Posts tagged raffles
8 Golf Fundraising Trends & Predictions for 2025
 

As golf continues to grow in popularity, it’s becoming an essential fundraising tool for nonprofits of all sizes. Technology has made planning and managing golf events more approachable and efficient, even for those who might not be familiar with the sport. As 2024 draws to a close, we’re looking ahead at the trends and predictions for golf fundraising in 2025. Here are eight trends to watch for your 2025 golf event.

A woman putts the ball toward the hole at a golf tournament.

1. Partnering with sponsors will be standard

Sponsors increasingly want to be more than just logos on banners; they want meaningful engagement with your golf tournament’s participants. When pitching sponsorships to businesses, work with them to identify their goals for supporting the event and find opportunities for them to achieve the highest return on investment (ROI). That might look like branded booths and activities on tee boxes, special speaking appearances, sharing the tournament’s registration lists, or other opportunities for organic engagement. It will be important for tournament organizers to effectively collaborate with sponsors to ensure both parties meet their goals.

2. professionalism will be essential

Event attendees will expect a polished, professional experience in 2025. From your tournament website to signage, every touchpoint will matter more than ever before. High-quality, consistent event branding from the moment golfers hear about your event and register on your event site to when they receive their post-tournament thank you signal to them that the event is well-run. This professionalism can go a long way in attracting new supporters, retaining donors, impressing sponsors, and encouraging all participants to return in future years.

Four women stand on the green waiting to putt at a golf tournament.

According to the National Golf Foundation, the female golfer population today is not only growing, it’s more diverse than ever.

3. expect more women to play in your golf event

Females now represent 26% of the golf market—a jump from 19% just a few years ago. This increase in female participation means it’s time to consider how your tournament might better appeal to women. A women’s-only flight or other women-focused offerings can help your tournament stand out, attract more lady golfers, and foster inclusivity in your event’s culture.

4. non-traditional golf events will become more popular

Another significant trend for 2025 is the increased popularity of non-traditional golf events, like mini golf tournaments, TopGolf, or indoor golf experiences. These events are especially appealing for organizations looking to add a second golf event that attracts new audiences, who want to experiment with golf fundraising on a smaller scale, or want a fundraising event with a shorter time frame than a traditional 18-hole tournament. Non-traditional events can also be more budget-friendly, making them an excellent option for organizations looking to diversify their fundraising. What’s more, indoor golf events let nonprofits connect with supporters during the cooler winter months when golf isn’t feasible.

A child swings a golf club at a TopGolf golf fundraiser.

A TopGolf golf fundraiser is an event option that can help nonprofits reach and involve new audiences.

5. golfers will want more than a round of golf

In 2025, expect golfers to crave unique, memorable experiences beyond a round of golf. Including tournament components like flights, cash prizes, on-course games or contests, raffles, or auctions make tournaments more exciting and memorable for participants. Elevated player gifts and prizes, on-course demonstrations, and live-scoring add to the overall experience that set your event apart and create lasting memories for participants.

6. hole-in-one insurance will be a must-have

A hole-in-one contest adds excitement and helps draw players to your event, but having the right insurance in place is essential so your nonprofit isn’t exposed to financial risk. Yes, the odds of a golfer getting a hole-in-one at your tournament remain low (about 12,000 to 1), but holes-in-one do happen and it’s not worth the risk to your organization. Hole-in-one insurance covers the cost of a big prize, like thousands of dollars in cash or high-end golf experience, in the rare instance that a golfer gets an ace. Offering fantastic prizes with the reassurance of insurance protection can help you confidently advertise this fun tournament add-on.

the ultimate guide to hole-in-one contests

Get the ins and outs of a successful hole in one tournament in this free guide! Download now to get comprehensive insights and actionable advice for nonprofits looking to incorporate a hole-in-one contest into their charity golf tournament.

7. sponsors will want to show off their support

Sponsors in 2025 will look for opportunities to showcase their involvement with your cause, not just at the golf tournament, but also online and across their networks. Think through how you’ll work with sponsors to facilitate this—consider co-branding social media posts or creating shareable content for sponsors to post on their channels. These partnerships can increase visibility for both the sponsor and your event while aligning with each other’s goals to give back to the community.

8. team planning will drive success

Gone are the days of a one-person show organizing a golf fundraiser. The most successful events will be those organized by a team with a clear division of responsibilities. By involving multiple planning team members, you’ll ensure that all details are well-managed, from sponsorship outreach to volunteer coordination. Team planning can lead to a smoother experience for everyone involved and help create a stronger, more collaborative event environment. Plus, no one gets burnt out handling every task.


final thoughts

By keeping these 2025 golf fundraising trends in mind, next year’s golf event will better resonate with participants, deliver value to sponsors, and boost your nonprofit’s fundraising potential. Using golf event management technology can make it even easier to achieve these goals, saving you time on administrative tasks, simplifying registration and payments, and providing tools to engage sponsors and participants. With streamlined technology and a focus on unique experiences, your nonprofit can host a golf fundraiser that raises more money and leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Make Your 2025 Golf Event the Best One Yet!

Get Started with GolfStatus at No Cost

 
 
Putt Putt Fore Puppies is Back!
 
The event planning team poses in t-shirts from the tournament and a big check for Capital Humane Society.

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

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

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


Thank you tournament sponsors!

Sinclaire Hille Architects logo

Presenting Sponsor - Sinclair Hille Architects

Red Robin logo

Koozie Sponsor - Red Robin

Raising Canes logo

Swag Sponsor - Raising Canes

The Mercato and Certified Piedmontese logo

Certified Piedmontese - Dinner Sponsor

Unico Group logo

Golf Ball Sponsor - UNICO Group

Pinnacle Bank logo

Batting Cage Sponsor - Pinnacle Bank

Dormie Network logo

T-shirt Sponsor - Dormie Network

Belmont Veterinary Center logo

Grand Prize Sponsor - Belmont Veterinary Center

Firespring logo

Refreshment Station Sponsor - Firespring

Pillar Restaurant Group logo

Snack Sponsor - Pillar Restaurant Group

Regal Printing logo
 
Prairie Dental logo

Music Sponsor - Prairie Dental

 
 

Hole Sponsors:

 

3rd quarter / Post-Tournament update

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

event day & post-tournament recap

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

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

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

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

3rd quarter update

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

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

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

2nd Quarter Update

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the tasks we handled this quarter:

1st Quarter Update

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

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

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

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

A group of people sit at a table as they plan their charity golf tournament.

1. Identify the problems technology will solve

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

Example:

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

2. highlight how technology boosts efficiency & revenue

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

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

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

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

Example:

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

A screenshot of a golf tournament's registration screen is shown on a laptop.

3. share real-world examples from other nonprofits

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

Example:

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

4. provide a cost-benefit analysis

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

Example:

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

Two men look at a phone on a golf course.

5. demonstrate how tech enhances the tournament experience

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

Example:

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

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

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

Example:

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

A man wearing a headset gives a software demo at a computer.

7. overcome red tape & bureaucratic hurdles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Example:

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

Other things to mention

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

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

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

Next Steps

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

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

Book a Demo to Get Started With GolfStatus!

 
 
10 Last Minute Golf Tournament Details You Might Not Be Thinking Of
 

It happens to the best of us—you’re sure all your i’s are dotted and all your t’s are crossed for your golf tournament, but as the day draws closer, unexpected issues and tasks may pop up and must be handled. Here are 10 commonly overlooked tournament details you might not be thinking of (but definitely should be!):

1. Event Website Updates

Your event website is the hub for your tournament. It can be tempting to set it and forget it, but it’s necessary to keep it up to date. As the tournament gets closer, ensure the sponsor and team package quantities remaining are correct, that expiration dates are applicable, and a registration close date is clearly stated and communicated to prospective sponsors and golfers.

A golf tournament website is displayed on a laptop computer.

2. Weather Plans

Weather is one of the few factors for your golf tournament that you have no control over. That being said, you can be prepared. Think through an inclement weather plan for all scenarios and work with the golf facility to determine a backup tournament date, if applicable. If the forecast calls for hot weather, ensure you have plenty of water on hand for staff, volunteers, and participants. If it will be uncomfortably cold, think about providing hot coffee or cocoa to keep participants warm. Above all, you’ll want to constantly monitor the weather leading up to the tournament and fine-tune your contingency plans and how you’ll communicate those to participants.


Pro Tip:

GolfStatus’ tournament management platform includes a messaging feature that makes it simple to send emails or push notifications to registered golfers and sponsors with just a few clicks.


3. Volunteer Management

Volunteers are a crucial part of your event. Make sure you’ve assigned and communicated clear roles and expectations to all volunteers and have a point person to manage volunteers throughout the tournament. Be sure to take care of them, providing food and beverage, chairs, a shade tent, or other items to keep them comfortable and feeling appreciated.

4. Golfer/Team Waitlist

If you have a cap on the number of individual golfers or teams that can play in your event, game plan how you’ll handle a waitlist. Many tournaments offer a waitlist so teams or individuals can fill a spot left by a cancellation or other circumstances. If your teams are getting close to sold out, determine if you’ll offer a wait list, how you’ll handle registration and payment with folks on the waitlist, or whether or not you’re able to accommodate additional teams by doubling up on holes (if allowed by the golf facility and keeping pace of play in mind).

Two men high-five while a third walks toward his ball at a golf tournament.

5. Printing & Order Deadlines

Give yourself enough lead time to order any signage, banners, apparel, player gifts, branded merchandise, or other items to arrive in plenty of time for your tournament. Check with your vendors on production/turnaround times to ensure you’ll have everything you need for tournament day.


Pro Tip:

Check out the GolfStatus Marketplace for trusted third party vendors on everything you need to make your tournament unforgettable, like signage, pin flags, auction software, hole-in-one contest insurance, and much more.


6. A/V Equipment

Coordinate with the host golf facility to determine what A/V equipment they have available and what you’ll need to bring on your own. Equipment needs might include a microphone and portable speaker for the welcome; televisions to display live leaderboards (either inside or outside the clubhouse); laptop, screen, and projector for the awards ceremony or banquet; and any necessary cords for power or connections.

7. Day-of Supplies

Tournament day can be hectic, so plan ahead and make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need for a smooth event. These include items for registration, on-course games, signage, raffle prizes, auction items, and A/V items.


The Complete Event Day Guide for charity golf tournaments

This free guide includes a tournament day checklist of everything you need for a smooth-running event, plus tips on live scoring, using your website to communicate with participants, and suggested reports and documents.

Download now!


8. Food & Beverage

This deadline often sneaks up on tournament organizers. Whether the golf facility is providing all food and beverage or an outside vendor or caterer is supplying them, be sure to touch base with them to set a deadline to provide final numbers, confirm menus, and talk through the details of when and how food will be distributed. If you’re providing food and beverage for golfers and sponsors, it’s a good idea to ask for any dietary restrictions at registration.


Pro Tip:

Food and beverage are prime opportunities for sponsorships. Consider a Lunch Sponsor, Beverage Cart Sponsor, Bar Sponsor, Drink Ticket Sponsor, Snack Sponsor, or other sponsor that helps cover the hard costs associated with food and drink.


9. Parking

Most golf facilities have ample parking available, but you might want to verify plans for overflow parking if you’re expecting a sold out field of golfers along with sponsors, volunteers, staff members, and guests. The last thing folks want to deal with as they arrive for a fun day on the golf course is a full parking lot and no other options for their vehicle. Consider assigning a volunteer to direct traffic to maximize parking lot use, having a spot for golfers to drop their golf bags before they park, and ensuring there is accessible parking available.

10. Prizes & Giveaways

Don’t wait until the last minute to determine the prizes you’ll provide to the tournament’s champions, winners of on-course games, and contests, as well as golfer gifts. Give yourself plenty of production time for trophies or plaques, and seek donations for auction items, raffle prizes, pin prizes, golfer gifts, and other giveaways to save money on costs.

A plaque is presented to the winner of a charity golf tournament.

Stay Organized With Golf Tournament Tech from GolfStatus

Golf tournaments come with enough details to handle—the last thing you need is a clunky event management platform that requires workarounds to function for a golf event. GolfStatus is built for golf and makes it easy for tournament organizers to stay organized, save a ton of time, and easily collaborate with planning teams and the golf facility.

Nonprofits, charities, and third parties holding a golf fundraiser can qualify to use GolfStatus—with a free event website, online registration, client-only sponsorships, an A+ support team, and much more—at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program. Click below to get qualified and create a tournament in minutes!

 
 
7 Myths About Charity Golf Tournaments & Why They’re Not True
 

It happens all too often—nonprofits looking to add a new revenue stream to their fundraising portfolio write off the possibility of a golf tournament because they have preconceived notions about such events. From misunderstandings about income potential to doubts about their true impact, these myths can deter organizations from jumping into golf fundraising.

Here are seven common myths about charity golf tournaments—and the facts that prove them wrong.

A woman writes on a notepad while working on a computer planning a charity golf tournament.
 

Myth #1: You have to know all about golf to be successful

Fact: You don’t have to be a golfer or understand the intricacies of the game to plan a lucrative golf tournament.

A deep knowledge of the game simply isn’t necessary. In fact, many successful golf tournament organizers aren’t golfers. What do they have to help them be successful? A golf-specific tool that helps them manage the intricacies of a golf event. The key here is using an event management platform that’s designed for golf and makes it easier for tournament organizers of all experience levels to plan, manage, and execute a lucrative golf tournament. You’ll want a software solution that lets you effortlessly collaborate with your planning team and the golf facility and has a knowledgeable, responsive support team to help you along the way.

Myth #2: It’s impossible to make money from a golf tournament

Fact: Golf tournaments have a ton of revenue potential.

Whether you hold an 18-hole golf tournament at an exclusive, high-end private golf club or a putt putt event at a local mini golf course, golf comes with a ton of fundraising potential. While there are certainly expenses associated with a golf event—such as facility rental, greens fees, cart rental, food and beverage, player gifts, and promotional expenses—there are even more opportunities to bring in funds. Sponsorships are where you’ll likely raise the bulk of your tournament’s money, but they can be supplemented by golfer registrations, add-ons like mulligans or contest entries, raffle tickets, auctions, on-course games, or donation appeals.


Download a free budget template

This sample golf fundraiser budget spreadsheet helps charity golf tournament organizers outline, plan, and manage the event's budget. Simply add your tournament's specific information and get a clear overview of all revenue and expenses associated with the event, track vendor estimates, and instantly see a profit-loss summary.


Look for an event management platform that comes with multiple avenues to raise additional funds, such as:

  • Premium digital sponsorships

  • The ability to collect donations on your event website

  • The ability to pass processing fees on to registrants

  • The ability for registrants to “round up” their order total

  • Custom registration packages for mulligans, contest entries, raffle tickets, and more

A screenshot of the checkout screen of a golf tournament website is displayed on a laptop.

An attractive, professional event website makes it easy to raise even more money from a charity golf tournament.

 

Myth #3: I don’t need golfers in my donor base

Fact: Golfers represent a highly desirable demographic of potential donors.

If you’re not holding a golf tournament, or worse yet, not collecting golfers’ donor data, you’re missing out on an affluent, influential demographic of the population. In general, golfers have a significantly higher than average net worth and annual income—giving them a higher capacity to give. Over half of golfers are between the ages of 25 and 55, an age group with a great deal of spending power and an interest in supporting charitable causes through a sport they enjoy.

What’s more, when golfers tap their networks to assemble a team for a charity golf outing, your donor base instantly expands, exposing even more people—and more potential donors—to your work and mission. Your tournament’s sponsors also present an opportunity to forge strong relationships with new or existing corporate partners for support beyond your golf event.

Myth #4: Golf Tournaments Are Outdated & Boring

Fact: Golf is more popular than ever.

The National Golf Foundation reports that 531 million rounds of golf were played in 2023, which surpasses the previous record high set in 2021. In general, rounds played are up 10% from the pre-COVID average between 2015 and 2019. Roughly one-third of the total population of the United States (over the age of five) interacted with the sport in some way in 2023, either by playing golf, following it on TV or online, reading about it, or listening to a golf-related podcast—which is up 30% since 2016.

Why are these numbers important? Because charity golf tournaments tap into golf’s surging popularity, meeting donors where they’re already spending time—on the golf course. When golfers are able to support a cause they care about or one they’ve just learned about because they played in a tournament, they’re more likely to come back year after year to engage with that organization.

Two men bump fists on a golf course at a charity golf tournament.

Charity golf tournaments meet donors where they’re already spending time—on the golf course.


Successful golf tournaments also focus on the overall experience, providing a professional, memorable day for golfers and sponsors. There are a number of ways to add fun, excitement, and even extra fundraising to charity golf tournaments, such as:

  • Contests, like hole-in-one, longest drive, closest to the pin, or putting

  • Skins games

  • Beat the pro contest

  • Mulligans

  • On-course games or challenges

  • Live or silent auctions

  • Demonstrations on tee boxes

  • Post-golf entertainment

  • Custom player gifts

  • Live leaderboards

Myth #5: Sponsors Aren’t Interested in Supporting Golf Tournaments

Fact: Golf tournaments have a unique value proposition.

Golf events offer a unique blend of engagement, networking, and fun that other fundraising events simply can’t match, making them especially attractive to sponsors. Unlike traditional fundraisers, like galas, golf tournaments provide participants with a full day of an activity they enjoy. The nature of golf encourages interaction and relationship-building in an informal, relaxed setting, which can be especially beneficial for sponsors looking to connect with golfers on a more personal level.

Golf tournaments also present numerous opportunities for creative sponsorships and branding that are less intrusive—but more effective and memorable. The addition of the digital exposure and impressions provided by your golf event management platform gives sponsors multiple touchpoints to gain visibility and recognition throughout the event. Having a variety of sponsorship options also accommodates different levels of financial commitment, making it easier to attract sponsors with varying budgets.

A screenshot showing sponsor logos on a golf tournament website is displayed on a laptop computer.

Digital exposure adds a ton of value to golf tournament sponsorships.

 

Myth #6: Golf Tournaments Are Too Much Work

Fact: With the right technology in place, golf tournaments provide tremendous ROI for nonprofits and charities.

Yes, golf events come with a number of moving pieces and unique details to handle. But having the right resources at your disposal saves time, effort, and hassle. Technology specific to golf tournaments simplifies planning, management, and execution, with baked-in solutions that make it a breeze to:

  • Promote your tournament

  • Collect registrations

  • Build and sell custom sponsorship packages

  • Onboard sponsors and provide digital exposure

  • Manage golfer and sponsor data

  • Make hole assignments

  • Collaborate with the golf facility’s staff

  • Print day-of documents

  • Run reports and track payments

Instead of siloed information across multiple platforms and spreadsheets, golf event management tech makes everything accessible with one login. And unlike traditional event management platforms that require endless workarounds to function properly for a golf tournament, you can handle golf-specific tasks like GHIN handicaps, team pairings, hole assignments, and live scoring with just a few clicks. The end result? A ton of time savings and more money raised for your mission.

A man wearing a headset sits at a desk working on a computer.

GolfStatus’ in-house client success team is available with live support seven days a week.

 

Myth #7: There’s No One to Help Me

Fact: Tools, resources, and support are available to help you hold a successful charity golf tournament.

You aren’t alone! Help is available, from software solutions and tournament planning resources to troubleshooting and live support seven days a week. Nonprofits, charities, and third parties holding golf events to benefit a cause can qualify to use GolfStatus’ golf event management platform at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good giveback program. You’ll get a free golf tournament website, online registration and payment processing, live scoring and leaderboards, exclusive sponsorships and add-ons, and a dedicated client success rep there to help you every step of the way. Click the button below to learn more and get qualified for Golf for Good!

 
 
How to Use Golf Tournament Raffles to Raise More Money
 
A strip of raffle tickets ready for purchase at a golf tournament.

As you well know, charity golf tournaments are the ultimate way to raise funds for worthy causes, while enjoying a day with friends, family, or colleagues on the golf course. But to truly maximize a golf tournament’s fundraising potential, creative strategies are necessary.

This blog series continues to explore ideas and add-ons for golf fundraisers that boost revenue. This post will take a deep dive into an easy tournament extra that comes with a ton of income potential: raffles.


What is a Golf Tournament Raffle?

A raffle is a fundraising add on to your golf tournament fundraising where participants purchase tickets for a chance to win prizes. Winners are typically selected through a random drawing, with the proceeds from ticket sales going towards supporting your specific cause or nonprofit.

The Ultimate Toolkit for Raising More Money at Your Charity Golf Tournament


How Does a Golf Tournament Raffle Work?

Participants purchase tickets, each of which equals an entry into a drawing. Raffle prizes should be on display, with a container to collect tickets or digital means of recording entries for each specific item. At the chosen time, a random drawing takes place to select the winners of each item. 

When organizing a raffle as part of your charity golf tournament, it's crucial to understand that each state has its own laws and regulations governing raffles. Some states require a permit or special licensing, while others may restrict who can participate or how the funds are allocated. Nonprofit organizations should check their state’s laws (a simple Google search will direct you to your state’s website detailing raffles) to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal issues.

Image of a sign advertising raffle tickets at a charity golf tournament.

Why is a Raffle a Good Choice for My Golf Event?

Raffles typically have a high return on investment. With the right pricing strategies, donated items, and an easy way to sell tickets and collect payments, a raffle can bring in thousands of extra dollars for your cause—without a ton of time and effort on your part. Unlike auctions, where income is dependent on driving high bids, raffles usually come with a relatively low barrier to entry. Even someone who buys just one raffle ticket has the chance to win. Instead of being dependent on bidders competing against each other, a raffle’s income is determined by the number of tickets sold.

How Do I Add a Raffle to My Golf Tournament?

Adding a raffle to your golf event can be done at any time without a great deal of necessary infrastructure. You’ll want to have an event website in place where you can promote the raffle and the prizes up for grabs, as well as to collect payment for raffle ticket sales. 

Determine how much you’ll charge for each raffle ticket, considering factors such as affordability for participants and potential revenue generation. Many tournaments offer bulk pricing or package deals to drive more purchases. For example, one ticket might sell for $5 but you might sell five tickets for $20. Add them as a package item so folks can purchase tickets when they register, but consider selling additional tickets at the event.

An image of a charity golf tournament registration screen on a mobile phone, with the option to purchase raffle tickets.

Donated items are key to raising as much money as possible! As you reach out to prospective sponsors, consider making an ask for donated gift baskets, gift cards, branded merchandise, or other items to offer as raffle prizes. Some corporate sponsors may not be able to support your tournament financially through a paid sponsorship, but are willing to donate in-kind goods that can be used for your raffle. You might ask board members or partners to donate raffle prizes as well. It’s a good idea to recognize the donor of each item, either on your event website, signage at the event, or in promotional emails.

You’ll want to determine when you’ll hold the raffle drawing. You want to ensure adequate time for golfers to purchase tickets and browse items. Tournaments typically have the drawing after the round is complete, during a post-golf event such as a cocktail hour, banquet, or awards ceremony.


Pro Tip:

To make sure you’re not stuck shipping prizes to winners, you might consider a “must be present to win” policy so folks can simply take their prizes home with them.


 

How Can I Make My Golf Tournament Raffle More Profitable?

Raffles give your tournament a supplementary income stream that capitalizes on participants’ enthusiasm and generosity. Here’s how to maximize your raffle’s income potential:

  • Give golfers multiple opportunities to purchase tickets. Include tickets in team packages or as an add-on at registration, sell them when golfers check in to the event, set up a ticket station on one of the tee boxes, and have them available for purchase after the round.

  • Leverage golfers’ generosity. People tend to be generous at golf tournaments, and with such a low barrier to entry, most participants are willing to actively participate in the raffle.

  • Offer desirable prizes. Having desirable prizes in the drawing stimulates additional engagement and ticket sales.

  • Secure donated prizes. Including only prizes that have been donated (either by sponsors, partners, or other supporters) means the raffle has little to no overhead costs.

  • Build a sense of anticipation. Tease prizes in your promotional materials and at the tournament’s kickoff to encourage more ticket sales.

  • Use raffle tickets in on-course games. You might use raffle tickets as prizes in on-course games (which golfers pay to enter) as an additional incentive to participate.

Image of raffle tickets in a drawing at a charity golf tournament.

Pro Tip:

Use a golf event management platform that allows you to create, list, and sell custom packages for raffle tickets. Consider offering multiple packages, such as one ticket, five tickets, or ten tickets, and make sure the checkout process is easy and efficient. You might post a QR code that links directly to the package at check in or on the raffle prize tables.


 

What Are Some Top Golf Tournament Raffle Prize Ideas?

You know your audience best—what types of prizes would appeal to them? If you’re holding an auction alongside your golf tournament raffle, consider how you’ll differentiate between the two sets of prizes. In general, items included in an auction might have higher value, since the goal is to drive the highest bid possible. Offer an attractive mix of items to encourage raffle ticket sales and auction participation. Some top golf tournament raffle items could include:

  • Golf equipment or apparel

  • Branded merchandise from sponsors or the benefiting charity

  • Gift baskets from local businesses

  • Gift cards or certificates to local businesses

  • Tickets to sporting events or local attractions

  • Themed gift baskets (movie night, spa, sports fan, travel food and drink, pet lovers, etc.)

Two men high five on the golf course at a golf tournament.

What Other Golf Tournament Raffle Ideas Should We Consider?

Keep these best practices in mind when planning and executing your raffle:

  • Offer easy payment options for raffle tickets. Golfers may not carry cash, so be sure you have the ability to collect credit card payments. To keep post-tournament accounting as simple as possible, run payments through your event website so all funds are kept in one central location.

  • Say thank you. Thank participants, prize donors, and sponsors for their contributions to the success of the raffle and the tournament.

  • Recruit volunteers to help. Volunteers can sell tickets, set up the raffle items, and help distribute prizes to winners.

  • Create buzz. Include the raffle in your tournament promotions to help drive ticket sales. Mention it on social media and tease any high-end prizes.

  • Engage your networks. Lean into your personal and professional networks to solicit prize donations and encourage folks to play in the tournament and support your cause through the raffle.


Pro tip:

Your GolfStatus event website is an easy, centralized spot to sell raffle tickets ahead of the tournament and process ticket sales on the day of the event.


Raffles are another tool in the tournament organizer’s toolbox to help bring in additional dollars from your golf event. Anyone can hold a successful raffle! The keys to success are having an easy way to collect payments, donated items, and creating buzz to encourage participation.

Execute these golf tournament raffle ideas with GolfStatus

GolfStatus is an event management platform built just for golf events. A professional event website with online registration and secure payment processing makes selling teams, raffle tickets, and sponsorships a breeze. The software’s built-in automations save organizers up to 40 hours per tournament, while fundraising tools, exclusive sponsorships, and exciting add-ons combine to raise thousands more dollars for your cause. Nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program. Click below to book a demo and get started!

Power Your Raffle with Tech Made for Golf Events.

Click here to book a GolfStatus demo!


Past Series Posts

Auctions

On-Course Games

BackSwing Golf Events

Hole-In-One Contests

In-Kind Donations


 
 
23 Fun Golf Tournament Fundraiser Ideas to Raise More Dollars
 
Golfers walk on a golf course on their way to participate in a putting contest, which is a classic golf tournament fundraiser idea.

Golf tournaments are ripe with ways to build in revenue-generating components, both by leveraging the generosity of golfers and providing extras that make the tournament more fun and exciting. While sponsorships will likely make up the bulk of your tournament’s revenue, you can level up your fundraising power with add-ons that bring in more dollars and enhance the overall event experience for golfers and sponsors.

1. Donation Appeal

Your golfers attend your fundraiser for a reason: they’re passionate about your mission and want to help your cause. Appeal to this generosity both on and off the green, and you’ll be surprised at how much more money you can raise.

Start by providing context about your mission, fundraising goal, and initiatives on your event website and invitations so new donors understand the purpose of the event. Ensure your content is emotional, impactful, and tangible by featuring stories, photos, testimonials, or videos of your work.

Next, keep people updated on your progress during the event with email, in-app, or push notifications. This will up the urgency of your cause and encourage your donors to contribute to your goal.  

Finally, set up a donation station near the registration area or somewhere on the course to remind donors why they’re there: to make a difference. Leverage this opportunity to encourage your golfers to give certain amounts of money, such as an amount equal to their final score or the winning team’s final score.

Pro Tip: If your event includes an awards ceremony, it’s a great time to make a donation ask, particularly the option to donate the final score. A platform with the ability to collect donations is key!

2. Hole-in-One Contest

One of the most popular golf tournament fundraiser ideas is a hole-in-one contest. Golfers get the chance to ace a par-three hole or holes. Golfers love the excitement a hole-in-one contest brings to a tournament, and sponsors love the high visibility they earn for sponsoring the contest.

3. Longest Drive Contest

Another type of contest you can easily incorporate into your tournament is a longest drive contest. Work with the golf facility staff to identify a hole (or holes) that is long and straight, and have one contest for men and another for women. As the name implies, the winner is the person who hits the drive the farthest within the fairway. The golf course will provide a marker to mark the distance of drives. Work with a sponsor to donate or underwrite the cost of the contest prize.

4. Closest to the Pin contest

A closest to the pin contest is held on a par three hole and can be run alongside your hole-in-one contest, if desired. The winner of the contest is the golfer who hits a tee shot the closest to the hole. Much like the longest drive contest, you’ll want to have separate contests for men and women. And much like the previously mentioned contests, it’s a great opportunity for a premium sponsorship.

Four people stand on a golf course next to a sign for a putting contest, a classic golf tournament fundraiser idea.

Ken’s Krew, a nonprofit that serves adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities, raises additional dollars with a putting contest at their golf fundraiser.

5. Putting Contest

Unlike the three other contests discussed above, a putting contest is typically held before or after your golf tournament, though it can be held during the round if that’s what works best for your event. A putting contest has the potential to boost revenue, as participants pay to enter the contest and qualify for the grand prize. Plus, you can encourage anyone can try their hand at sinking a long put, even tournament spectators.



6. Auctions

Silent and live auctions are popular components of golf tournaments and for good reason. They leverage the generosity of golfers, the euphoria of spending a day on the golf course, and a friendly desire to beat out their friends or colleagues. Whether you choose an on-site auction following the golf tournament or an online silent auction, you’ll want to promote it and any special prizes on your event website.

Pro Tip: Donated items are key to raising the most money possible, so put out calls to your networks and challenge the planning committee and board members to secure auction items. Also, try offering in-kind donations to your auction as a sponsorship option. This can empower more businesses to participate.

7. Mulligans

Mulligans are essentially a “do-over” that lets golfers retake a shot they weren’t happy with. Mulligans are an easy add-on to any registration package and are popular among golfers of all skill levels. Include them with team packages or sell them as a standalone item. Golfers who know they need a little extra wiggle room in their game can purchase one or more at the time of registration, or you can sell them the day of the event as well.

Pro Tip: To allow more people to purchase mulligans, ensure you’re using a mobile-friendly event website. This makes it easy for folks to purchase mulligans right from their phones on the day of the event, and eliminates the need to handle cash payments.

8. Skins Games

Skins games encourage friendly competition between golfers while raising more dollars for your cause. In short, skins games create mini-competitions where teams (or individuals, depending on the event’s format) opt to 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. 

To up the ante, display skins results on real-time digital leaderboards. This keeps golfers engaged and makes the skins games more competitive. Be sure to choose a software solution with reliable live-scoring that automatically syncs to live leaderboards that display on your event website and a mobile app.

Ready to plan your best charity golf tournament?

Click here to book a GolfStatus demo today!

9. Raffles

Approach businesses, sponsors, and the community for in-kind donations to use as prizes for a fundraising raffle or host a 50/50 cash drawing (in which the total prize money is split between the raffle winner or winners and the benefiting organization). Much like mulligans, raffle tickets can be built into team packages or offered as a standalone item. And also like mulligans, you can offer them for sale on the day of the tournament on the event website.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check for any legal requirements or restrictions for raffles in your state.

One golfer hits a shot while three others wait their turn at a charity golf tournament.
 

10. Matching Donations

Golfers are a generous bunch. A matching donor can exponentially multiply their generosity and supercharge your golf tournament’s fundraising efforts. This can work a couple of ways. 

One, sell a “Matching Gift Sponsor” that pledges to match donations made to your event. Depending on how the donor/sponsor would like to structure the match, these are often capped at a specific dollar amount (essentially the top amount the sponsor is willing to donate) or limited to a certain number of donations. Recognize this sponsor the same way you would any other high-dollar sponsor—on your event website, tournament signage, social media, email campaigns, etc. It might also be beneficial to send a standalone news release to local media contacts about the matching donation, giving even more exposure to the sponsor and inviting members of the community to contribute to your event.

Two, you may have a generous donor who wishes to stay anonymous or just doesn’t want to be considered a sponsor. In this case, work with the donor on how or if they would like to be mentioned or recognized for their support. 

Either way, it’s imperative that you communicate this opportunity to golfers leading up to and throughout the day of the event. Include it on your event website’s home page; add a QR code with a direct link to your event website on any printed materials or signage; mention the opportunity when golfers check in, during any kick-off address, or awards ceremony speeches; and send push notifications and emails to golfers through your tournament management software. Be sure to stress that their donation will go even further thanks to the generosity of your sponsor or donor and that donations must be made that day.

11. Virtual Round

Adding a virtual round lets golfers play in support of your cause from anywhere without being present at the actual tournament. Golfers simply register for the virtual event via your event website, choose the date and location where they want to play their rounds, and submit their scores via a live-scoring mobile app. If yours is an event that typically sells out, a virtual round also opens doors to additional participants playing for your organization without the risk and costs of adding a second day to your golf tournament.

 
Two golfers chat while sipping drinks bought with a drink ticket as part of a golf tournament fundraiser idea.

12. Food and Drink Tickets

After a day of golfing for a good cause, your participants will likely be parched and hungry. Sell them food and drink tickets and put that money towards your campaign. To make the most money possible off of the tickets, consider asking local restaurants and supermarkets for in-kind food and drink donations (check with the golf course on their policies for outside food and drink). Thus, you’ll have fewer operating costs and the money you make will be put to good use in your fundraising campaign.

13. On-Course Games

The possibilities for games as golf tournament fundraiser ideas are endless. Golfers and sponsors alike will remember the fun they had shooting a golf ball cannon, putting blindfolded, or using a seven iron to play the entire hole. Your organization will reap the benefits of pure tournament revenue and make folks more likely to return year after year.

Pro Tip: An all-in games package is a simple option for entry—golfers 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.

14. Technology Sponsorship

This unique sponsorship gives the sponsoring business unparalleled exposure across the tournament management platform and accompanying mobile app. The Technology Sponsorship is only available to GolfStatus clients and on average, raises an additional $4,000 for your mission. Sell it as a standalone sponsorship or build it into your title or presenting sponsorship to provide even more value.

15. Pin Flag Sponsorship

This high-end sponsorship gives your tournament a professional feel. Sell one pin flag sponsorship for all 18 holes and premium exposure, split it into a front nine and back nine sponsorships, or sell them individually. No matter how you approach it, sponsors will appreciate seeing their logo on high-quality pin flags that make a great keepsake.

16. Celebrity Appearance

Celebrities raise visibility for your tournament and your cause. You’ll likely need a sponsor to cover the hard costs associated with bringing a celebrity to your tournament (unless you have direct connections with a celebrity), but it’s a great chance to raise the income potential for your golf tournament. You don’t necessarily need an A-lister to have an impact—consider local celebrities, such as the mayor, college athletes, local news anchors, or well-known business owners.

17. Ball Drop

This golf tournament fundraiser idea can be done in several ways. One easy way is to structure it like a raffle. Sell balls that have a unique number on them like you would raffle tickets, using your golf tournament website to process payments to simplify post-tournament accounting. Balls are then dropped from something like a helicopter or crane and the closet ball to the target wins the prize. There are some definite logistics involved with a ball drop, but finding a sponsor for the ball drop is a great way to ensure you’ll come out ahead.

18. Golf Clinic 

Adding a clinic is a solid golf tournament fundraiser idea that grows the game and encourages those who aren’t golfers or are interested in improving their skills to participate. There are several ways to approach a clinic. You can work with the golf pro and the host golf facility to host a clinic the day before or morning of your tournament. Alternatively, you might work with local college teams to volunteer their time to run the clinic. Take it a step further and try to land a professional or semi-professional golfer to run the clinic, if it’s feasible.

Three golfers chat before the start of a golf clinic at a charity golf tournament.

19. VIP Package

Sell a specific VIP package as an add-on to regular team or sponsor registration packages. To make it appealing enough that folks want to upgrade, consider including things like:

  • Premium parking spots

  • Exclusive tournament merchandise or gift packages

  • Meet-and-greet with organizational beneficiaries or any celebrities in attendance

  • Discounted entries into the contests or games mentioned above

  • Complimentary raffle tickets, food and drink tickets, or mulligans

20. Event-Specific Merchandise

Offering exclusive tournament merchandise creates an element of scarcity among attendees to make a purchase. They won’t want to miss out on the chance to commemorate the event with special items. Pick merchandise that’s useful and likely to be popular among golfers, such as golf shirts, t-shirts, head covers, golf balls, golf towels, water bottles, or hats. Incorporate your organization’s or tournament’s branding into the merchandise design, and work with a partner that can handle the logistics of producing the merchandise on time.

21. Pledge Drive

A pledge drive gets your donors and their broader networks involved, even if they can’t play in the tournament. Donors ask their friends, family, and colleagues to make a pledge to donate money based on their participation in the tournament. For example, someone would pledge $10 for every birdie or $5 for every par that golfer achieves. Pledges could be tied to contests, such as pledging a donation of $50 if your golfer wins the longest drive or closest to the pin contest. Another idea is to base pledges on overall performance, perhaps $100 if the team finishes in first place or $25 if they finish in last place. Use the donate button or build a specific package on your golf tournament website to easily collect pledge payments.

Three people hold a large check with money raised from a charity golf tournament.

22. Beat the Special Guest Challenge

Having a special guest play in the event, and offering folks a chance to go head-to-head against that person, is a great golf tournament fundraiser idea. Whether it’s a well-known golfer, local celebrity, executive director of the nonprofit, or president of the board of directors, the special guest can be stationed on a specific hole. Participants pay to compete against the guest on the entire hole, or see who can hit a longer drive or sink a longer putt to win a prize.

23. Golf Tournament Bracket

Prior to the event, give participants the chance to buy into a “fantasy golf” bracket to predict the tournament’s overall winners, specific scores, or winners of contests. If your tournament’s field is close-knit or well known to each other, you might offer a Calcutta pool, in which participants “bid” on a specific team. If that team wins, the winning bidder gets part of the overall prize money, with the rest going to your organization.

 

Wrapping Up

Once your event ends, your work isn’t done yet! Immediately after the golf tournament, crunch some numbers and see which components of your golf event raised the most money. Factor in time spent by staff or volunteers on each part to determine the cost beyond its monetary face value. Then, look at ways to improve for next year, whether it’s raising the price of specific sponsorship packages, approaching new and/or different businesses to sponsor the event, or trying out different fundraising ideas.

Pro Tip: When you use GolfStatus for your golf event, you can simply copy this year’s event for next year, eliminating the need to set the event up from scratch. Update the date, time, and location and you can start promoting the event right away!


Whichever golf tournament fundraiser ideas you end up using, you need a powerful software solution on your side. GolfStatus offers solutions for charities and event organizers with its industry-leading golf event management and fundraising software. Its full-featured platform streamlines golf fundraisers to save time and raise more money and its responsive support team is there to help every step of the way. Through the Golf for Good program, nonprofits and organizations doing social good can qualify for no-cost access to the technology. Click the button below to get qualified or email events@golfstatus.com.

 

Ready to plan your best charity golf tournament?

Click here to book a GolfStatus demo today!

 
 
Plan a Golf Tournament With Us!
 

GolfStatus’ golf event management platform powers golf tournaments and events of all types and sizes—even mini golf tournaments.

Leaning on the tournament planning resources available in its online resources library and working closely with the in-house Client Success team, the GolfStatus marketing team planned a brand new mini golf tournament, using the tasks outlined in the golf tournament fundraiser timeline and checklist, to give back to our community and raise money for a local charity. The tournament raised over $9,200 for the Capital Humane Society in our hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska.

A big THANK YOU to our tournament sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Sponsors

Golf Ball Sponsor

Certified Piedmontese Logo

Dinner Sponsor

Vanity Fur Logo

Koozie Sponsor

Ross Eickhoff - StateFarm agent

Pin Flag Sponsor

402 Creamery Website Link

Batting Cage Sponsor

Allo Fiber Website Link

19th Hole Sponsor

Raising Canes Website Link

Swag Sponsor

Armature Website Link

Game Sponsor

 

hole sponsors


Post-event update

Lessons learned: The to-do list doesn’t stop once the tournament is done! Post-event follow up and engagement with attendees is super important for ensuring a great experience and building momentum for the next year’s event. Using GolfStatus’ messaging app was a simple way to reach out to everyone in one fell swoop to say thank you, provide a final update, and announce that Putt Putt Fore Puppies will be back again in 2024! Once all of the tournament accounting was reconciled, we were able to present Capital Humane Society with a check for $9,208.15 (which was THREE TIMES what we set for an initial fundraising goal).

We worked on these post-tournament tasks in the last month or so:
  • ✓  Sent a thank you to all attendees via GolfStatus’ platform
  • ✓  Sent handwritten thank you notes to sponsors
  • ✓  Provided hole signs to sponsors
  • ✓  Updated the event website
  • ✓  Reconciled final expenses and income and presented a check to Capital Humane Society
  • ✓  Debriefed with the planning committee
  • ✓  Renewed with GolfStatus for 2024!

OCTOBEr Update

We did it! And it was an amazing day. We hit the jackpot in terms of weather—low 80s, plentiful sunshine, and a slight breeze. Set up and check in both went smoothly. People were eager to buy the games package and raffle tickets through the event website, and we raised $1100 the day of the event just in add-on purchases! Best of all, we were able to make a big check presentation to Capital Humane Society for over $8000! We heard from so many golfers and sponsors about how much fun they had and how they hoped we would do it again.

Lessons learned:

  • As much as we tried to plan ahead so the week of the event wouldn’t be hectic, there were just some tasks that had to wait until close to the event, such as printing alpha lists and making hole assignments.

  • It’s a good idea to avoid mentioning a specific time for post-golf happenings, since the round might take longer than anticipated. We planned an hour for golf, but the round on the Backwoods course (which is significantly more difficult than the Blue course) took close to an hour and half. Those on the Blue course finished in just over an hour, and thankfully were content to mingle, enjoy dinner or a drink, hit the batting cages, and soak in the beautiful weather while waiting for the raffle drawing and awards presentation.

  • Having QR codes for folks to buy raffle tickets and the all-in games package made it super easy to do. We also had QR codes to download the GolfStatus app for live-scoring, since we didn’t use paper scorecards. Live-scoring was a big hit, and sponsors loved seeing their logo in the app.

  • Giving ourselves plenty of time for setup was helpful—we arrived at Adventure Golf about 12:30 so we weren’t pushed to get everything ready before registration opened at 3:30.

  • Running everything through the GolfStatus event website was so helpful in reconciling expenses. Some golfers preferred to pay via cash, but that added a level of complexity for accounting purposes.

  • Getting proofs for printed items is imperative to ensure there are no errors and all items are up to our high standards and make sponsors look good. We had some difficulties getting accurate proofs from a vendor, but our persistence paid off and everything turned out fine (though it did add some unnecessary stress).

  • We truly couldn’t have done without GolfStatus. From easy registration, instant sponsor exposure, premium sponsorships, and the hands-on help from the client success team, GolfStatus was a key part of our success.

We crossed these last-minute to-dos off of the list in the weeks and days leading up to the event:
  • ✓  Held bi-weekly meetings with the planning committee to discuss logistics
  • ✓  Re-opened registration for waitlisted teams
  • ✓  Created QR codes for golfers to purchase raffle tickets and all-in games and to download the GolfStatus app
  • ✓  Created a rules sheet outlining the format and rules for each of the on-course games
  • ✓  Assembled pin flags, hole signs, and golfer swag bags
  • ✓  Worked with our GolfStatus client success rep to make hole assignments
  • ✓  Confirmed and communicated volunteer assignments and committee roles
  • ✓  Finalized the event day schedule
  • ✓  Wrote talking points for the welcome
  • ✓  Pulled together registration table supplies and odds and ends
  • ✓  Communicated with sponsors and registrants to remind them of all-in games packages and raffle tickets

September Update

Lessons learned: Our tournament date is rapidly approaching and we’re in final prep mode. Our promotional push paid off, as we officially sold out the event! It was super exciting to see every sponsorship and team slot sold. As our GolfStatus client success rep had explained to us a few months ago, the majority of teams tend to register in the month or so leading up to the event, and that was the case here. We had a few additional teams inquire about registering after all the slots were filled, so we opened a waitlist. There are currently nine teams on our waitlist, so we’re figuring out a plan for potentially doubling up teams on some holes or even opening the third course at Adventure Golf. As we plan for all the final details and logistics, some of our sponsors have stepped up to provide things like tote bags and swag for player gift bags.

Here are the tasks we accomplished in September:
  • ✓  Sold out our teams!!!
  • ✓  Opened a waitlist for additional teams
  • ✓  Held our monthly tournament planning meeting and set bi-weekly meetings through the tournament date
  • ✓  Worked on recruiting volunteers to run games
  • ✓  Designed and ordered a bunch of items: sponsor banners, hole signs, pin flags, koozies, and golf balls
  • ✓  Checked with Adventure Golf on logistics like A/V equipment and tables
  • ✓  Tracked donated game and raffle prizes

AUGUST Update

Lessons learned: Our summer focus on sponsorships has paid off, as we are officially sold out of sponsor packages! We worked with a couple businesses who were interested in participating in the event to create custom sponsorships, based on their goals and capacities for being part of the tournament. We’re super excited about selling our presenting sponsorship to Sinclair Hille Architects! The presenting sponsorship included GolfStatus’ exclusive Technology Sponsorship. With less than two months to go until event day, we’re working on determining details for on-course games, soliciting in-kind donations for prizes, and most importantly, pushing team registrations. Our team has been posting flyers around Lincoln, reaching out to friends and family who have expressed interest, pushing out email promotions, and utilizing targeted ads and organic social media to get the word out. 

Here are the tasks we accomplished in August:

July Update

Lessons learned: The team focused on securing sponsorships over the past month, relying on personal and professional connections to reach out to businesses. We’ve heard from a couple of potential sponsors that their charitable or sponsorship dollars have already been allocated for the year, which has reinforced the advice to start sponsor outreach early! We’ve been using our new budget spreadsheet template to track revenue and expenses, which has been helpful to reference, and started outlining volunteer needs and the details of the extra games we’ll have on the course.

Here are the tasks we accomplished in July:

June Update

Lessons learned: While we were initially discouraged about the lack of team registrations thus far, we’ve discovered that folks are interested in playing in the event—they just don’t want to commit this far out from the tournament date. Our Client Success team assures us that most team registrations occur within 30 days of the event, and since our tournament isn’t until October 20, we’re still in good shape. That being said, we’re continuing promotion to keep the event on people’s radars and hopefully drive some early registrations and sell additional sponsorships.

Here are the tasks we accomplished in June:
  • ✓  Finalized a promotional flyer
  • ✓  Held a monthly committee meeting
  • ✓  Sold an additional sponsorship (thanks Vanity Fur)!
  • ✓  Determined on-course games
  • ✓  Added a registration package for on-course games to the event website
  • ✓  Continued to reach out to potential sponsors
  • ✓  Continued promotion on social media

May Update

Lessons learned: It was exciting to put on the finishing touches and launch our event website! GolfStatus’ platform made it easy to add graphics, customize verbiage, and set a donation goal. We also worked with Cash, our Client Success rep, to add watch emails so members of our planning team are notified whenever someone registers a team, makes a donation, or purchases a sponsorship. A custom form was added to each registration package to collect preferences on which golf course folks want to play (Adventure Golf has three courses, one of which is definitely more challenging!). We knew that the software was easy to navigate, but have now experienced it firsthand! Now we shift our focus to promoting the tournament and approaching potential sponsors.

Here's what we did in May:
  • ✓  Held our monthly planning committee meeting
  • ✓  Finalized and launched our event website.
  • ✓  Sold our first two sponsorships. (shoutout to 402 Title Services and Certified Piedmontese!)
  • ✓  Had our first team register.
  • ✓  Finalized team registration costs.
  • ✓  Sent our first promotional email.
  • ✓  Started working on a tournament flyer.

April Update

Lessons learned: Divvying up the labor has helped keep planning moving forward at a brisk pace. Monthly committee meetings have been a great checkpoint and opportunity to brainstorm and bounce ideas off of each other. Each planning committee member took ownership of a sponsorship package and determined costs, pricing, and benefits, and will also take point in selling the sponsorship.

At this point, we have two of the three courses booked at Adventure Golf, but are working to price sponsorships so they’re still profitable if we need to scale up to include all three courses (which would be a great problem to have!).

We crossed these items off the to-do list in April:
  • ✓  Field trip to Adventure Golf to scope out the courses’ layout and where we can place signage, registration, tables, etc.
  • ✓  Added imagery and custom text to the event website.
  • ✓  Finalized the tournament logo (and it’s super cute!).
  • ✓  Finalized sponsorship packages.
  • ✓  Finalized team registration costs.
  • ✓  Added details to the budget worksheet to track income and expenses.
  • ✓  Started fleshing out a promotion schedule to implement once the event website is launched.

March Update

Lessons learned: As a first-year event, we’re creating and documenting processes as we go. Without past years’ experiences to draw from, it’s necessary to make educated guesses on a number of components, like fixed costs, expected revenue, sponsor packages, or the number of participants. We also don’t know what we don’t know, but have found that GolfStatus’ online resources and our Client Success team are filling in the gaps. Cash, our dedicated rep, is essentially an extra planning committee member, sharing his experience and expertise.

The good news is that we’re ahead of the game with planning. Cash shared that most tournaments open up registration 60-90 days out from the event date, and we’re on track to open registration sooner than that timeframe, once we determine some details about format and further flesh out sponsorship packages. Our committee members, like most golf event organizers, are trying to balance planning tasks with our full-time jobs and lives.

Here are the tasks we tackled in March:
  • ✓  Finalized a date and locked it in with Adventure Golf (October 20!)
  • ✓  Divided up sponsorships among committee members
  • ✓  Received an education session from our GolfStatus Customer Success rep
  • ✓  Worked on a draft of our event website
  • ✓  Submitted fundraiser information to name Capital Humane Society as a beneficiary
  • ✓  Started working on the tournament logo
  • ✓  Started brainstorming promotion ideas
  • ✓  Created a budget tracking spreadsheet
  • ✓  Started creating a budget
  • ✓  Practiced our putting skills (we do this a lot)

February Update

Lessons learned: Even with a mini golf tournament, there are a lot of moving parts and important things to consider, but the checklist has kept us on task. We’re finding a lot of fun possibilities for a mini golf tournament in terms of add-ons, sponsorship options, and games. After discussions with the planning committee, the original tentative event date needed to be reconsidered due to a conflicting event—which is why it was important to loop the entire team in to help consider decisions from all angles.

Here’s what we accomplished in February:
  • ✓  Finalized the planning committee
  • ✓  Set dates for all remaining committee meetings
  • ✓  Reviewed pricing options for facility rental
  • ✓  Revisited potential event date options
  • ✓  Brainstormed sponsorship and package ideas
  • ✓  Determined a tournament name (Putt Putt for Puppies)
  • ✓  Narrowed down a list of local animal-related beneficiaries
  • ✓  Reviewed several GolfStatus client mini golf events and websites
  • ✓  Started creating a budget
  • ✓  Practiced our putting skills (again)

January Update

Here’s what we did in January:
  • ✓  Set a tentative event date in October 2023
  • ✓  Checked local event calendars for conflicts
  • ✓  Met with the golf facility (Adventure Golf Center in Lincoln, Nebraska)
  • ✓  Received a GolfStatus demo
  • ✓  Brainstormed event ideas with the planning team and our GolfStatus Account Manager
  • ✓  Practiced our putting skills

 
6 Ways to Use Your Golf Event Website’s Donate Button
 

Your event website functions as the home base for your golf tournament, where folks can find out more about the event, learn about your organization, and register or purchase a sponsorship. Your event website also has a secret weapon—the donate button.

A graphic of an event website's donate button

It’s a more-powerful-than-you-think tool that you can use to do far more than simply accept donations. You can collect payments for a number of tournament add-ons via the donation button. This keeps all payments and event revenue in one spot, making it easy to track income, simplify accounting, and run robust event reports.


How Does It Work?

Simply send folks right to the donate page on your event website. If you’re sending information to participants electronically (via email or push notifications), include a clickable direct link. If you’re using any printed materials (like flyers or signage), add a QR code golfers can scan on their phone that takes them right to the donation page. Use the page to:

1. Collect Donations

Build strategic donation asks into your tournament day using emails, push notifications, social media, and in-person appeals. Challenge golfers to donate their final score or the score of the winning team or set up a donation station to collect gifts. You’ll onboard new donors you can further steward after the tournament!

2. Show Progress Toward Your Fundraising Goal

Donors love seeing the impact their gift is making. A quick and easy way to do that is having a bar that tracks progress toward your donation goal. Make sure donors can see it during checkout so they can instantly see how their gift has helped move the needle.

 
A screenshot of an event website with a progress bar

Event websites powered by GolfStatus make it easy for you to track your event day fundraising goal.

 

3. Collect Auction Payments

Particularly if you’re not using a standalone online auction platform or one that doesn’t process payments, you need an easy way for winning bidders to pay for their items. Simply direct folks to the donate page and make a note of the item or items they won for reporting purposes.

4. Pay for On-Course Games & Contests 

On-course games and contests are a great way to raise additional dollars the day of the tournament. Golfers can pay to have a pro take the tee shot for them, enter a putting contest, or participate in any other fun on-course competition right from the event website. Alternatively, you could set up specific packages for games and contests and direct folks to the registration page if you’re interested in separating those out for accounting purposes.

 

Golfers participate in a “blind putt hole” on-course game at a golf fundraiser.

 

5. Track Matching Donations

If you have a donor willing to match donations made the day of the tournament, sending everything through the event site makes it super simple to track the match. Highlight how donors’ gifts will be matched (if it’s a 1:1 match or other ratio plus the maximum match amount) and recognize the generous donor (if they want to be publicly recognized, that is).

6. Sell Mulligans or Raffle Tickets 

Allow golfers to buy these when they check in on tournament day, or consider setting up a station or stations on the golf course where folks can buy mulligans or raffle tickets. Setting up a station before a particularly difficult hole might boost your mulligan sales! You also have the option to build out mulligan or raffle tickets packages, like mentioned under on-course games and contests.

 
A golfer uses his phone to purchase mulligans at a golf fundraiser through the event site's donate button.

Golfers can make a payment or donation right from their mobile phone before, during, or after the golf tournament.


Final Thoughts

The last thing you want to worry about on tournament day is hanging on to a wad of cash, manually entering credit card numbers, or reconciling Venmo payments. Instead, direct golfers to your event website and keep everything in one, unified place to simplify your post-tournament accounting.

GolfStatus’ tournament management software makes it simple. It starts with a professional event website, is powered by an industry-leading support team and an intuitive backend that’s easy for avid golfers and non-golfers alike, and ends with robust reporting and printouts. Best of all, nonprofits (and third parties holding golf tournaments to benefit a nonprofit or charity) can qualify to use GolfStatus’ platform at no upfront cost through the Golf for Good program. It’s not too good to be true! Click the button to find out more and get qualified.