Three Tips to Planning a Successful Golf Fundraiser

Golf fundraisers can prove to be a profitable success if you plan with the thought of location, PR angle, and prizes. Here are three tips to planning a golf fundraiser that’s sure to be a profitable success.

1)    Location, Location, Location
Location isn’t so much the geographical area, but a place where the venue will give you a good deal and support. You want to hold a <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=http://www.golfmarathonman.com/golf_fundraisers.html>golf fundraiser</a> at a location that will discount your fees and be supportive. When presenting the ideas to different golf places it’s best to do it in person and talk to the golf shop manager. If they’re familiar with holding <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=http://www.golfmarathonman.com/charity_golf_tournaments.html>charity golf tournaments</a> then they’ll probably be familiar with discounting fees and picking days that will give you the most opportunity to fill tee times. When your discussing the partnership potential don’t be afraid to ask about past successes and challenges with other groups. It’s always good to learn what others have done so you can integrate the good and eliminate the bad. If you secure a location with minimal fees that’s your first step to making a higher profit margin.

2)    PR Angle
Once you’ve secured the location it’s time to implement a PR plan to maximize exposure. First you need to layout out the game of golf that will be played that day. Will it be 9 holes or 18 holes of golf? Will you implement a contest on different holes? Will this be a celebrity golf tournament or will it be best out of four? Celebrity golf fundraisers are ideal because it has PR appeal and it’s an enticement for golfers to sign up. Don’t let the word “celebrity” scare you. Start by looking local such as local athletes from football, baseball, basketball or hockey teams. Then look at your local government, some people would get a kick out of golfing with the Mayor. Then think about TV and music, is there an actor or musician that grew up in your local town? Is there a public figure that openly supports your cause? If you’ve exhausted all your celebrity leads, don’t worry, you can still have a successful golf fundraiser by creating contests and giving away big prizes.  

3)    Securing Prizes
One way to solicit fabulous prizes is to call up your local sports teams. You can even make it a part of the first phone call to them when you were inquiring about athletes playing in your tournament. When they give you the news that the athletes are not able to play in your tournament, ask for a prize instead to help with the cause. Prizes can range from autographed jerseys, autographed balls, and autographed photos, tickets to a game or even a prize package of sports merchandise. You can do the same thing with corporations. When you present corporations with a title sponsorship or hole sponsorship package include a prize in the presentation. Then even if they don’t purchase the complete sponsorship they can donate
in-kind materials. Before you know it you’ll have plenty of prizes and your problem will be to create fun contests so that you can give them away.

Creating contests within a golf tournament is the fun part. This will add the icing on the cake for those who are participating. Ideally, you would want to add a prize per hole, an overall best score prize, longest drive and maybe even some fun prizes such as worst score and best golf outfit. By starting with these three basic tips you’re sure to have a golf fundraiser that will end in the black.