| A great warm-weather fundraising event is a golf | | | | players. Put together a sponsorship form and ask |
| fundraiser. Hosting your own golf tournament is | | | | each player to raise at least $100 in pledges along |
| actually fairly easy and if done right, you can raise | | | | with their greens fees. |
| a significant amount of money. Here are some | | | | Silent auction |
| tips for maximizing your results. | | | | Solicit items from local businesses and even offer |
| Big turnout | | | | to pay for some popular items that will attract |
| Obviously, the bigger the crowd, the better you'll | | | | serious bidding such as golf lessons from the club |
| do with your tournament. Promote with quality | | | | pro or a set of new irons. |
| posters at golf stores, your own offices, and | | | | On the day of your golf fundraiser, setup a |
| other high-traffic, high-visibility locations. Use your | | | | couple of tables full of donated goods and |
| newsletter and email lists as additional ways to | | | | services. Tape bidding sheets and descriptions of |
| get the word out. | | | | each item to the tables so that golfers can place |
| Distribute a press release about your golf | | | | bids one-handed. |
| fundraiser to all your local media outlets. Describe | | | | Make sure to get the bidding started on each |
| your most noteworthy news angle in the | | | | item and encourage everyone to bid. Do a last call |
| summary paragraph and then get into the who, | | | | for bids as everyone is gathering for the awards |
| what, when, where, why, and how aspects. | | | | ceremony that wraps up your tournament, then |
| Greens fee markup | | | | announce the winners, collect the funds, and |
| Most golf courses will give you a substantial | | | | disperse the merchandise. |
| discount for a large group, particularly if you're | | | | Hold a raffle |
| scheduled for a weekday when traffic is low. You | | | | You can sell raffle tickets for quality prizes in |
| can charge the regular price and do quite well. Or, | | | | conjunction with your event. They don't even |
| you can pocket the discount, markup the regular | | | | have to be golf related, but it does help to have |
| greens fee by $10, and do even better. | | | | at least some prizes such as a new golf bag, free |
| Hole sponsors | | | | round, season pass to top course, etc. |
| Contact local businesses and ask them to sponsor | | | | Price your tickets so that you raise at least twice |
| a hole. To attract eighteen sponsors, make it | | | | as much as your prizes cost. If your prize costs |
| affordable, say $100 or so. Show them a mockup | | | | total $5,000, then sell 1,000 tickets for $10 each. |
| of the signs that will be placed for each sponsor | | | | You can make even more if you get prizes |
| and your event program where you'll list all your | | | | donated. |
| sponsors. | | | | To increase sales, sell tickets to the general public |
| Corporate sponsors | | | | and not just to your group of supporters. You |
| For the biggest financial impact, approach large | | | | can even set up a sales table at high-traffic |
| corporations and ask them to sponsor your | | | | locations like shopping centers. obviously, follow all |
| event. Companies with headquarters or substantial | | | | local regulations concerning raffle ticket sales. |
| operations in your area are your best bets. Price | | | | Cash bar cart |
| your corporate sponsorships at a reasonable level, | | | | Load up the back of a golf cart with ice and cold |
| say $1,000 for a smaller golf tournament, and | | | | drinks, then drive the course and sell your golfers |
| you'll get a good response. | | | | what they want. Cold beer and sodas are the |
| Put together a sponsorship request on your | | | | best sellers, but don't forget to include snack |
| letterhead and be specific as to what's in it for | | | | foods like pretzels and chips. |
| the corporation, i.e. prominent signage at the | | | | Catered lunch |
| event, corporate logo golf balls for all golfers, | | | | Work with the club to offer a catered lunch to all |
| newspaper coverage, golfing slots for top | | | | your golfers or at least a boxed lunch of |
| executives, etc. | | | | sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Depending on what |
| Ask around within your group to see if anyone | | | | you're offering, markup your costs by $2 to $4 |
| has personal contacts at the management level. | | | | per person and you'll do well. overcharging will |
| Managers often have discretionary funds available | | | | actually cut into your total profits. |
| for reasonable promotional expenditures. | | | | Summary |
| Player sponsors | | | | If done correctly, a golf tournament can raise a |
| Just like individuals get sponsors for Relay For Life | | | | substantial amount of money. Leverage all these |
| walks, Multiple Sclerosis bike rides, and other | | | | fundraising tips and you'll have a record-breaking |
| types of event fundraisers, so should your | | | | golf fundraiser! |