In his first six weeks on the job as Director of Development at Brazos Christian School (BCS) in Bryan, Texas, Clay Jackson settled into a new job, battled COVID-19, was appointed varsity golf coach, and even welcomed a new baby to his family. He also planned and executed a lucrative golf fundraiser from start to finish—for the first time.

Though it’s not ideal to plan a golf tournament in a matter of weeks, with the help of GolfStatus’s golf event management platform, the event went off without a hitch and raised over $47,000 for the school’s Thomas Scott Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund.

---

DOLLARS RAISED

$47,000

SPONSORS

25

FIELD SIZE

17 TEAMS

TECH SPONSORSHIP SELLING PRICE

$7,500

Organization Snapshot

BCS is a non-denominational school that serves roughly 450 students in preschool through 12th grade. Since 1981, BCS has provided families with the same academics, activities, and opportunities as public school, but with a Christian focus. 

The longstanding annual golf tournament had traditionally been held in the fall over its 17 year tenure, but after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, it was moved to February. The event raises money specifically for the Thomas Scott Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund, which honors a 4th grade student who tragically passed away in 2010 and provides financial assistance to families to attend BCS. The fund has grown from $50,000 to an endowment of $1.2 million, thanks to the proceeds of the golf tournament. “We really want folks to understand that the tournament is raising money for a great cause,” says Clay.

The Challenge

When Clay started on at BCS in January, he found a long list of things undone for the golf fundraiser. First and foremost, he locked in the date with the Traditions Club at Texas A&M. Once the date was finalized, Clay turned his attention to promoting the tournament. He knew he needed a place to send folks to register and pay online. “Our school didn’t have any means of online payment processing,” Clay says. The tournament had previously relied on paper mailers and registration forms, but with the tournament just weeks away, there simply wouldn’t be enough time to go this route.

The Solution

Clay first started exploring generic event management platforms, not thinking that a solution existed specifically for golf tournaments. He stumbled onto Nonprofit Tech for Good’s website and came across a guest post by GolfStatus. “I thought, here’s everything I need to make this golf tournament happen!” Clay says. What’s more, because BCS is a nonprofit, the tournament qualified for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which gave Clay access to the entire golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost.

Clay reached out to GolfStatus and in less than 48 hours had an attractive, fully-functioning, live event website ready to accept registrations and sell sponsorships. The GolfStatus team worked closely with Clay to walk him through the software and make sure he was comfortable navigating the software’s back end. “GolfStatus literally took ¾ of what I was worried about off my plate and made it work,” Clay says.

An attractive event website with online registration saved Clay a ton of time and made it easy to promote the event to golfers and sponsors.

---

“GolfStatus literally took ¾ of what I was worried about off my plate and made it work.”

— Clay Jackson, Director of Development at Brazos Christian School

---

The Results

Event Website & Online Registration

The online platform saved time and money almost immediately. Historically, the school spent around $1000 to print and mail flyers and registration forms (and as a result, was forced to track down payments and send receipts weeks or even months after the tournament). Clay simply included a QR code with a link to the event website on flyers that were sent home in students’ backpacks and a direct link in emails, social media, and on the school’s website where people could purchase team and sponsorship packages instantly. “It’s so much easier to send folks to a website!” Clay says. 

When golfers and sponsors registered through the website, their information automatically populated the software’s back end, where Clay could see who had registered, which sponsorships had been sold, and the sponsor logos uploaded. “Online registration was awesome—it was exactly what I was looking for and more,” Clay says.

Sponsorship Success

The additional digital exposure provided through the GolfStatus platform—on the event website and the mobile app—allowed Clay to raise the price of hole sponsorships from $200 to $400. Hole sponsorships sold out, leading to an extra $3,600 raised without any additional costs to the school. What’s more, the presenting sponsorship (which included GolfStatus’s exclusive technology sponsorship plus additional recognition) sold for $7,500. The tournament also added a hole-in-one contest with a $10,000 cash prize and sold a sponsorship for $3,000.

Live Scoring

Clay and his wife welcomed a new baby the day before the golf tournament. He had wisely connected a co-worker with the GolfStatus team the week before, who walked her through starting the tournament and the basics of the software so everything would run smoothly. The tournament utilized live scoring for the event—golfers entered their scores via the free GolfStatus mobile app, which synced to live leaderboards so Clay (and others) could follow along with the round’s progress and even solicit additional donations. “It was a great way for me to follow along, and let staff on site know when they should prep for the awards ceremony,” Clay says. He heard from golfers who loved being able to track other teams on the live leaderboards and trash talk across the golf course.

Teams submitted scores on the GolfStatus mobile app, which automatically synced to live leaderboards where golfers and spectators could follow along.

Responsive Support

GolfStatus’s responsive, in-house customer success team was there every step of the way, answering questions from golfers trying to register and addressing any issues. A snafu with the golf course’s updated course layout meant a last minute panic on incorrect scorecards. “I reached out via the support chat during the Super Bowl!” Clay laughs, and says that by halftime, everything was fixed and new scorecards ready to go. “I was blown away by the customer success team and their amazing response time,” he says.

---

“I don’t know how I could have successfully pulled off this event at the level we did without using GolfStatus.”

— Clay Jackson, Director of Development at Brazos Christian School

---

“I don’t know how I could have successfully pulled off this event at the level we did without using GolfStatus,” Clay says. “The short turnaround meant there wasn’t enough time to do it the way that it had always been done. GolfStatus made my life a million times easier.”

---

Planning a Golf Fundraiser?

Leverage GolfStatus’s robust event management platform built just for golf, with built-in fundraising tools to help you raise more money for your organization or cause. Qualifying 501(c) organizations and those holding events that benefit one can get access to GolfStatus’s golf tournament management software at no cost, including a free event website, online registration, 24/7 support, and features to handle all the golf logistics that save you a ton of time. Click the link below to get qualified or email events@golfstatus.org.

Organization Snapshot

Habitat for Humanity partners with communities all over the globe to help build homes, with the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Globally, Habitat for Humanity has worked in more than 70 countries and helped more than 39 million people with improved living conditions since 1976. On the local level, affiliate organizations work with trusted partners and residents to improve communities and build strong neighborhoods. In Chicago, Habitat’s commitment is to local families to achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through housing and development projects. Four in 10 Chicagoans live in declining conditions, making Habitat’s work critical to helping the city thrive.

Chris Johnson, a Real Estate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, serves as the President of the chapter’s Associate Board, whose charge is to raise funds for the organization’s work. He’s worked in Chicago’s real estate market for nine years and is intimately familiar with the city’s need for denser, more affordable housing options. Chris says Habitat is helping address these issues, not only through physically building homes and neighborhoods, but by educating people and helping them navigate what can be an overwhelming and complicated process. “It’s not about giving away homes, it’s about creating generational change, a steady and safe environment for families, and building wealth in their home,” Chris says. “There’s only so many homes that can be built, but when we’re able to help prepare people for homeownership through education, financial literacy, and sound advice, we can help even more.”

Chris Johnson, far left, Associate Board President for Habitat for Humanity of Chicago, helped spearhead the inaugural golf fundraiser.

The Challenge

One of Habitat for Humanity of Chicago’s flagship programs is HomeBuyer University, a pilot effort that began in 2019 to break down barriers to becoming a homeowner by helping prospective homeowners understand the process and how to prepare for applying for a mortgage. Funds raised by the Associate Board help underwrite the costs of this program, which is a key part of fulfilling the local chapter’s mission.

After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of an annual yacht party fundraiser, Chris wanted to shift gears and establish a golf event as the board’s main fundraiser. “Folks were exhausted with virtual events and wanted a way to gather safely, and I’ve loved golf since I was a kid,” Chris says, so he dove headfirst into planning a golf event. He knew launching a brand new tournament was going to be challenging, but also knew that they needed to move forward. “I presented a golf tournament to the rest of the board as a feasible way to get a fundraising event done and established.”

Chris, with the help of Associate Board member Brian Doyle of BMO Harris in Chicago and the rest of the planning team, set a conservative goal to raise about $8,000 for the tournament’s first year. Several board members had played in charity tournaments in the past, but no one had experience planning an event.

---

dollars raised

$13,000

newly-established

annual golf fundraiser

---

The Solution

Chris knew there had to be an option for live scoring and easy registration for golf tournaments. A little online research led him straight to GolfStatus. “To take on an event like this in its first year without any experience was a little daunting, but having a tool like GolfStatus that took things off my plate and made the logistics easier to handle was so great,” Chris explains. He wanted one centralized place to keep things organized, take payments, manage sponsor assets, and print cart signs. “GolfStatus had all this and more,” he says.

“To take on an event like this in its first year without any experience was a little daunting, but having a tool like GolfStatus that took things off my plate and made the logistics easier to handle was so great.”

— Chris Johnson, Associate Board President at Habitat for Humanity of Chicago

---

The golf outing’s event website was built and hosted by GolfStatus as part of the Golf for Good giveback initiative.

The Results

The first-year tournament surpassed its fundraising goal, taking in $13,000. It attracted 19 teams for the four-person scramble. Teams live-scored via the free GolfStatus mobile app, which made confirming the final results much quicker and more efficient than relying on paper scorecards. Nine sponsorships were sold through the GolfStatus platform, including the premium technology sponsorship, which boasts premium visibility on the event website’s homepage, live leaderboards, and across the mobile app.

Golfers listen to instructions before teeing off.

massive time savings

Chris says the time savings the platform provided was invaluable. Every GolfStatus event website includes online registration with secure payment processing, allowing golfers and sponsors to purchase packages directly on the event website, eliminating the need to manually process paper registration forms, handle checks or take credit card information, or track information in multiple spreadsheets. Chris, Brian, or anyone on the planning team could log into GolfStatus and see who had registered or purchased a sponsorship with a few clicks. “Having everything in one place really made my life easier,” he says. “I could focus on the experience and day of things that needed to be handled.” Plus, sponsors can upload graphics and links directly through the event website, saving a ton of time. “Going back and forth with sponsors to get logos and such can really be a time suck,” Chris points out.

---

“Having everything in one place really made my life easier. I could focus on the experience and day-of things that needed to be handled.”

— Chris Johnson, Associate Board President at Habitat for Humanity of Chicago

---

connecting to the cause

While many people are familiar with Habitat for Humanity, they often have misconceptions about what Habitat does. “People think we give away houses!” Chris says. In fact, families that are selected for a Habitat home are part of the building process and pay a 0% mortgage. “People think it’s a lottery, but it’s a long-term commitment to the neighborhood and community,” Chris says. At the start of the tournament, Chris made a point to speak about what Habitat for Humanity Chicago does and passed out educational materials as folks checked in for the tournament so they had a better understanding of what they were supporting.

Habitat for Humanity of Chicago volunteers help build homes and strengthen neighborhoods across the city.

---

second-to-none support & resources

Chris worked closely with the GolfStatus team to build out the event website, which was provided at no cost as part of the Golf for Good program. Qualifying 501(c) organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, and those holding golf tournaments on their behalf, get access to the entire suite of GolfStatus’s tournament management and fundraising solution, in addition to an in-house support team. “The support team was great,” Chris says. “I had a question early on a Saturday morning and someone answered by chat almost immediately.”

Looking to the Future

Having one year of tournament planning experience under their belts has led to a number of things to improve on for next year’s event. First and foremost, Chris, Brian, and the rest of the team plan to get the event website up and running in the spring for the September event. “Chicago starts to thaw out in April and people are thinking about getting outside,” he says. They also plan to rethink the day of the week of the tournament, which was held on a Saturday in its inaugural year. “Saturday is a great day to play golf, but it was harder to get sponsors to commit to sending a team on a weekend or consider entertaining clients on a weekend,” Chris points out.

He hopes the annual golf tournament will become the board’s marquee fundraising event for Habitat for Humanity Chicago. “I love Habitat. I love being on a job site and watching homes come together,” Chris says. “It’s a lot like what they say about golf—a bad day golfing is better than a good day doing something else. Well, volunteering for Habitat is the same. You’ll work hard but the impact is worth it.”

---

Golf for Good

GolfStatus’s Golf for Good giveback initiative through GolfStatus.org helps nonprofits and those holding events benefiting them streamline their golf events to save time and raise more money. It starts with a free event website and no-cost access to GolfStatus’s event management and fundraising platform for qualifying organizations and events. Get qualified here or email events@golfstatus.com.

Organization Snapshot

Marriott Business Councils bring together hotel management and employees from across a region to network and work together to give back to the larger community. The Colorado Marriott Business Council has been active for over two decades, with a strong presence in the Denver area and beyond that engages Marriott hotel brands, its employees, and the community at-large. It formed a millennial/next generation committee to involve future leaders and provide direction to the Council at large as well as an active committee focusing on LGBTQ issues. 

Chad Conrad is currently the chair of the Colorado Council and has been involved in its work for over 23 years. “Marriott believes in taking care of its employees while also taking care of its community,” Chad says. “The goal is to make people feel like you’re at home when you’re not at home. Employees are just the ambassadors of that idea, taking care of each other and expanding it into the communities where we operate,” he explains.

---

Annual Tournament

20 years +

Dollars Raised

$35,000

---

At the national level, Marriott has been a banner sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals for over 30 years. This support has trickled down to local and regional Marriott groups, including business councils. Across its 675,000 associates in the U.S., there’s strong buy-in to the commitment to CMN Hospitals across the country. “Associates’ kids benefit from these top-notch facilities,” says Chad. The tie to CMN Hospitals is important to him personally, as both his daughters have been in children’s hospitals at one time or another. 

For over 20 years, the Council has hosted an annual golf tournament to raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado, the local CMN hospital. He and the planning team have made a concerted effort to set their event apart from other fundraisers and offer a different experience each year, working closely with vendors and other partners. One of its hallmarks has been featuring executive chefs from various Marriott hotels cooking a signature dish on each hole. 

Unfortunately, COVID-19’s profound impact on the tourism industry—layoffs, reduced hotel occupancy, and labor shortages—have impacted the Council’s work and people power. “A lot of our committees fell apart as we lost staff,” Chad explains, but notes that as the workforce rebounds these groups can be rebuilt and re-engaged.

The Challenge

For Chad and Marriott employees from across the state, the annual golf fundraiser’s support of Children’s Hospital Colorado resulted in a meaningful tie to the community. He has been involved in the golf tournament since its inception, and has seen it grow and flourish over the years.

But as COVID-19 hit the tourism industry hard, hotels were short-staffed and the golf event was forced to be pared down. The Council lost several members due to layoffs and closures in hotels, including two who helped Chad head up the golf tournament each year, leaving him as the lone organizer. “It fell 100% on my plate to make it happen,” Chad says. Though he didn’t necessarily want to learn a new platform or system, he knew in order to keep the event alive, he needed to employ some type of technology to save time, automate processes, and make planning as simple and efficient as possible.

The Solution

Chad turned to GolfStatus, the official golf event management platform for events benefiting CMN Hospitals, to get the event back on its feet. He saw its easy-to-use technology as an all-in-one solution to promote the event, register golfers, onboard and recognize sponsors, and collect funds. 

With limited manpower and resources, the switch to GolfStatus for the golf tournament couldn’t have come at a better time. Because the event was raising money for a nonprofit—Colorado Children’s Hospital—it qualified for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s platform through the company’s Golf for Good giveback initiative. 

The Results

Though COVID-19 upended the golf tournament and drew fewer golfers than in past years, momentum is building and Chad hopes to get back to a full slate of teams in the next few years. “Since it’s been around for over 20 years, it was important to me to keep it alive,” Chad says. The tournament date was moved from June to August and couldn’t include any extras beyond the round of golf. And while the tournament attracted about half of its historical attendees, the event still raised about the same amount of money for the hospital, around $35,000. “We were thrilled about that,” he says.

Highlighted Platform Features

• Golf for Good program

• Event website

• Online registration

• Secure payment processing

• Messaging feature

Event Website

Because the golf tournament benefited a nonprofit in Children’s Hospital Colorado, it qualified for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which provides no-cost access to the event planning and fundraising platform at no cost. The GolfStatus team built an event website in partnership with Chad, along with custom team and sponsorship packages that people could purchase directly on the website with just a few clicks. The event website also lets golfers, sponsors, and spectators make a donation directly to the cause, raising even more money for Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Online Registration & Payment Processing

When the tournament was organized by a much larger planning team, one member of the planning team handled all the money—processing paper registration forms and checks, sending receipts, and tracking payments. With a one-man show for this year’s event, Chad says the online registration and payment collection aspects of using GolfStatus was the best upgrade for the event. “I barely had to do anything with it,” he points out, as the platform sends automated receipts upon registration. As an organizer, he could quickly and easily see who had registered in the software’s back-end. “The value behind this was priceless,” he says. What’s more, he heard from golfers how easy it was to register and nice to get a receipt immediately. “It’s expected to have online registration today.” he says.

---

“The value behind this was priceless.”

— Chad Conrad, Chair of the Colorado Marriott Business Council

---

Sponsor Recruitment & Recognition

Chad has worked with a core group of vendors and partners to support the golf event over its 22-year tenure, but has continued to explore new avenues and opportunities to attract additional sponsor support. “When we partner with a new hotel through the Council, it opens doors to a new set of sponsors,” Chad explains. The golf event’s website and accompanying free GolfStatus mobile app gives sponsors a ton of digital exposure for their investment, before, during, and after the tournament. 

Easy Communication

Chad used the platform’s built-in messaging feature to send emails directly to registrants, alerting them of updates and specifics about the event. He used it to share information about the day’s timeline, where folks should check in, and the included breakfast. Since all registration information is stored in the platform, there was no need for him to export email addresses into another service to send a simple email—it could all be handled within GolfStatus. 

CMN Partnership

GolfStatus has partnered with CMN Hospitals to help event organizers—whether they’re passionate supporters, hospitals or hospital foundations, corporate partners, businesses, or other volunteers—put on a golf tournament to benefit member hospitals. A common technology platform makes it as easy as possible for anyone to organize a golf fundraiser and raise even more money. Marriott’s continued commitment to children’s hospitals is evident in its support of this technology for golf events that benefit CMN Hospitals. What’s more, Chad made sure representatives from Children’s Hospital Colorado were able to share information and explain the tournament’s impact on the hospital, making a connection to the cause the tournament was supporting.

Golf & Fundraising Success

In Chad’s 22 years organizing the golf tournament fundraiser, he’s seen the impact it has in raising money for Children’s Hospital Colorado and the benefit for participating hotels. “So much business is done on the golf course,” he points out. “Whether you’re a good golfer or not, you can still make connections and do business while raising money and having fun.” Chad says his number one focus is to bring the hotels together to raise awareness and funds for the hospital. “We could throw a dinner party or do something different but we wouldn’t have the success of a golf tournament,” he says. “A golf tournament has staying power.”

---

“Whether you’re a good golfer or not, you can still make connections and do business while raising money and having fun.”

— Chad Conrad, Chair of the Colorado Marriott Business Council

---

Growing With the Event

Though Chad was a one-man show in organizing the event this year, his goal is to build the Business Council back and involve more folks in the golf fundraiser again. “The GolfStatus team made it super easy,” he says, explaining that it would be simple to collaborate with a planning team in the future. “I don’t know that I can ever go back to how I used to do it!”

---

Golf for Good

GolfStatus’s Golf for Good giveback initiative through GolfStatus.org helps nonprofits and those holding events benefiting them streamline their golf events to save time and raise more money. It starts with a free event website and no-cost access to GolfStatus’s event management and fundraising platform for qualifying organizations and events. Get qualified here or email events@golfstatus.org.

Niobrara County High School (NCHS) is located in Lusk, Wyoming, a town of about 1,500 people in the state’s Eastern plains. It’s home to open pastures, rolling hills, and a rich history in mining and cattle ranching. When Jason Wasserburger, an attorney living in Cheyenne, attended his 15-year NCHS reunion six years ago, he was disappointed by the lack of turnout. 

---

Dollars raised

$27,000+

Annual tournament

6th year

---

Each NCHS class typically holds an individual reunion on Friday night of the alumni weekend each June, with an all-class banquet on Saturday night, Jason says, though he points out that recently, these events have garnered lower participation than in the past. He and a few classmates played a round of golf over the reunion weekend, and it sparked an idea to draw more alumni: provide an economic boost to the community, and raise money for the school—a golf tournament fundraiser.

---

Launching & Growing a Fundraiser

Jason tapped three other NCHS alumni to get the ball rolling in the tournament’s first year. While two of the four weren’t golfers, they all had a penchant for organization and getting things done. “The first year was mostly an experiment in figuring out how to make this work and getting folks on board with the idea,” Jason says. In its first year, the tournament raised about $7,500, of which $4,000 was donated the rest used as seed money to run the tournament the following year. But perhaps more importantly, the fundraiser gained momentum and buy-in from alumni.

As the years passed, the tournament steadily grew in both the number of teams and the total dollars raised. The tournament’s second year brought in $10,000 and increased to $12,000, $15,000, and over $18,000 in its third, fourth, and fifth years, respectively.

But as the sixth year of the fundraiser approached, the NCHS Alumni Golf Board wanted to find a way to modernize the tournament and reduce the manual labor required to handle registrations, hole assignments, and scoring. Enter GolfStatus, which provided a free event registration website, and—since the tournament raised money for the nonprofit alumni association—access to its golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost through its Golf for Good program.

“We wanted to automate as much of the process as possible, and GolfStatus did that,” Jason says. The switch to online registration was the biggest time-saver, collecting team information and payments via the event website instead of using multiple spreadsheets to process checks and receipts received via email, mail, and social media. 

---

“We wanted to automate as much of the process as possible, and GolfStatus did that.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

---

For the 2021 tournament, the Board set an aggressive fundraising goal of $25,000, increasing the cost of team registration packages and add-ons like mulligans to help the event continue to raise more dollars. “Some of us thought we were a few years away from being able to reach that goal,” Jason says. Not only did the tournament meet the goal, it surpassed it, raising over $27,000!

Making the Experience Great

Jason says the tournament has always focused on the golfer experience. As the event grew, it was split into two rounds, with more competitive folks generally playing in the morning round but all teams handicapped and scored together. Because the tournament is played at a small nine-hole golf course, teams were limited to three people to keep a steady pace of play.

One of the ways the Board has aimed to attract  teams, and keep them coming back each year, is to provide a stellar tournament experience. Working with sponsors to secure high-end hole and contest prizes like TaylorMade golf bags and clubs, putters, cash prizes, and Yeti coolers has proven effective. The addition of contests, including closest to the pin, longest putt, and longest drive competitions, keeps folks lingering at the course beyond playing their round of golf, encouraging alumni to reconnect.

A hallmark of the GolfStatus platform is simple, reliable live scoring. Teams submit their scores on each hole via the free GolfStatus app, which syncs with the event’s live leaderboards. Leaderboards can be viewed by anyone, anywhere on the event website or in the app, keeping golfers and spectators engaged and making finalizing the tournament simpler and more efficient. “It’s way better than handwriting it on a big scoreboard like we used to,” Jason says. He points out that rather than waiting until after the tournament to tabulate scores, GolfStatus provided that information in real-time, saving a tremendous amount of time.

The Board was admittedly concerned ahead of the event that there might be resistance to mobile scoring among golfers, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Teams reported how they liked seeing the standings throughout the event. “Everyone was really happy with the live-scoring app,” Jason says, noting that even the older generation enjoyed it. 

---

“Everyone was really happy with the live-scoring app.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

---

Doing Good For the Community

As the tournament has grown and gained momentum over its six-year tenure, it’s increasingly viewed as a viable community fundraiser. Jason notes that people seek out ways to make donations because they know the money is going back to the school and benefits the community as a whole. “Most sponsors have a connection to the community and see the golf tournament as a way to give back,” Jason explains.

---

“Most sponsors have a connection to the community and see the golf tournament as a way to give back.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

---

The proceeds from the tournament go to the NCHS alumni association, donated in honor of Jerry and Lynnea Fulmer, longtime teacher, coach, school district employee, and all-around huge supporters of NCHS. The association supports scholarships for NCHS graduates and their families, ensuring the stability of the longtime scholarship fund. Additional donations are made to the NCHS Activity Fund, which supports all students and activities, and the Tiger Pride Booster Club. The Board wants current students to have access to the same activities and opportunities older alumni had when they were in school. The golf tournament helps fill the funding gap from declining enrollment, a decrease in state funding, and lower participation in historic fundraisers like the alumni banquet, providing funds for the extras that NCHS or the Booster Club may not otherwise be able to support, like hotel rooms for a state tournament, tires for a bus, new uniforms, pregame meals for sports teams, and post-prom activities. The Board also established and helped fund the Joseph K. Tully Memorial Scholarship, create in honor of a longtime teacher, principal, and coach.

The Board plans to continue to use GolfStatus to delegate some of the prep and planning tasks in the future so they can focus more on the fundraising aspect of the tournament. The web-based platform makes collaborating among teams and committees super simple; since everything is kept in one easily accessible place, everyone is working with the same up-to-the minute information, instead of relying on spreadsheets that quickly become outdated. 

The Board is also training new members on best practices for running the tournament (including getting them looped into the GolfStatus platform) to keep the tournament’s planning team fresh and energized. “Overall, for the size of our event and community, we’re able to raise a ton of money and we continue to need go-getters to make the tournament happen,” Jason says. He’s excited about the future and how GolfStatus will continue to create efficiencies and pave the way to raise more money for the association.

---

“Overall, for the size of our event and community, we’re able to raise a ton of money.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

---

Through GolfStatus.org and the Golf for Good program, nonprofits and those holding golf fundraisers that benefit one can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s event management and fundraising technology. Get started with a free event registration website and a platform that keeps you organized, handles the golf-specific details, and provides time-saving automation. Click the link below to get qualified or email events@golfstatus.org. 

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare congenital heart issue that affects one out of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. Cameron Morgan Steinberg, daughter of Sam and Mel Steinberg, was diagnosed with the condition before birth. Knowing the challenges ahead, the first-time parents worked with their team of doctors to put a plan in place for Cami to be treated at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor immediately after birth.

Mel, Cami, and Sam Steinberg

---

In babies with HLHS, the left side of the heart doesn’t develop properly in the womb. In a normal heart, red blood returns from the lungs and flows through the heart’s upper chamber (atrium) through the mitral valve to the left ventricle, where it’s pumped through the aortic valve and out to the child’s body. But with HLHS, the left side of the heart isn’t strong enough to pump the required blood for the body’s needs.

Dr. Michael Gaies, a pediatric cardiologist, associate professor, and one of the doctors who treated Cami at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, developed a strong bond with Cami and her parents. “They were remarkable advocates for Cami,” Dr. Gaies says. “They pushed us to turn every stone for Cami, and truly made us better healthcare professionals.” 

In addition to Cami’s heart issues, she also battled a lung disease that was, ultimately, untreatable. On November 23, 2018, Cami passed away in her parents’ arms at just two months old. Though they were shattered by the loss of their daughter, they turned that heartbreak into an effort to honor Cami’s short life, launching the Cameron Steinberg Foundation to raise money to help other families affected by congenital heart disease. 

“This is a special family, to take a tragedy like this and turn it into something good in the world,” says Dr. Gaies. He believes so strongly in what Mel and Sam are doing that he nominated the Cameron Steinberg Foundation’s newly established golf fundraiser to receive a $10,000 donation from the Dormie Network as part of a charitable giving effort with GolfStatus.org, and it was selected as the winner.

---

“This is a special family, to take a tragedy like this and turn it into something good in the world.”

— Dr. Michael Gaies, pediatric cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

---

“It’s hard to describe the sadness we as Cami’s doctors and nurses experienced when we came to the conclusion that we couldn’t help her,” Dr. Gaies says. “The work this family is doing to honor her short life and help other kids and families have a better outcome is nothing short of incredible, and it’s so meaningful to be able to contribute to that.”

---

“The work this family is doing to honor her short life and help other kids and families have a better outcome is nothing short of incredible, and it’s so meaningful to be able to contribute to that.”

— Dr. Michael Gaies, pediatric cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

---

Shortly after Cami’s passing, Sam and Mel used the proceeds from shirts that were sold bearing the #CamiStrong logo to donate 100 copies of the book Zipline (written specifically for kids who have undergone open heart surgery to help them feel comfortable with themselves and their surgical scar) and almost 400 stuffed animals to the hospital for current and future heart patients. In addition, a Comprehensive Single Ventricle Clinic was created at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Cami’s honor. The clinic provides support for patients and families leading up to and after open-heart surgery. “Thirty years ago, kids born with single ventricle heart conditions like HLHS didn’t have much in terms of treatment options,” says Dr. Gaies. Now, he explains, kids are generally expected to survive through childhood. Though Cami had other complications that made that impossible, Dr. Gaies says this clinic was established to help other pediatric heart patients deal with the unique medical and behavioral needs they’ll face over the long-term. 

The second annual Cameron Steinberg Foundation Charity Golf Classic will be held on May 23, 2022 at Tartan Field Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Gaies describes how he chatted with Cami’s family about golf on many occasions throughout her stay at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and how it was a natural progression to using the sport to raise money for the Cameron Steinberg Foundation. “Golf is an easy way to rally support for a great cause,” he says. He admires the Steinbergs’ commitment to making a direct impact on families grappling with the challenges of congenital heart conditions with every dollar raised through the Foundation.

---

“Golf is an easy way to rally support for a great cause.”

— Dr. Michael Gaies, pediatric cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

---

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to help this family,” says Dr. Gaies. “This donation is going to help them do great things!”

Mel and Sam Steinberg pose with Dr. Michael Gaies at the Cameron Steinberg Foundation’s first annual golf fundraiser.

---

ABOUT THE CAMERON STEINBERG FOUNDATION

The Cameron Steinberg Foundation was established in memory of Cameron Steinberg, who lost her battle with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) as an infant in 2018. In honor of Cameron and other families that have lived through similar pain, her parents established the Foundation to increase awareness for all congenital heart defects and raise money that makes a difference for HLHS patients and their families.

Fun was at the heart of Pat Neal’s personality. A natural jokester and all-around personable guy, Pat loved playing in golf tournaments or playing a round of golf with his buddies whenever he could. “He had a good short game,” says Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter. Mostly, she says, he played golf for fun.

In early 2017, Pat was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer. He was treated by Dr. Nicole Shonka at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who was researching new therapies for brain tumors. Because of the nature of this type of cancer, treatment is often difficult, and more research is needed into new and better treatment methods and advances in early detection. 

Pat Neal

---

dollars raised for brain cancer research

$24,000

---

After battling glioblastoma for 16 months, Pat passed away in 2018 at the age of 67. The family chose the Brain Cancer Research Fund at the University of Nebraska, which helps fund Dr. Shonka’s work, as the beneficiary of memorial gifts—not only to remember Pat and celebrate his life, but to help further this important research for other glioblastoma patients. Dr. Shonka’s research into glioblastoma continued while she was treating Pat, which made the Neal family’s connection to her work even stronger. 

Yet the family wanted to do even more. According to Katie, the Neal family likes any reason to get together—whether it’s a birthday, helping with a project on a house, a barbecue, or a round of golf. “We all show up for each other,” she says. So when Pat’s nephew, Frank, threw out the idea of a golf tournament to raise money for brain cancer research, the family was all in.

Pat’s family in Hawaii in 2017

Getting a Tournament Off the Ground

In just a few short weeks, and thanks to some heavy lifting from GolfStatus’s golf event management platform, the first annual Pat Neal Memorial Golf Tournament was held in October of 2020. A friend of the family created the tournament’s logo based on a photo of Pat mowing the lawn in his bucket hat. 

The event sold out almost immediately. “So many people loved my dad and wanted to play for him,” Katie says. But with such a short time to plan due to golf course availability, Katie credits GolfStatus with making the event a reality. “It was crazy, but somehow it all came together and worked because of GolfStatus.” 

---

“So many people loved my dad and wanted to play for him.”

— Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter

---

With one year under their belts, planning for the second annual tournament was much smoother. Because they knew what to expect, Katie and the other family members helping to plan the tournament had a better idea of how to prepare for their July 2021 event, when things needed to be done, and how to make the event run smoothly. And above all, to keep fun as the focus of the tournament. 

Katie says that in its second year, people who didn’t even know her dad played in the tournament. “They saw it on GolfStatus,” Katie says, referring to the tournament’s listing in the GolfStatus mobile app and on events.golfstatus.com, a website that lists upcoming golf events in the user’s area. “It was great that so many more people heard about my dad and learned about glioblastoma.”

In its first two years, the memorial tournament raised more than $24,000 for brain cancer research. Beyond a sold out tournament field, the tournament benefited from the involvement of so many extended family members and family friends who personally knew Pat. Family members reached out to local businesses they had connections with to solicit sponsorships and donations to glioblastoma research. “We love being able to support research into this specific type of cancer,” says Tara Neal, Pat’s wife of 32 years.

Simple Technology Keeps Everything Organized

Katie’s first exposure to GolfStatus came through the mobile app, which she used when she played golf. The app not only provides live-scoring capabilities for fundraisers and other tournaments, but lets golfers record their scores for rounds played at any golf facility, track advanced statistics, and use GPS to gauge distances to the front, back, and center of every green. The app also lists tournaments in the user’s area, which makes it an especially easy avenue to reach avid golfers looking to play in a tournament. Golfers and sponsors can also register for tournaments right in the app.

For folks who want to start a fundraiser or are already charged with planning one, GolfStatus offers a program called Golf for Good that provides access to its golf event management and fundraising platform to events raising money for a nonprofit or cause at no cost. The web-based software makes it easy to plan an event, streamlining some of the most time-consuming tasks of golf fundraisers. “The best part of GolfStatus was how simple it made everything. We just shared the link to the website where people could sign up, and it was great to keep track of everything in one place,” Katie says. “It couldn’t have been easier!” She notes how they used their free event website not only for registrations and sponsorship recognition, but to share some information about glioblastoma and her dad, and where the money raised was going.

---

“The best part of GolfStatus was how simple it made everything. We just shared the link to the website where people could sign up, and it was great to keep track of everything in one place. It couldn’t have been easier!”

— Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter

---

The tournament also took advantage of GolfStatus’s mobile scoring capabilities. Each team in the four-person scramble recorded their score via the GolfStatus mobile app, which automatically synced to the tournament’s overall leaderboard. Not only can anyone follow along with the tournament’s progress, but donations to the cause can be made directly from the live leaderboard. “The mobile scoring was so great,” Katie says. “People really liked seeing how their scores stacked up against everyone else throughout the day.” She heard from golfers how it added even more fun to the day, and because the scores were already calculated, there was no waiting around at the conclusion of the round to announce the winners—it was all handled in real-time by the software.

Pat’s three kids, from left: Hank, Katie, and Emily

A Legacy of Fun & Generosity 

The focus of the Pat Neal Memorial Golf Tournament is simple—to have fun. “That’s exactly how he always played golf, just for fun,” Katie says. The tournament was a scramble, which is the most common format used for charity golf tournaments. A scramble is ideal for tournaments looking to attract a wide range of abilities and golfers who just want to have a good time. In a scramble, each player on a team (typically of four) has a chance to hit the ball; the team then determines which ball was hit in the best position. The team then plays the ball from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed. One person then submits the team’s score to the GolfStatus leaderboard through its live-scoring app for each hole with a few simple taps. 

“I know Pat would be the first one out there having a good time!” says Tara, noting how thankful they are that the tournament has a bigger purpose for a cause that’s so important to the entire family. “Dr. Shonka was so amazing to my dad, and the whole family is grateful to be able to contribute to her work,” says Katie.

As for the future, the golf tournament is another excuse to get the close-knit family together. “I think we’ll definitely keep this an annual tradition,” Katie says. “It’s too much fun not to!”

---

“Dr. Shonka was so amazing to my dad, and the whole family is grateful to be able to contribute to her work.”

— Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter

---

---

Want to Launch a Memorial Golf Tournament?

GolfStatus can help! Its event management platform is built specifically for golf, and streamlines prep and planning. Events that raise money for a charity or cause can qualify for GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program, which includes a free event website and access to GolfStatus’s golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost. Click below to get qualified or email events@golfstatus.org.

ORGANIZATION SNAPSHOT

For over 40 years, Christian Adoption Services (CAS) has placed children in need of a home with their forever families. Through domestic and international adoption, as well as foster-to-adopt programs, CAS cares for kids, birth families, and adoptive families throughout the adoption process. 

“People don’t always understand why we need to fundraise,” says Sonia Livingston, Events Coordinator for CAS. “Because adoptive families pay a fee to our agency to adopt, people assume we don’t have fundraising needs, but those fees don’t cover all of the expenses or outreach programs.” CAS makes caring for birth mothers a priority, whether it’s coordinating doctor’s appointments, assisting with groceries or living expenses, or offering post-adoption counseling services. Much of this ministry is not covered by adoption fees, so the funds necessary to care for 200 birth mothers each year must come from outside fundraising efforts.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the agency works throughout North Carolina and has expanded into South Carolina. This growth and expansion in programming allows the agency to serve more kids and families, but also requires raising additional funds.

THE CHALLENGE

CAS has relied on golf tournament fundraisers for several years. “They’re fun and a great chance for fellowship,” says Sonia, noting that proceeds from the golf events benefit the agency’s general operating fund to support services for birth mothers, adoption fee assistance, and overhead. Golf tournaments also present an important outreach opportunity for the agency. Because regular supporters tend to fill teams with people from their personal and professional networks, Sonia and her team are able to share more about their work and its impact with potential donors and sponsors. CAS also relies on banquets for fundraising, and while they certainly have value, golf has allowed CAS to do more than just raise money. Golf tournaments give staff the chance to interact with supporters, building relationships and networking. “During a banquet you don’t get to interact with people the same way you do at a golf tournament,” says Sonia. 

The expansion into South Carolina has led the agency to kick off additional golf tournaments in its new service areas. Now with four golf tournaments to plan and execute, it was imperative to keep everything organized in one place and streamline the logistics to maximize organizers’ time as well as opportunities to bring in funds for the agency’s work. 

THE SOLUTION

Sonia and CAS adopted GolfStatus for their 2020 golf events, after looking for an option that allowed online registration and add-on purchases ahead of the event to streamline registration and check-in and maintain social distancing to protect staff members and golfers in the wake of COVID-19.

The 2021 golf tournament series marked CAS’s second year using GolfStatus as a solution. Sonia says the support of GolfStatus’s in-house customer success team was invaluable. GolfStatus’s team built CAS’s first event registration website, and Sonia was able to make changes as necessary and copy events for easy set up. “Having one place to keep track of everything is a huge benefit of using GolfStatus,” Sonia says.

Highlighted Platform Features:

• Event website

• Online registration and secure payment processing

• Fundraising add-ons (raffle tickets and mulligans)

• Sponsor management

• Drag-and-drop hole assignments

• Pre-formatted professional event printouts with sponsor logos

• Detailed reporting

• Live scoring and leaderboards

---

“Having one place to keep track of everything is a huge benefit of using GolfStatus.”

— Sonia Livingston, Events Coordinator for Christian Adoption Services

---

THE RESULTS

Thus far in 2021, the golf events have hit their fundraising goals and Sonia hopes each golf event continues to grow as their service area grows. Their biggest event takes place in September, and Sonia is all in on using GolfStatus to keep things organized, professional, and running smoothly.

Online Registration & Add-Ons 

GolfStatus’s event website with secure online registration allowed golfers to purchase add-ons like mulligans and raffle tickets with their golfer package, rather than having to wait until the day of the event and buying them separately. “Letting golfers buy those when they registered made it so much easier, and we sold more mulligans and raffle tickets!” Sonia says, noting that they communicated with supporters the tournament, encouraging them to purchase those pieces in advance.

Tournament Format

Holding tournaments during COVID-19 led CAS to switch to tee time starts rather than the traditional shotgun start to stagger the number of people at the golf course at the same time. It turned out to be a positive change—more golfers were able to participate, bringing in additional funds, and it gave staff a chance to connect and talk with each team as they teed off on the first hole. Teams used GolfStatus’s mobile app to record their scores for the tournament’s scramble, which automatically synced to the event leaderboards. Not only did this add a competitive element to the tournament as teams could check live standings, but it made it easy for organizers to see how the tournament was progressing as scores were posted.

Sponsor Retention & Stewardship

CAS has retained the majority of their sponsors year-over-year, thanks to a combination of digital and traditional sponsorship exposure. The digital exposure specifically offered by GolfStatus has been appealing all around for organizers and sponsors. “I really like that we can put all of our sponsors’ logos on the event website and they show up in the app,” Sonia says. Golfers see sponsor logos every time they check the live leaderboards, get event information, or add scores for a hole, adding tremendous value to a sponsor’s investment. Sonia explains that their golf events are also a great chance to further steward sponsors for additional asks and donations. “Once they’ve sponsored a golf event, they tend to be more engaged with us and often attend a banquet or even give an additional business or personal gift,” she says.

Data Collection & Management

CAS recently became part of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, which necessitated a change in donor databases. In the past, CAS had used their CRM for online registration for all of their fundraising events. But the merger meant a new donor database, which didn’t have the capability for online registration or event management. GolfStatus filled this gap, collecting golfer information at the time of registration, ensuring that no information is missed. Following each event, the information is seamlessly imported into the organization’s new donor CRM.

---

“Keeping track of golfer contact information, handicap, hole assignments, and payment details was so much easier with GolfStatus.”

— Sonia Livingston, Events Coordinator for Christian Adoption Services

---

Time & Resource Savings

GolfStatus’s online platform made it easy for Sonia and her team to stay organized and save time. When golfers and sponsors registered online, their information dropped into the back-end of the software, keeping everything organized in one easy-to-access place. “Keeping track of golfer contact information, handicap, hole assignments, and payment details was so much easier with GolfStatus,” Sonia explains. “Plus it makes the event and our organization look so much more professional.” CAS qualified for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which provides 501(c) organizations with no-cost access to its golf event management software and a free event website. “The fact that GolfStatus offers this at no cost for nonprofits is unbelievable!” says Sonia.

For more information about Christian Adoption Services, visit https://www.christianadopt.org. 

---

Need help with your next golf tournament? GolfStatus is here to help with user-friendly technology that streamlines the process to save time and help you raise more money, plus a responsive in-house customer success team to guide you every step of the way. Nonprofits can qualify for no-cost technology through the Golf for Good program. Click the button below to get qualified or email us directly at events@golfstatus.org.

Golf may be the medium, but the mission of First Tee extends far beyond the sport itself. Its approach uses golf as a metaphor for life—a game with unexpected challenges and ups and downs that help build strengths beyond the technical skills to play the game. “That’s what sets us apart from someone just offering junior golf lessons,” says Jeff Porter, PGA, First Tee Omaha’s Executive Director.

Part of the larger First Tee network with chapters in all 50 states, First Tee Omaha focuses on resiliency, building self-confidence, and a sense of belonging through golf. Its nine core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment serve kids well beyond the golf course. 

The Steve Hogan Memorial Golf outing is held annually to raise money for the First Tee of Omaha’s Golf and Life Skills youth development programming, but also to remember the contributions of founder Steve Hogan. A passionate advocate for junior golf in the area, Steve was the first African American PGA professional in the Nebraska Section and had a vision of using golf as a way to instill the values of being a good person, citizen, and student in kids from all walks of life. He founded Hogan’s Heroes Junior Golf Heroes, which later became First Tee Omaha.

---

Sponsor contributions

20% increase

Revenue

30% increase

---

Elevating the Event and Maximizing Fundraising

The 11th annual Steve Hogan Memorial Golf Outing was originally planned for July 2020, but precautions related to COVID-19 prompted it to be rescheduled for September. Jeff had already signed on to use the GolfStatus platform for the event, but credits the technology with helping them quickly adapt. “Like everybody else, we rolled with the punches and made the best of the situation that we couldn’t control,” says Jeff.

Like many other nonprofits, First Tee Omaha’s golf event is a huge part of its fundraising portfolio. One of Jeff’s goals for upgrading the outing with technology was to be more efficient while still offering the best possible experience for golfers and sponsors. “We want to honor Steve’s legacy with a great event,” he says. “That meant looking at what we have been doing for years and what we can do differently and do better.” 

As a nonprofit organization, First Tee Omaha qualified for a free event registration website, along with no-cost access to the GolfStatus platform through the Golf for Good program. The GolfStatus team built the site and worked with Jeff to set custom team and sponsor packages. The built-in online registration capabilities saved the planning team a ton of time. Instead of dealing with piles of mailed in registration forms, checks, and hand-written credit card numbers, folks registered online where their information was securely captured and stored in the software’s back-end. “It was great not to have to deal with checks, processing credit cards, and handling receipts for those that registered online,” Jeff says. “This was just another way to maximize the technology to make things easier and more efficient.”

---

“This was just another way to maximize the technology to make things easier and more efficient.”

— Jeff Porter, PGA, First Tee Omaha’s Executive Director

---

Jeff notes that the simple, attractive website made it easier for sponsors to want to sign on to support the event, and digital exposure added even more value to their investment. “For sponsors and potential sponsors to see their options and purchase them right there on the website was huge,” he says. The 2020 event saw an increase in sponsor contributions by 20% over previous years, much of which Jeff credits to the broad digital exposure provided by GolfStatus.

Organizations can build custom sponsorship packages and sell them right on the event website.

Saving Everyone Time

Jeff has been in the golf business for years. He spent 10 years as a golf course general manager before becoming First Tee Omaha’s Executive Director. His years of experience running golf events from the facility side makes him uniquely qualified to understand the work that goes into running a successful golf tournament. He points out that golf staff often have to do tedious, time-consuming tasks leading up to a golf event. But GolfStatus automates much of that work, freeing up staff to assist event organizers and golfers the day of the tournament. “GolfStatus is basically another pair of hands to help with event prep and execution,” he says, noting that the software eases their burden. Instead of having to enter golfer information for cart signs, tee sheets, and alpha lists, the pre-formatted printouts in the software were ready to go. “Really, there’s no downside to using it. It saves everybody time and manpower, elevates the event, and provides a great experience.”

---

“It (GolfStatus) saves everybody time and manpower, elevates the event, and provides a great experience.”

— Jeff Porter, PGA, First Tee Omaha’s Executive Director

---

The outing used GolfStatus’s reliable live-scoring feature to not only reduce the touchpoint of paper scorecards, but provide real-time standings throughout the day. “Having the standings ready to go on the live leaderboards literally cut an hour off the end of the day,” Jeff points out. Teams used the GolfStatus mobile app to record their score with a few simple taps, which automatically synced to the live leaderboards that anyone could follow on the event website.

Not only did live scoring and leaderboards provide digital sponsorship exposure during the tournament, but they saved golf facility staff, event organizers, and even golfers time when the event was wrapping up. “People are anxious to get to the outing and play, but they’re also anxious to go home,” Jeff says. He points out that thanks to the live scoring functionality, the results were available as soon as the last group finished their round. “This is just one more way we can streamline the process to be most efficient, and people liked checking the standings over the course of the day,” Jeff says.

Better Outcomes Thanks to Better Tech

Jeff credits GolfStatus’s premium features with elevating the overall professionalism of the annual outing. “GolfStatus did everything that we wanted it to as far as elevating the product and experience that we are offering,” says Jeff.

What’s more, the event saw an impressive increase in revenue—up 30% from previous years. “The overall workload on the fundraiser went down and our revenue went up. That’s a win-win!” Jeff says. “We were really excited that we saw an increase in proceeds from the golf event and I credit that to GolfStatus.”

To learn more about First Tee Omaha, visit firstteeomaha.org.

---

“The overall workload on the fundraiser went down and our revenue went up. That’s a win-win!”

— Jeff Porter, PGA, First Tee Omaha’s Executive Director

---

Planning a memorial tournament or other golf tournament fundraiser? Get qualified for our Golf for Good program and get a free website and no-cost access to GolfStatus’s golf event management technology.

---

Like many volunteer-run organizations, the Grand Rapids Hockey Golf Classic is keenly aware of the value of every second of its volunteers’ time. Hundreds of volunteer coaches, administrators, and personnel have served thousands of boys and girls through its programs. Hockey is a way of life in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and the annual golf event raises money to offset travel and equipment costs for high school teams and provide free equipment for first-year players.

“For a small community, this program has produced a lot of college and pro hockey players,” says Roger Mischke, chair of the golf committee. He volunteers his time to head up the Golf Classic, which keeps the program thriving and gives kids the best experience they can get. In search of a way to streamline the planning process for this year’s golf tournament, and safe options for the event amid COVID-19, Roger found GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which provides access to golf fundraising and event management tools at no cost to organizations like his.

---

Dollars Raised

$13,000

Golfers

220

---

changes, adaptations & improvements

Health and safety measures and restrictions on in-person events led the golf committee to make several adaptations to the annual tournament. In a year when most in-person events had to be canceled, its loyal participants were particularly thrilled that the Golf Classic could be held. “I think everybody was just so happy that the event could happen that they were willing to adapt,” says Roger.

Through GolfStatus.org and the Golf for Good program, the Grand Rapids Hockey Golf Classic qualified for a free event registration website, built by the GolfStatus team, and no-cost access to GolfStatus’s golf event management technology. Roger and the committee simply shared the link to the event’s website through emails, social media, and other channels so teams and sponsors could register instantly. The simple upgrade to secure online registration was a game-changer for the volunteer organizers in terms of eliminating duplicative work. “We had tried to do online registration in years prior, but it didn’t function very well,” Roger says. “Registration through the GolfStatus event website was definitely an improvement and eliminated a lot of work.”

In fact, many modifications ended up making the event even better. For example, the committee made the decision to switch from a traditional shotgun start to tee times to reduce crowding at the golf course. “Going with tee times might be the way to go moving forward because we can have more players,” Roger says, noting that this year’s tournament attracted 220 golfers, comparatively more than in previous years.

---

“Registration through the GolfStatus event website definitely worked out better and eliminated a lot of work.”

— Roger Mischke, chair of the Grand Rapids Hockey Golf Classic golf committee

---

When a team or sponsor registered through the event website, all their information automatically populated into the GolfStatus event management platform, which meant there was no need for Roger or other volunteers to enter and re-enter information into multiple spreadsheets or systems, maximizing every volunteer’s time and effort.

Another change the committee made was the addition of live-scoring and leaderboards, effectively eliminating paper scorecards to reduce touchpoints and keep golfers, volunteers, and course staff safe. GolfStatus makes live-scoring especially simple: Each team is assigned a unique team code, then one person simply enters the group’s score for each hole into the app with a couple quick taps. Scores populate the event’s leaderboards in real-time, so they can be shared through social media to engage new and existing supporters. In the case of Grand Rapids Hockey, sponsors loved the additional digital exposure offered through the leaderboards and the in-app scorecard. “Sponsors definitely liked having their names and logos in the mobile app,” Roger says.

Left: Live Leaderboards; Right; In-App Registration

Competitive Add-Ons Bring Fun & Engagement

Many of the golfers who play in the annual tournament are program alumni, some of whom have gone on to play hockey at the NCAA Division I level and even in the NHL. Naturally, they loved the competitive aspect of the live scoring feature. Not only do these folks want to support Grand Rapids Hockey, but they also want to compete and enjoy the outing. When players know their score in real-time, it’s a better overall experience. “It was great to not have to rely on golfers turning in paper scorecards or wait on the golf professional to calculate final standings, since everything was done through GolfStatus,” Roger says.

---

“It was great to not have to rely on golfers turning in paper scorecards or wait on the golf professional to calculate final standings, since everything was done through GolfStatus.”

— Roger Mischke, chair of the Grand Rapids Hockey Golf Classic golf committee

---

GolfStatus’s platform also facilitates skins games as a fun add-on and side competition that can easily be added to any tournament. Typically in a skins game, each hole is played separately and is won by the player with the lowest score on that particular hole. If two or more golfers tie for the low score, the skin carries over to the next hole. At the end of the round, the player with the most skins is the winner.

GolfStatus makes it easy to keep track of skins games; tournament organizers can quickly select who is in and out on any type of skins game—gross, net, team, and/or individual. For the Grand Rapids Hockey Golf Classic, Roger and the committee offered a Team Skins (Gross) option. “The skins feature worked really well,” Roger says. “It was great how the software kept track and calculated that for us.” The software instantly compares all hole-by-hole scores of golfers in the skins game against one another to give live skins results during score entry, adding more engagement, competition, and enjoyment to the round.

Maximizing Volunteer Time & Outcomes

Maximizing the time and effort of its volunteers is critical to the success of volunteer-run organizations, including many youth sports clubs and associations. Implementing GolfStatus’s technology for the annual golf tournament not only saved volunteers many hours of work, but it improved the event’s professionalism, kept sponsors happy, and further engaged golfers to maximize fundraising outcomes. Though the committee had to make the difficult choice to eliminate some of the extra components of the golf fundraiser—like the live auction, banquet, and some on-course competitions—the additional golfers and sponsors the tournament attracted raised crucial dollars for youth hockey programs.

In the end, this year’s golf fundraiser allowed program alumni to connect with current players, families, and supporters in a safe way, enjoy a round of golf, and raise money to draw—and keep—more kids in the sport.

---

Learn more about the Grand Rapids Hockey Golf Classic at www.grhockeygolfclassic.com.

GolfStatus.org is proud to serve youth sports organizations. To learn more about how GolfStatus’s technology can help nonprofit organizations of all sizes and types run a successful golf fundraiser—and how you can get no-cost access through the Golf for Good program—contact us or get a demo.

---