a shorter distance. These clubs have an angled face and are typically used for mid-range shots.

  • Wedges: Specialized clubs used for shorter shots, especially near the green, or to hit out of a bunker or the rough.

  • Putter: Used on the green to roll the ball into the hole.

• Golf Glove: A glove that improves grip and to help prevent blisters. The glove is worn on the golfer’s non-dominant hand.

• Scorecard: A small card where players record the number of strokes taken on each hole. Digital scorecards via a mobile app can also be used in lieu of a paper scorecard.

• Tee: A small stand inserted into the ground that lifts the ball off the ground for the initial shot on a hole.

fundamental golf rules, formats & scoring

Golf has a number of unique nuances for rules of play, event formats, and scoring options. Here are a few of the basics:

• Gross Score: This score represents the total strokes a golfer takes during a round and does not factor in the golfer’s handicap.

• Match Play: A format in which golfers compete with each other hole by hole. The winner of each hole earns a point, and the total number of points at the end of the round is the winner.

• Net Score: A score calculated by taking the gross score and adjusting it for the golfer’s handicap, which is a better representation of their skill level.

• Penalties: If a player hits the ball into a water hazard or loses it out of bounds, penalty strokes are added to their score.

• Scramble Format: This tournament format is used most often for charity events as it allows golfers of all skill levels to participate and have fun. In a scramble, each player in a group hits a shot, and chooses the best one. The entire group then plays their next shots from that spot, and so on until the ball is in the hole.

• Shotgun Start: A tournament format where all players begin their rounds simultaneously from different holes on the course, ensuring a faster and more organized event.

• Stroke Play: A format in which the total number of strokes over the entire round establishes the winner; the player with the fewest strokes at the end of the game wins.

• Tee Time: Assigned start times for players or groups. Golf tournaments can use tee times to keep play organized and avoid crowding on the course.

Type of golf courses

Choosing the right course for your event will depend on the golf facilities available in your area, plus your tournament goals, budget, and audience.

• 18-Hole Courses: A golf course with 18 holes, which is the standard layout for full golf rounds. This is a popular option for charity tournaments. The course is often broken up into the front nine, which are the first nine holes, and the back nine, which are the final nine holes.

• 9-Hole Courses: Perfect for smaller or shorter events. You can run two rounds to create an 18-hole event if needed.

• Executive Courses: These courses are shorter and less difficult, designed for quick rounds or beginner-friendly events.

• Putt Putt or Mini Golf Courses: A smaller version of a traditional golf course, featuring short holes that often have creative obstacles like windmills, ramps, and tunnels. A mini golf event is a great option for an organization interested in testing out the idea of a golf tournament or involving more age groups.

Final thoughts

Golf tournaments are an excellent way to raise funds, engage supporters, and expand your donor base—even if you don’t have much experience with the sport! Whether you choose a full 18-hole tournament or a putt putt event, the end goal is the same: to have fun while raising money for your mission.

GolfStatus’ team of golf fundraising experts includes PGA Professionals who know the ins and outs of all things golf and golf tournaments. You don’t have to be a golfer or know much about the game to plan a lucrative golf tournament—lean on GolfStatus! Our intuitive golf event management software is backed by a responsive support team ready to help anywhere along the way. And best of all—you can use GolfStatus at no upfront cost. Click below to get started!

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Get a demo or build a tournament on your own!

Golf provides a unique opportunity for military veterans to connect with each other in an outdoor, healthy environment. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), a program of the Professional Golfers Association, does just that, providing an outlet for veterans to boost their physical, mental, social, and emotional wellbeing.

PGA HOPE is a free golf program for veterans and active-duty military personnel, led and taught by PGA Professionals. When they complete the program, the veterans are considered “graduates” and remain engaged with the program, and more importantly, with each other.

Seth Scollard, Assistant Executive Director of the Nebraska Section PGA, says the program has become about more than just golf. “Golf has almost become secondary. It’s camaraderie and takes their minds off of everything else for a couple hours each week,” he says. “As the program has grown, it’s really created a veteran community.” Graduates come together for a variety of activities centered around golf and more, including golf leagues, baseball games, and serving food at homeless shelters.

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“Golf has almost become secondary. It’s camaraderie and takes their minds off of everything else for a couple hours each week.”

— Seth Scollard, Assistant Executive Director of the Nebraska Section PGA

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The PGA HOPE Classic falls under the umbrella of PGA REACH Nebraska. It’s one of the section’s flagship programs, with over 250 active participants in its sixth year. PGA REACH Nebraska runs several golf events over the course of the year, with Seth as the point person for organization and execution. In the past, they offered a nine-hole event for PGA HOPE program graduates, but with more veterans involved than ever, Seth and his team decided to up the ante and create the 18-hole PGA HOPE Classic. The Classic added another tournament under the purview of the PGA REACH Foundation, and another need for a golf event-specific tool to manage and execute such events.

“There are a lot of software options out there that cater to PGA Professionals and golf facilities, but when you look at charity events, there’s a different set of needs,” Seth says.

Read the full case study to find out how a partnership with GolfStatus bridges the gap between PGA Professionals and other golf facility staff and nonprofit tournament organizers, and helps PGA HOPE support veterans through golf.

When it comes to running a successful golf tournament, choosing a host golf facility is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. Having the right expertise can make all the difference—PGA Professionals are experts in every aspect of the game, including event management, facility operations, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

This blog series will continue to tap into the collective knowledge of the PGA Professionals at GolfStatus—Cash Dinkel, PGA; Jason Meininger, PGA; and Paul Murcek, PGA—to explore how to choose and work with the host golf course.

The PGA Professionals on staff at GolfStatus, from left: Paul Murcek, PGA; Cash Dinkel, PGA; Jason Meininger, PGA

Q: My organization has decided to move forward with a golf fundraiser. How do I pick a golf facility?

Jason Meininger: There are really three main factors in choosing a golf course: location, cost of the course, and the demographics of your target market.

Cash Dinkel: Most often, the biggest factors are pricing per player and the demographics of your potential sponsors and players. A private, high-end country club is going to charge a much higher price, but hosting at that type of facility lets you charge more for registrations and sponsorships and may attract higher net-worth individuals to participate. It’s important to keep your expenses in mind with this type of facility—your overall fundraising goal needs to be higher to ensure expenses are covered. Location is another important factor. You want to make sure players and sponsors are located close to the facility to drive maximum participation. When looking at courses, I would recommend reaching out to two or three options and ask staff for contacts of previous event organizers to see if they enjoyed hosting their event at that facility.

Paul Murcek: This can be a tough decision. It comes down to a combination of affordability and golf course name recognition. Having your tournament at a course or a club that most people can't typically play at can equal more golfers, but if the cost is too high, it can also price out potential golfers. So it’s definitely about finding the right balance.

Several factors play into choosing a golf course for your golf tournament, including cost per golfer, location of the facility, and the demographics of your tournament's target market.

Q: What questions should I ask golf staff when looking at potential host facilities?

Paul Murcek: What is included in the fee per golfer (greens fee, cart, range balls)? Is there a minimum number of golfers or teams required? Can they provide pro shop credit? How does the facility typically handle scoring the event?

Cash Dinkel: The best advice I can give tournament organizers is that if you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask. Golf staff are experts in hosting great events and they are willing to answer any questions you may have. Some important things to ask them about include:

• Pricing

• Set up on the day of the event

• What the course provides (things like tables, chairs, meals, scoring, contest setup)

• Schedule for the day,

• If range balls are provided

Jason Meininger: Beyond general pricing, I recommend asking what’s the normal golfer rate at the course at the time of your tournament. If the price is higher, be sure that it includes things like drink tickets or gift cards for prizes. You should also ask about food and beverage options—do you have to purchase from the course or can I bring in my own? Are beverage carts available? Other big topics are the course’s rainout or cancellation policy, required deposit to hold the date, and when final payment is due.

It's a good idea to review the contract's list of charges with golf course staff prior to signing and checking on details like adding an automatic gratuity to food and beverage.

Q: What are some fees or costs I should be aware of or watch out for before signing a contract with the golf facility?

Jason Meininger: Check to see if there’s a fee or penalty for not meeting the minimum number of golfers, if there are costs for extra cart rentals, and if they add an automatic gratuity to food and beverage.

Cash Dinkel: Read the contract closely for price per player, if there’s a minimum number of players required, if there are any fees for using the course’s software or scoring (be sure to mention you’re using GolfStatus to avoid any such fees), or fees for using the facility’s equipment (tables, tvs, chairs, tents, etc.). I recommend going through the list of charges in detail with the golf course to fully understand what you're going to be charged for the day of the event.

Q: What’s typically included in the price to hold a tournament at a golf course?

Cash Dinkel: The main things are green fees and cart fees. Some courses might also include food and beverage or credit to the golf shop to give as player prizes.

Jason Meininger: Most courses I’ve worked at and with include green fees, cart fees, range balls, shop credit, and food and beverage.

Check with the golf facility on what the price per golfer includes, such as greens fees and cart fees.

Q: A lot of tournament organizers are concerned about inclement weather on the day of their event. How do you suggest planning for the weather?

Cash Dinkel: Plan for the worst and hope for the best! Always have a backup plan just in case. If it looks like the weather will affect your event, start communicating with golfers and sponsors earlier rather than later. Check in with the golf course to see what their policy is and start thinking about possible dates to reschedule (this is also something to check on before you sign a contract with the golf course). Communicate with your players and sponsors that inclement weather may be present on the day of the event and more communication will come the morning of the event either way.

Jason Meininger: This is a difficult one, but I usually tell organizers to look for a makeup date and reschedule the event if at all possible. As long as there is no lightning, I would move forward and play the tournament. I’ve worked with several events that were shortened to nine holes (instead of the full 18) holes based or canceled due to the weather.

Paul Murcek: Definitely check with the course to see if they allow a makeup date for the tournament. I worked with the Parkinson Association of Central Florida who had to reschedule their tournament in 2022 when Hurricane Ian hit Florida. They communicated with their field and everything worked out well.

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Ask the Pros!

Do you have a golf tournament question for our PGA Professionals? Email it to events@golfstatus.com with “PGA Pro Question” in the subject line and it might make a future blog post or be answered on an upcoming GolfStatus webinar!

GolfStatus’ team is ready to help you make your next golf event the best one yet. Nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus’ tournament management software at no upfront cost through our Golf for Good program. You’ll get an event website, online registration, communication tools, exclusive sponsorships and add-ons, and much more—plus access to our knowledgeable client success team. Click the button to get started!

Every one of the 35 schools in the Millard Public School (MPS) District has benefited in one way or another from the Millard Public Schools Foundation (MPSF). MPS is located in Omaha, Nebraska and serves 23,000 students with 3,000 staff in kindergarten through high school. The Foundation gives roughly $1,000,000 back to the schools on an annual basis to allow Millard’s schools to work beyond their regular operating budget.

MPSF has funded programs like after school childcare, advanced placement scholarships, food pantries at district high schools, support for Millard families in need, educator awards, and much more for over 40 years, helping students and educators thrive and the district become a district of choice for area families. “Ultimately our main mission is to support the district and make a difference in the community,” says Marilyn Chollett, Director of Development and Communications for MPSF.

One way the Foundation drives revenue is through an annual golf fundraiser. Marilyn has been part of the golf tournament for 15 of the event’s 30+ year existence and serves as the MPSF liaison to the event’s planning committee. “Golf is a great way to have fun and raise money for our work,” she says. “We want the tournament to be something where people can come and have a lot of fun and support our mission.”

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“Golf is a great way to have fun and raise money for our work.”

— Marilyn Chollet, Director of Development and Communications for MPSF

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The tournament’s planning team changes every year, with Marilyn remaining a steady presence. She’s not a golfer, but keeps the committee on task and on track. It’s a significant investment of everyone’s time, so Marilyn has kept her eyes open for ways to streamline the tournament from start to finish.

When she came across GolfStatus’ booth at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) conference in New Orleans in April of 2023, she was intrigued by the user-friendliness of the platform, and the promise to save organizers time and help raise more money from golf events.

Read the full case study to learn how the MPSF worked with GolfStatus to identify new sponsorship opportunities and streamline the tournament’s operations to help raise over $90,000 for their mission.

Coalition 4 Kids, a Tennessee-based nonprofit that serves vulnerable youth in low-income, high crime areas, has been chosen as the winner of a $10,000 donation as part of GolfStatus’ 2024 Play it Forward giveaway.

For the fourth year, the giveaway was presented in partnership with Dormie Network, a collection of luxury, private destination golf clubs, and its charitable arm, Dormie Network Foundation. The goal of Play It Forward is to celebrate those who use golf for good. Golfers, nonprofits, and the general public were asked to nominate a golf tournament fundraiser for a $10,000 donation, and the nominator was entered to win a Stay and Play package from Dormie Network.

Empowering Kids

Coalition 4 Kids began in 1998, offering after school and evening activities for vulnerable children in one of the lowest-income and highest crime areas in Johnson City, Tennessee. Since then, the organization has expanded into all Washington County and Bristol, Tennessee schools, providing a nurturing environment for over 1,200 students every day to achieve academic, physical, spiritual, and social growth. Its annual golf fundraiser, The C4K Golf Classic, helps raise operational costs for their programming.

The annual C4K Golf Classic helps raise funds for the organization's after school and summer programming.

Executive Director Randy Hensley says the $10,000 donation will immediately be put towards supporting and serving under-resourced children after-school. “We are the safety net for these kids—their family, their education system, their mentor,” he says about their program that provides help with homework, math, reading, character building, spiritual guidance, healthy extra-curricular activities, afternoon snack, and a hot supper—all at no cost to families. “You can change somebody’s whole life if you simply love them where they are and walk with them,” he says.

Golfing for good

Over 700 organizations and golf events were nominated for Play It Forward in 2024. The runner-up, Idaho Golf Fellowship’s Hope House Shamble, received a complimentary hole-in-one contest insurance package from GolfStatus to be used as an additional fundraising opportunity.

Since its inaugural campaign in 2021, Play It Forward has been a hallmark of GolfStatus and Dormie Network’s commitment to give back to those who use golf for good. Past winners include:

• 2023: Avery’s Hope

• 2022: Sisters Across America and Make-A-Wish Foundation

• 2021: Cameron Steinberg Foundation

Nonprofits like Coalition 4 Kids can qualify to use GolfStatus’ golf event management platform at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program. It’s built just for golf events, with baked-in tools and automations to save busy tournament organizers an average of 40 hours per event and help raise an extra $10,000 or more. There’s no risk and a ton of reward. Click below to learn more and get qualified.

Maxwell Tyeryar served six years in the U.S. Army National Guard, including a nine-month tour in Kuwait. He earned a Sergeant’s ranking and numerous service medals, including the distinguished Army Achievement Medal.

But like many veterans, Max masked his internal struggle, and took his own life on January 29, 2022 at just 25 years old. Max’s father, Wes, launched Max Well for Life to honor Max and help support those who struggle with their path in life, along with the families and friends who have been impacted by the loss of a loved one through suicide.

Michele Mikk’s two sons were good friends with Max and he spent a lot of time with her family, so it was devastating to learn that he had taken his own life. After Wes organized a walk dedicated to Max, Michele’s sons approached her with the idea of a golf tournament. She immediately said yes, and the Max Well For Life Charity Golf Tournament was born.

Beyond raising money, Michele knew they wanted the golf tournament to bring people together and raise awareness about the struggles veterans often face. “Even if we’re able to help one person, it’s enough,” she says. Michele isn’t a golfer, but knew she didn’t have to be one to raise money with golf. Her two sons played golf with Max in high school, so as a golf mom, she knew enough to get started.

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“I don’t have to know how to play golf to raise money with it!”

— Michele Mikk, Tournament Organizer

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She’s good at handling details, but wanted an easy way to collect golfer registrations, sell sponsorships, and handle the bookkeeping side of the tournament—without being mired down with spreadsheets, checks, and emails.

A friend of Michele’s told her about GolfStatus, a software platform built specifically for golf fundraisers. She looked further into GolfStatus and found that it checked all the boxes—easy to use, attractive website, online registration, payment processing and golf-specific features.

Read the full case study to find out how the tournament brought people together in Max’ memory, and how GolfStatus helped establish processes, give the event much-needed infrastructure, and raise thousands of extra dollars.

No one knows the ins and outs of a golf tournament like a PGA Professional. These individuals bring a high level of expertise to all aspects of golf, including facility operations and management, customer service, finances, event management, and, of course, the game itself.

This Q&A blog series will share the collective wisdom and experience of the PGA Professionals on staff at GolfStatus—Cash Dinkel, PGA; Jason Meininger, PGA; and Paul Murcek, PGA—about topics relevant to charity golf tournaments. This installment will take a closer look at contests and how to work with the PGA Pro on staff at your event’s host golf facility to make them a success.

The PGA Professionals on staff at GolfStatus, from left: Paul Murcek, PGA; Cash Dinkel, PGA; Jason Meininger, PGA

Q: My planning team made the decision to have a hole-in-one contest at our upcoming tournament. What’s next?

Cash Dinkel, PGA: To start, list a Hole-In-One Contest Sponsorship. This covers the cost of the insurance and offers a unique sponsorship. I always recommend allowing the sponsor to set up a tent or table on the contest hole. Sponsors are looking for ways to interact with golfers and there’s no better way to do that than being on the course on the most exciting hole of the day. Once you list the sponsorship, work with your contest/insurance provider to get all the rules and details around the contest.

Q: How can the golf pro help us with the hole-in-one contest?

Jason Meininger, PGA: You’ll want to get in touch with the golf professional so they can help you determine which hole or holes you should use for the hole-in-one contest. This makes sure you have the proper distance requirements for the hole-in-one insurance.

Cash Dinkel, PGA: You should definitely loop the golf professional in so they know exactly what’s going to be happening the day of the event and help you choose the contest hole. You should go over the contest rules with them so they can help ensure the hole is set up within the insurance company’s guidelines (hole yardage, number of players, etc.). In the final days leading up to the event, the pro can help you double-check that the hole-in-one contest is set up correctly and ready to go.

Q: I’m interested in GolfStatus’ Bundle Hole-In-One Package. What are some ways you’ve seen tournaments effectively split up the contest holes?

Paul Murcek, PGA: The most common way I’ve seen it done is to split the contest into two holes, one on the front nine and one on the back nine, with $10,000 cash and a Dormie Network Stay and Play package as prizes.

Jason Meininger, PGA: I’ve worked with a few 27-hole events and facilities. They typically split it up over three holes, one on each of the three nines, with a $7,000 prize on each. That way no matter what nine holes are being played, every golfer has a chance at a hole-in-one contest.

Cash Dinkel, PGA: I see a lot of events that run two contest holes, with a $10,000 cash prize on each hole plus a Dormie Network membership. I’ve even seen it split over four holes, with $5,000 cash for each contest hole. That’s the cool part about that package, it gives the organizer a lot of flexibility.

Q: What does the golf pro usually take care of in terms of other contests, like longest drive or closest to the pin?

Jason Meininger, PGA: When I was the head pro at a golf course, I would primarily take care of making up and setting up the flag prizes and picking them up after the round (if the players didn’t bring them in). I would also provide the event organizer with a document listing the holes and each winner’s name.

Paul Murcek, PGA: Most golf pros will set out proxy markers or hole contest signs for the organizer. Some golf facilities that I’ve worked with build in prizes with pricing, such as prizes for flight winners of a free round at that course or a gift certificate to the pro shop. This removes the burden of finding prizes for the tournament winners from the organizers.

Cash Dinkel, PGA: Some courses will set everything up for you, provided you let them know the details about the contest, and let you know the winners’ names after the event is over. Some facilities might require you to select the holes, but they’ll still take care of putting out the proxy markers and provide you with the winner’s information. Very rarely will the organizer have to handle everything from selecting the hole, setting out proxies, and collecting them post-event.

A: What type of contest do you think has the most revenue potential and why?

Cash Dinkel, PGA: A hole-in-one contest for sure. If it’s sold as a sponsorship, the contest can generate a few thousand dollars of revenue even after the insurance premium has been paid. Most events I work with bring in around $1,500 in revenue from a hole-in-one contest sponsorship.

Jason Meininger, PGA: Other than hole-in-one, I’d say a putting contest. It’s fast, easy to run, and you can have every golfer putt at the same hole at the same time.

Paul Murcek, PGA: I think next to a hole-in-one contest, a closest to the pin contest on a par three or a hit the green on a par three. In my experience, people are generally willing to pay the money to move their ball up a few yards.

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Ask the Pros!

Have a question for our PGA Professionals? Email it to events@golfstatus.com with “PGA Pro Question” in the subject line and it might make a future blog post or be answered on an upcoming GolfStatus webinar!

Ready to get started with no-cost golf event management tech? Nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus—with an event website, online registration, communication tools, premium digital sponsor exposure, revenue-boosting add-ons, and more, plus access to GolfStatus’ in-house client success team (including knowledgeable PGA Professionals)—all at no upfront cost through our Golf for Good program. Click the button to find out more and get qualified!

When Dino Verelli’s father, Giovanni, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008, he found very little in terms of support or resources for pancreatic cancer families. Dino decided to take action to rewrite the story of this formidable disease. He launched Project Purple in 2010, fueled by a commitment to his father and the countless other patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer. Sadly, Giovanni passed away in 2011, but his memory is honored through Project Purple’s work to raise awareness, drive crucial research into early detection, and provide aid to patients and families battling pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer has just a 13% five-year survival rate. Its symptoms often don’t present until the disease has advanced and spread to other organs, making early detection—when the chances of successful treatment are the greatest—even more of a challenge. Vin Kampf, Program Director at Project Purple, lost an uncle to pancreatic cancer within just six months of diagnosis, inspiring him to join the Project Purple team.

“One of the most important things we do is build community,” Vin says. “It trickles down into our other areas of focus. Fostering a community of support helps patients connect with others who are in the same fight has been life-changing.”

Vin oversees the marathon program at Project Purple, which raises funds through individual runners in marathons and races across the world. The program has helped build the community that’s become so important to the organization, joining together with the pancreatic cancer patients, their families, and the institutions conducting crucial research into a cure.

Vin also loves golf. He’s played in a number of golf fundraisers and helps with a tournament organized by an aunt in memory of a cousin. He saw the fundraising potential and reach of such an event, and wanted to bring that to Project Purple. “Who doesn’t love being outside, being together with others working toward a common purpose, and connecting with them on new levels?” he says. He started to think about how a golf tournament might work for Project Purple—and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“All marathons were canceled, but we were able to move forward with a golf fundraiser,” Vin says. “It was the one fundraising event we could do safely.” They threw the first tournament together in just a few months for a fall event, then had a quick turnaround when they opted to move the tournament to June.

He used the organization’s CRM and multiple spreadsheets for the first two tournaments and ran into roadblocks. “It felt clunky and inefficient, and the registration site didn’t look good or work very well,” he says, and began looking for a better way to plan and manage the tournament that was structured to handle golf.

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“We really wanted the golf tournament to become a marquee event for us, and we needed a solution that reflected that.”

— Vin Kampf, Program Director at Project Purple

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Read the full case study to find out why Vin says GolfStatus was what was missing from the golf tournament that raised over $130,000 for pancreatic cancer.

If you’re looking for a fresh idea to engage employees, clients, and the community at large while raising awareness about your brand in a unique and meaningful way, a corporate golf event is the perfect answer. Corporate golf outings—especially when they’re well-managed and organized—offer a variety of positive outcomes for a company.

What Are Corporate Golf Events?

A corporate golf event is a tournament or outing planned and hosted by a business. Corporate events often raise money for a corporate foundation or favorite nonprofit, but don’t have to include a charitable component. Such events are used as an opportunity for team-building across departments, to entertain clients or prospects, or as a give-back initiative. 

For example, a credit union is looking for a new way to support the children’s hospital in its community. The credit union organizes a corporate golf event targeted at credit union employees, partners, and vendors, and hospital personnel. The event connects people across organizations while raising money for the hospital.

Learn How to Plan a Corporate Golf Event

What Are the Benefits of Corporate Golf Events?

Enhance Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming increasingly important to employees, partners, and clients who want to work and spend their dollars with businesses that prioritize community impact. Consider these CSR statistics:

• 93% of employees think companies should lead with purpose

• 77% of consumers want to purchase from socially-responsible companies

• 94% of major US corporations plan to increase or maintain their corporate giving over the next few years

CSR initiatives should be strategic, genuine, and multifaceted. A corporate golf outing that benefits a charity or cause is a great addition to your company’s CSR portfolio, providing not only a philanthropic opportunity, but the brand lift and awareness that comes from a fun community fundraiser. 

As a business, this could mean connecting with an existing golf event to support it as a sponsor. Or, if you choose to take it a step further by hosting your own corporate event, you can be strategic in choosing nonprofit beneficiaries while also reaping a reputational boost.

Connect With Your Community

Golf events are unique in that they can be designed as communal activities. If community engagement and outreach are among your goals for the outing, you’ll want to ask and answer a few questions as you get started:

• Who would we like to attend the outing?

• What’s our goal for turnout?

• What do we want our attendees to take away from this event?

• Does it make sense to open the tournament up to the broader community?

You may invite specific community members to participate, such as the mayor, community outreach group leaders, school administrators, or other stakeholders. Or invite staff or beneficiaries from the charity the outing will raise money for. Either way, be thoughtful about how the event might be a win-win for your business and the community.

No matter the audience you choose or the objective at hand for your business, having an easy way to register and track interested participants and sponsorships is crucial. Online registration with secure payment processing as part of a broader golf event management platform makes it easy to collect participant information, manage it in real time, and facilitate communications before, during, and after the event.

Provide a Competitive Edge

Creating positive social impact has increasingly become a competitive advantage for businesses. As a community event that tends to attract attention in addition to raising dollars, a corporate golf event that’s dedicated to supporting a cause helps set your brand apart from your competitors and attract socially responsible customers. 

An event website makes it simple to spread the word about your event while also getting more support from the community. A professional event site also elevates your brand, cause, and case for support. A website provider like GolfStatus, that’s powered by a golf-specific software platform, lets you manage players, teams, and hole assignments with just a few clicks.

Build & Foster Relationships

Golf outings are unique in that they give participants four or five focused hours on the golf course—a rarity in today’s busy world. That means several hours of facetime with colleagues, vendors, clients, prospects, or others to network and advance important business relationships. This also means that your business development team gets quality time to engage with current and prospective clients and partners to thank them for their continued involvement or advance a new relationship. 

If fostering business relationships is among your goals for the event, you’ll want to ensure a smooth and seamless experience for participants from the time they hear about your event to the thank you they receive for supporting it. Every touchpoint should be seamless and professional, including online registration, clear communication in the time leading up to the event, high quality branded cart signs and scorecards, and TOUR-caliber live leaderboards.

Boost Employee Engagement

In today’s competitive job market, businesses need to find ways to attract and retain top talent, which means demonstrating that business priorities include more than just the bottom line. Studies show that team bonding events can boost employee retention and performance at work. A golf outing can be used to engage employees, reward them for a job well done, build morale, and encourage team retention. Best of all, holding a charity event satisfies the 71% of employees who think it’s important to work at a company that gives back.

Allow Your Company to Do Good In Your Community

Golf has deep ties to the nonprofit sector, evidenced by the $4.6 billion that the sport raises for charity annually. It’s a game that brings people together in a memorable way to raise funds for a good cause. Golf’s popularity continues to grow, making it a great time to use it to give back—to your employees, your community, and an important cause.

For instance, in the example mentioned above, a credit union hosted a golf tournament that raised money for the local children’s hospital. Organizers sold sponsorships to the credit union’s partners, vendors, and industry associations who share an interest in advancing children’s healthcare. Golfers represented sponsors, employees from the host credit union and competing credit unions, members of the city council, and hospital staff. Hospital patients and administrators attended the event and helped run on-course games that allowed participants to connect with the “why” behind the event. The event raised $50,000 which provided financial assistance to patients and their families and built strong connections within the community.

How to Host a Corporate Golf Event

If you’ve never planned a golf tournament before or don’t know much about the sport, don’t worry—you can still hold a professional, memorable event that engages employees and the community. Here’s how:

1. Use the Right Tools

It’s likely that planning a company golf outing isn’t your full-time job, or even something you do on a regular basis, so you might not know where to start or how to maximize efficiencies that save your precious time. Most event management systems aren’t able to intuitively manage the intricacies of a golf outing (hole assignments, player pairings, scoring and leaderboards, flighting, handicaps, etc.) so look for one that’s built specifically for golf tournaments and includes:

Online registration is non-negotiable when planning a corporate golf event. It gives the event and your brand a professional feel and is a time-saver for tournament planners.

• Online Registration. This is a must-have—golfers seamlessly submit their information and payment online, saving hours of dealing with spreadsheets, checks, and receipts. 

• Customizable Event Website. The site should present your event in a professional light and make it simple to promote the event, provide digital sponsor exposure, and share detailed information about the event.

• Shared Access. All registration information should populate into the platform’s back end, which means all the event’s information is stored and accessible in one place by organizers and even staff at the golf facility. 

• Communication Tools. Need an easy way to quickly communicate with all registrants? Your platform should have built-in communication tools like emails and push notifications. 

• Pre-formatted Printouts. Want to print branded scorecards and cart signs? Use a platform that comes with pre-formatted, professional printouts.

• Live-scoring & Leaderboards. Golfers submit their scores with an easy-to-use, reliable live-scoring app that syncs to live leaderboards. Live leaderboards give the tournament an even more professional look and feel and allow teams to track current standings.

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Ready to start planning?

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2. Set Goals & Outline the Specifics

Once you have your management tool in place, you can determine goals and specifics. The goals for the event will help other key details fall into place, so start by thinking through what you hope to accomplish. Keep in mind that goals don’t have to be mutually exclusive—you can engage employees while also raising money for charity. 

If you are planning to include a fundraising component in the outing, work directly with the chosen nonprofit partner from the beginning to ensure everyone is on the same page and to collect logos and messaging.

Once you’ve determined the outing’s goals, it’s time to think through event specifics, including:

• Target audience (employees, clients, partners, community members, etc.)

• Tournament budget

• Host golf facility

• Planning team roles and responsibilities

• Marketing and communications strategy

• Sponsorship packages (if applicable)

• Contingency plan for inclement weather

• Prizes and awards

• Add-on activities and contests, such as on-course games, hole-in-one contests, raffle drawings, or a silent auction

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Step-by-Step Golf Tournament Planning Guide

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3. Promote the Corporate Golf Event

It’s time to get the word out about the event! How you do this is dependent on the target audience for your outing. For instance, if the tournament is open to employees, you might include a link to the event website in internal newsletters or mention it in company meetings. If the event is open to the community at large, send promotional emails, include in client newsletters, and mention on your social media channels. And if you’re raising money for a nonprofit, work with them to promote the tournament to their supporter base.

Particularly if your golf outing has a charitable component, consider drumming up some positive PR for your company and what the event is raising money for. Invite members of the press and the community to participate and work together to raise awareness for a good cause (and give your brand a substantial lift). 

If you’re live scoring the event, post a link to the live leaderboards on your social media channels to get even more exposure for your company and brand, the benefiting charity, and the leaderboard sponsor (if you have one).

4. Provide a Memorable Experience

What sets a great event apart from a good event is the overall experience. Folks will remember if the event was chaotic and plagued with snafus—or if it was well executed. Using technology tools to manage the event holistically frees golf facility staff up to assist and cater to golfers instead of scrambling to handle last-minute tasks like hole assignments, scorecards, cart signs, and alpha lists. It also streamlines prep and planning so event planners stay organized and can execute a seamless event. 

Yes, your event needs to be well-run, but it should also offer a memorable, top-notch experience that advances business goals: 

• Include add-ons and extras like contests, on-course games and entertainment, auctions, and custom player gifts.

• Live score the event to add an element of professionalism that’s unlike any other and let spectators (as well as event organizers who are keeping an eye on the round’s progress to facilitate an awards ceremony, banquet, reception, or other post-round gathering) follow along on live leaderboards. 

• Build in ways to connect with employees and/or clients, such as through a pre- or post-round meal or reception, on-course interactions, the opportunity to volunteer, or informal networking. 

• Be strategic when making hole assignments and how they might further business objectives. For example, you may want to pair your company’s top executives with their counterparts from a major partner or prospective client to spend the day on the course talking business and potentially even closing deals. Or group staff or board members from the benefiting charity with potential partners or donors to help advance their mission and open doors for additional support.
  

5. Track Data & Gauge Success

It’s important to demonstrate the overall success and impact of the event, both to prove its value to decision makers in your company and demonstrate your commitment to giving back if your tournament includes a fundraising component. Your golf event management platform should include robust reporting that helps you see at a glance:

• The number of teams or individual golfers

• The number of sponsors that signed on to support the event

• The dollars that were processed through online registration and donations

You might also gather further information to gauge the event’s success by:

• Sending surveys to participants to garner impressions and feedback, and the event’s impact on employee satisfaction

• Having informal conversations with golfers to see what they like and how you can improve in the future

• Meeting with the benefiting nonprofit to determine fundraising outcomes and next steps for donor stewardship

If your corporate golf event becomes an annual tradition, consider tracking and analyzing long-term trends, such as employee retention and the event’s impact on the company’s culture.

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Powering Corporate Golf Events with GolfStatus

Whether you’re at a Fortune 500 company, a socially-responsible local business, or a corporate foundation raising money for a dedicated cause, GolfStatus’ golf event management and fundraising platform is the solution for the best event possible.  

GolfStatus’ powerful, user-friendly tech saves organizers time and effort, helps raise more money, boosts your brand, and ensures a professionally planned and executed tournament from start to finish. Plus, if you’re planning an outing that benefits a nonprofit or cause, you can qualify for no-cost access through the Golf for Good program. Not only do you get an attractive, professional event website, but you also get golf-specific tools and features, access to sponsorships and add-ons only available to GolfStatus clients, and a dedicated client success rep to coach you along the way. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Use the Tech That’s Built for Golf events

Click Here to Book a GolfStatus Demo!

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