Let’s be honest—golf fundraisers are a lot of work. There are lots of balls in the air starting months ahead of time, plus committees, volunteers, and sponsors to manage. Maybe you’re tracking everything by hand, working across multiple spreadsheets, or even trying to make a standard event management platform work for your golf event (when it’s designed for a gala or auction). Or maybe you’re looking at a mountain of work and wondering if there’s a way to make your golf event simpler and more efficient. 

Whatever the case may be, now is a great time to re-evaluate the systems and processes behind your golf tournament. Whether you’re in the thick of planning your tournament or just getting started, it’s worth a deep dive into your fundraiser’s systems and processes to find ways to save time, improve coordination, and improve outcomes. Here are key questions and considerations to get you started.

Registration

Key questions: Are you still relying on hard copy, mail-in registrations? How much time do you (or your volunteers) spend processing these forms and payments? How does that information get transferred to your donor database?

The easier it is for people to find and register for your event, the more likely they are to do so. Processing paper registration forms and handling checks, cash, and receipts are time-consuming and cumbersome to track and manage. This inherently makes the event more work, not only by creating duplicative work but a call to action that puts the onus on the registrant or sponsor to remember to print off a registration form, fill it out, write a check, find a stamp, and mail it in. An online, mobile-friendly registration process is much easier for participants and sponsors to complete with a few clicks or taps. It’s also simpler for staff to process and manage, saves a ton of time, and leads to a seamless hand off to the golf facility. What’s more, online registration allows you to collect important donor data for inclusion in your organization’s donor management system to steward for future support.

Promotion

Key questions: How easy is it for staff, volunteers, and board members to spread the word about the tournament? Is there one place folks can find more details about the event, the cause it supports, sponsorship packages and pricing information, and logistical info (date, time, course, etc.)? Can players and sponsors register quickly and easily on the site? 

With an event website, spreading the word about your event is as simple as sharing a link with past supporters and casting a wide digital net to attract new golfers and sponsors. Folks can find the information they need in a clean, sleek, and easy-to-find place, plus the call to action is clear so players and sponsors can commit right then and there. Golfers often tap into their personal and professional networks to field a team for charity tournaments, so you automatically raise awareness about your cause and expand your donor base. This is amplified even further by connecting with potential sponsors and businesses interested in getting their brand in front of the golfer demographic.

Sponsorship Management

Key questions: How do you reach out to new sponsors to share sponsorship opportunities? How are sponsors handled once they transition from prospects to committed supporters? How are logos and assets collected and shared? Do your sponsorship packages align with the types of sponsors you want to attract and retain?

Sponsors are looking for opportunities to align their brand with well-run events that support great causes and community efforts, so it’s important to consider the professionalism of your event and whether it shines supporters in a positive light. Higher end events quickly become an opportunity for sponsors to entertain clients, vendors, and other business associates—ensuring that you’re able to retain existing sponsorships while attracting new ones at increasingly higher levels. However, where professionalism is crucial, systems and processes must ensure timely service and organized communications so sponsors’ expectations are always met and exceeded. The most successful golf outings offer title sponsors and top-tier supporters exposure through digital avenues like live leaderboards and mobile apps, pin flags, and other premium opportunities specific to golf. Consider where and how you can incorporate these offerings to align your event with the best and what tools you have in place to sell and manage sponsorships.

Delegation & Coordination

Key questions: Is everyone able to access the information they need? Is that information up to date? Can registrations, sponsor information, event specifics (flights, hole assignments, handicaps, et cetera), and other key information be accessed in a central system? How easy is it to delegate tasks (especially the tedious ones)? How easy is it to check on a specific detail like a certain donor’s registration or a specific hole sponsorship?  

Between committee chairs, board members, staff, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and golf facility staff, golf fundraisers require easy coordination. Organizers need to be able to automate tedious tasks and delegate them so every member of the team is able to contribute as effectively as possible. From calling on and engaging previous supporters and leveraging networks to spread the word to managing teams and sponsors and coordinating with the golf facility, it’s important to leverage tools that keep everyone organized. A platform that’s accessible to everyone that needs it and contains current and accurate event information makes handling the details so much simpler.

Coordination with the Golf Facility

Key questions: How do you facilitate the handoff of information to golf staff? Are club staff scrambling the day before and the day of the event? How free are they to assist players and provide the kind of high-end service experience that makes donors feel acknowledged and attended to? How would the outing improve if you could streamline this coordination and reduce it from days and weeks of work to under an hour? 

Depending on the systems and processes in place at the golf facility, coordinating a golf event with an event organizer can be a substantial amount of work for staff there. The head professional must coordinate with food and beverage, grounds staff, and event staff to get everything in order ahead of the event. They must also work with your organization (and any planning teams or volunteer committees) to prepare teams, hole assignments, tee sheets, cart signs, and other day-of documents. This can require hours or even days of work. What’s more, when course staff are stuck in a back office somewhere the morning of the event, they’re unable to provide great service and attention to detail that wows your players and sponsors. The bottom line is this: The easier it is to coordinate information and automate logistics between your staff and the golf facility’s staff, the smoother things go for everyone. A common technology platform ensures a seamless handoff.

Time Savings & better Outcomes

At the end of the day, it’s about measuring outcomes against inputs. There’s no doubting the positive impact a golf outing can provide, but if outcomes are negated by huge time and resource requirements, it’s probably time to consider better systems and processes. GolfStatus’s event management platform designed specifically for golf outings makes information available and accessible in one centrally-accessible location (with access permissions where you need them) so you can automate and streamline the tricky, time-consuming logistics so your team can focus on donor outreach, sponsorship sales, promotion, press, and more.

Want to learn more about streamlining your golf outing and how you can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s tech? Click the button below or email us directly at events@golfstatus.org.

Originally published October 2019

With COVID-19 forcing many fundraisers to cancel event after event, it seems a lot is riding on the success of this year’s golf fundraiser. Sponsor support is more important than ever. What’s more, the challenges of social distancing are eliminating some of the key sponsorships that have been historically lucrative for golf events as event organizers plan tournaments that may need to be adapted for extended play, a limited field size, or to eliminate gatherings and receptions before and after. This presents a bit of a conundrum. The answer? Digital sponsorships. They’re adaptable, professional, low-risk, flexible, high-value, and easier than you might think. Here’s how to leverage them during this peculiar time and beyond.

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Focus on Safety & Professionalism

Now’s the time to eliminate anything gimmicky and focus on hosting a safe, well-organized, and professional outing. With the challenges facing the nonprofit sector, many understand that budgets are tight. Use this as an opportunity to show supporters that you’re committed to engaging with them in meaningful ways and working through tough times to move your mission forward. They’ll remember how your organization buckled down to keep traditions going and channel support, and rest assured knowing their gifts are in the right hands with your organization’s priorities.

To move the golf event forward safely and successfully, consider format changes and extended play options that keep folks distanced. A professional, well-organized outing should include easy, secure, online registration and clear communication every step of the way. It should also eliminate the waiting and logistical confusion that can be frustrating for participants the day of the event. For safety, it’s also important to remove as many physical touchpoints as possible, including registration paperwork, pay at course options, check-in lines, and the congestion of a shotgun start. Be sure to use an event registration website provider that can accommodate the unique needs of a golf outing (custom sponsorship packages, secure and simple player and sponsor registration, et cetera), and take advantage of free options.

Beyond logistics, look for other ways to keep professionalism foremost through upgrades like custom-branded pin flags and live leaderboards. These high-end, pro-Tour elements are also exceptional sponsorship opportunities that require marginal overhead costs compared to their list prices and minimal time and resources to pull off.

If you already have an event website, streamline everything by linking in custom sponsorship packages and secure online registration.

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The Value of Digital Exposure

It goes without saying that safety and professionalism are also crucial considerations for sponsors. Let them know what you’re doing to overcome challenges during this time and to ensure a great experience for participants. When you upgrade to contact-free online registration and touch-free live scoring, be sure to use a platform that makes it easy to leverage the digital sponsorship opportunities that come with those additions. In addition to this kind of innovative and high-end exposure, sponsors have increasingly shown a high propensity to support the technology that keeps nonprofits operating smoothly and efficiently. The technology behind fundraising events like the golf outing is no exception—especially at this crucial time when sponsors are eager to help the sector keep the tradition of these events alive during a year when it seems most other events will need to be canceled.

Digital exposure also allows for tons of flexibility. Digital exposure comes with no overhead costs and can be easily adapted if an event is rescheduled or transitioned to include virtual options like an extended play scenario. Logistically, digital exposure also makes things easier. While signage and other in-person exposure might not be allowed for a week- or month-long outing, digital exposure can easily remain in place for extended-duration events.

Take advantage of live leaderboards as a way to engage supporters during and after your golf event. Use the Donate Now function to garner additional donations.

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Digital Sponsorship Options

So how, exactly, can you offer digital sponsorship options at your golf fundraiser? Here are some options to consider and how to leverage them.

• Event registration website exposure. You could create an event website and post sponsor logos there (and maybe you already have). That’s a great place to start, but to offer a real value to sponsors and save time and resources internally, you’ll need something more extensive and, preferably, designed for the nuances of a golf tournament. Be sure you’re using your website to streamline the registration process. Doing so will make it the primary avenue for marketing your event and allow you to scrap printed materials, which are an additional expense, must be processed manually, and can’t be updated if anything changes. Your registration website, on the other hand, is easy to share via email, on social media, and through direct communications. The more you promote your site and use it to spread the word and communicate with potential players and sponsors, the more value you bring to the sponsors displayed on that website.

• Digital hole sponsorships. Live scoring is a great way to add a high-value virtual element (and sponsorship opportunity!) to your event and keep supporters and online spectators engaged. When you offer contact-free live scoring, be sure to use a mobile platform that also gives you the ability to sell digital hole sponsorships every time a player enters their score.

• Live leaderboard sponsorships. Share the live leaderboards for your event online through your organization’s newsletters, email blasts, and social channels during and after the event. Be sure to use a platform that makes it easy for online spectators and supporters to donate instantly and securely to your organization directly from the leaderboards. From a sponsorship standpoint, this is ideal exposure that should be sold at a premium. Once the event concludes, post scores and use them as a way to get attendees and sponsors onboard for next year’s event right away. Final leaderboards are also an opportunity to make an ask of donors as you thank them for participating; try making an ask that aligns with their final score ($84 dollars for a score of 84, for example).

• Mobile engagement. Use the mobile channel to provide sponsors with opportunities to reach players at pertinent times. Look for a golf event management platform that lets you offer sponsors the opportunity to send timely and customizable messages and sponsored giveaways through the live scoring app.

Hit the Easy Button

GolfStatus’org’s full-service golf event management platform can do all of the above and more, making it easy for organizations large and small to save a ton of time and resources in planning a safe, socially distant golf event with flexibility and premium digital exposure for sponsors. This technology is available to nonprofit organizations at no cost through our Golf for Good program.

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Submit an inquiry here to get qualified or email us directly at

events@golfstatus.org.

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It’s a challenging time for fundraisers as nonprofits assess the next steps for events, many of which have been held for years and are crucial to the bottom line. As organizations question how to move forward safely and responsibly amid the backdrop of COVID-19, one event has emerged as safe and viable during this unique time: the golf outing. With the right technology and with some modifications, golf fundraisers are forging ahead to hold safe and successful events. Here’s how GolfStatus.org can help you do it.

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GO VIRTUAL

• Spread an event across multiple days, a weekend, or even several weeks. Offer players and teams the option to participate on their own time, when it’s convenient and they feel safe. Players visit the course when it’s not congested and enter their scores using their mobile device—then follow an aggregate leaderboard online and in the GolfStatus app until the event is over.

• Live-stream leaderboards online. Keep supporters engaged on social media over the course of your event (whether it’s one day or multiple days) by live-streaming leaderboards. This also gives your sponsors more of the exposure they love.

• Accept donations from online spectators. GolfStatus.org’s Donate Now feature makes it easy for online spectators to submit a donation instantly right from the leaderboard.

GO CONTACT-FREE

• Use online registration with secure payment processing. Avoid mail-in forms and checks and limit check-in congestion and chaos at the golf course. Online registration is contact-free to keep everyone safe.

• Use mobile scoring instead of pencils and scorecards. Players stay safe by entering their scores on their mobile device. Your staff and the golf facility’s staff stay safe by avoiding passing scorecards back and forth.

• Offer digital sponsorships. Selling in-app sponsorships and live leaderboard sponsorships helps your organization avoid overhead costs and stay flexible. Add direct links to more information about each sponsor and even to their website to add more value and get them the exposure they need to support your event.

• Take advantage of pin flag exposure for sponsors. Custom pin flags are an easy, professional, contact-free sponsorship option, as most courses are mandating that pin flags stay in the cup at all times.

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PLAN & COLLABORATE REMOTELY

• Manage sponsor logos and information in one place. Keep imagery and info (including sponsor descriptions and links) organized and accessible for all digital sponsorships in GolfStatus’s super sleek sponsorship management interface. It’s easy for your staff and volunteers to access and use.

• Keep information secure with user access permissions. The GolfStatus platform allows event organizers to provide access to different elements of the golf event planning process to specific committee members, board members, or volunteers on an as-needed basis. This keeps information secure and makes it easy to delegate—especially when your team is working remotely.

• Keep information accessible and updated. Make it easy for your team to access information online and in real time without hiccups through a web-based platform designed specifically for golf events. No need to hassle with web-based spreadsheets, online asset sharing, and a mix of other tools. Everything you need is in one place and every element of the golf fundraiser is accounted for.

• Safely and seamlessly collaborate with the golf facility. Handle tasks like team pairings and hole assignments, collaborate on them remotely with the golf facility, or delegate everything to the course. Handing off information is super easy when it’s all in one place and you can control and provide access permissions to the golf facility’s staff as needed.

STAY SAFE & FOCUSED

• Put GolfStatus.org to work. All of the above can be accomplished with the simple yet powerful technology available at no cost to qualifying nonprofits through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program. This technology can not only save your organization time and resources, it can keep mission-critical dollars coming in the door during these challenging times when you need them most.

• Get in touch. Reach us directly to determine if your organization qualifies for no-cost access to our platform. And if you need help, advice, or just need a hand figuring out how to move forward with your event, our customer success team is here to help every step of the way!

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Submit an inquiry here or contact us directly at 

events@golfstatus.org.

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The golf fundraiser is an ideal avenue for outreach and stewardship, and given the sport’s tendency to attract affluent businesses professionals, it’s a huge opportunity to fundraise and forge or advance corporate partnerships. Here’s what you need to know to maximize your outing’s sponsorships and raise more dollars for your cause.

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Approach the right businesses.

Keep golf’s affluent demographic in mind when approaching sponsors. It’s much easier for marketing teams and decision makers to make a business justification for investing in a sponsorship if it provides direct exposure to their ideal customer. Consider car dealerships, homebuilders, jewelers, insurance agencies, real estate firms, accountants, beverage distributors, mortgage brokers, banks, travel agencies, financial service providers, and other businesses offering services that appeal to this audience.

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Consider what matters most to sponsors when making asks.

There are a number of reasons for sponsors to support fundraising events, especially golf fundraisers. In addition to providing direct exposure to an affluent and influential audience, sponsorship aligns brands and companies with good causes. The golf tournament also serves as an ideal place for sponsoring businesses to entertain clients, partners, and other business associates—not to mention the value of focused networking opportunities that are especially unique to golf outings. Be sure to tout these selling points when you reach out to sponsors to make asks.

Create appropriate sponsorship packages.

Be cognizant of how you build sponsorship packages. Consider player demographics, the caliber of the golf course, and the reputation your event has garnered. If supporters tend to return year after year and spots fill up quickly, don’t be afraid to edge up prices, add another sponsorship level, or offer additional premium packages. Look for opportunities to add recognition, exposure, and value, especially for top-tier sponsorships. Consider custom-branding pin flags with a sponsor’s logo to sell a flag sponsorship. They’re common at professional Tour events, and great as a stand-along sponsorship package or as a value-add for premier-level sponsors.

Make sponsors look good.

Sponsors want to support events that are well-organized with clear communication, simple registration, and a high level of professionalism. These events attract affluent participants who invite business colleagues and clients—the ideal audience for your organization to engage. It’s no secret that higher-end events pave the way for higher-level sponsors, creating a snowball effect that benefits your organization across the board.

Once sponsors are secured, be vigilant about handling logos, messaging, links, and other info and requests quickly and professionally. Pay close attention to details, like how the sponsor logo looks and prints, where it appears, and whether it displays the supporting organization prominently and positively. Use a web-based platform so sponsor assets are all stored in one place and easy for multiple members of your committee, team, or volunteer task force to manage.

Live-score the event and sell a leaderboard sponsorship.

When it comes to sponsorship opportunities, the leaderboard is as premium as it gets. It captures the attention of players, spectators, and other supporters (both at the event and following online) for the duration of the event and afterward. Live scoring also makes the event more fun, competitive, and higher-end, and streamlines scoring for the golf facility staff (who would typically be rushing to enter scores after the round during an awkward lull while golfers wait for teams to finish). Be sure to utilize a live scoring platform that’s reliable, sleek, and easy-to-use and offer the leaderboard sponsorship at a premium.

Make it easy to spread the word.

When you spread the word not only about available sponsorship opportunities but that they’re going quickly, there’s a domino effect that begins to happen. The easiest way to both recognize sponsors and spread the word about businesses that are on board is through a registration website for your event, which provides a place for you to send interested sponsors and display those who have already pledged their support. A registration website also offers other key advantages, like saving you tons of time and keeping everything organized (and qualifying nonprofits can get one for free through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program).

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Make it easy for sponsors to commit.

You’ll certainly want to promote the event to existing supporters through email, social media, and possibly even direct mail. The key advantage of using an event website is that you can provide a clear call to action on all promo items—not matter their medium—that provides a quick and easy way for sponsors to commit on the spot without the fuss of mail-in forms and checks. They head to your golf event’s website, choose a package, and submit payment instantly.

Call on your networks.

Chances are, your board members, most engaged donors, and committee members have connections to businesses. Instead of making a vague request for folks to ask around, be intentional about rallying your troops. Ask board and committee members to participate in making a list of target sponsors, then divvy out a plan of action for contacting them based on relevant connections. Follow up at your next meeting to be sure board members are following through.

Get local media involved.

Reach out to your local newspapers, TV stations, support organizations like regional nonprofit associations, and other outlets to let them know about your golf event. Be ready with details like date, time, and location, and remind them about the cause the event supports. Ask them to direct interested players and sponsors to your event website for more information and to register and purchase sponsorships.

Steward sponsors appropriately.

When sponsorships sell, reach out to let sponsors know you appreciate their support. Follow up with a social media post from your organization to share that they’ve committed to supporting the event, thank them for doing so, and remind other sponsors that there are more opportunities available (be sure to link your registration website).

Run a flawless event.

The better your event goes off, the more support it will garner year after year. Now’s the time to take a look at the systems and processes behind your event and look for opportunities to streamline, simplify, and upgrade.

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Looking to streamline all your golf fundraiser’s logistics to save time and attract more players and sponsors? GolfStatus.org’s simple, powerful platform has everything you need—and it’s free for qualifying nonprofits.

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To learn more, submit an inquiry here, or email us directly at

events@golfstatus.org

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Whether your association has run a golf event for years or is just getting started, its benefits are numerous, and when you have the right tools, reaping those benefits requires a small investment of time and resources. Here are four key goals to explore ahead of your 2020 golf outing.

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1. Generate Non-Dues Revenue

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

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

2. Ramp up Member Recruiting & Retention

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

Pro tip: Be sure your event has a website and offers online registration. Association members are busy and need (and even expect) a no-fuss way to get registered for any event. They don’t have time to fuss with forms, checks, and mail-in registrations. Plus, everyone’s online these days; it’s the fastest and easiest way to reach both existing and future members and supporters.

3. Forge & Steward Corporate Partnerships

The golf outing is a great opportunity to secure corporate support and further existing relationships. Golf’s inherent connection to business keeps it on the radars of business professionals and in the sponsorship and marketing budgets or corporate entities large and small. The outing itself provides focused exposure to your members—which offers a great value to corporate partners looking to sponsor and particpate.

Pro tip: Offer high-end sponsorship opportunities, like branded pin flags, hole sponsorships, and leaderboard sponsorships. Provide exposure through physical and digital channels so sponsors get quality, cross-channel impressions that drive tangible results like web traffic and genuine inquiries.

4. Build Goodwill & Spotlight Community Efforts

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

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

Take the Next Step

GolfStatus.org is uniquely aligned to streamline all the (sometimes complex and time-consuming) component parts of planning and executing a golf outing—no matter your goals. And it’s available at no cost to qualifying nonprofits.

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Submit an inquiry or contact us at

events@golfstatus.org

to learn more.

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