10 elements to ensure a memorable day
Calling all golf tourney planners! As a golf marketer with over 16 years of experience, I’ve witnessed some truly exceptional charity golf tournaments …and a few ho hum events.
When it comes to creating a memorable charity golf tournament, ten key elements create a golf experience that’s outstanding for players and generates maximum fundraising dollars for your cause.
Here are my top 10 tourney tips …
1. Location. Location. Location.
It all begins with choosing the right golf course. The course’s layout, amenities, and location greatly influence your tournament’s overall atmosphere and player attendance.
Here are a few things to consider when evaluating golf course possibilities:
- Course Reputation: Pick a course that’s a treat for golfers to play
- Availability: Is the golf course available on your dates?
- Capacity: How many golfers can the golf course accommodate?
- Cost: Do the fees align with your budget?
2. Develop a Marketing Plan
It’s a good idea to develop your marketing strategy six months in advance of your tourney. Think about the 4 Ps:
- Products (gifts and prizes)
- Place (location and skill level)
- Price (tourney fees & sponsorship packages)
- Promotion (before, during & after the event).
In your marketing plan, identify your two main target markets; players and sponsors.
Players: Think about the type of players most likely to attend your tourney. Consider their skills, demographics and expectations, as this will assist with course selection and sponsorships.
If you’re expecting experienced golfers, they’ll be more inclined to play a high-end golf course and willing to pay a higher tourney fee.
Sponsors: Understand your players. Data on age range, income levels, professions, location, etc. will help secure a sponsor. Local businesses will be most interested in supporting tourneys with players who are interested in buying their products or services.
FREE MARKETING TEMPLATES : When you secure sponsors early, you can promote their involvement well BEFORE the tourney. When you order MLG golf glove gifts, we provide editable flyers and social media templates so it’s really easy to promote that every player receives a custom golf glove sponsored by XYZ company. This drives registrations and sponsors love the exposure. Download editable marketing materials from our FREE Sponsorship Vault.
3. Rally a Team
More hands make for lighter work. You might try reaching out to board members from your charitable cause to help secure sponsors.
Hit up friends and family to assist with spreading the word, selling tickets and helping with registration activities on tourney day.
4. Creatively Engage
By this I mean research and develop unique and interactive ways to engage players and sponsors.
Players love perks and golf tournament gifts that are practical and different.
Business sponsors are always looking for ways to connect with players and showcase their brand in a unique way.
MLG’s custom-branded golf gloves allow Sponsors to welcome and fit every player at your tourney. Sponsors appreciate the conversation starter and players love getting a brand new quality golf glove. A truly symbiotic gifting experience.
5. Add a FUNdraising Game
Fundraising games are a great way to get players involved and maximize your charitable contributions. Silent auctions and raffles are pretty standard but there are lots of other fun, easy to organize activities to add to your financial success. Here are 10 simple golf tourney fundraising games.
6. Register Impressions
You only get one chance to make a MEMORABLE first impression. This saying really applies to events…particularly at the registration table. A friendly face and awesome welcome gift immediately creates a positive first impression of your golf tournament!
7. Cultivate Connections
Facilitate meaningful connections among players and sponsors by personally and publicly thanking your sponsors during the lunch/dinner/recognition ceremony.
This might also mean taking the time to introduce a few influential players to your sponsor. Fostering relationships can extend your sponsors’ network which increases the likelihood they will return your calls next year.
Go the extra mile to ensure your sponsors see the AMAZING intrinsic and extrinsic value your tourney is providing them.
8. Capture the Moments
The little things matter. Charity golf tournaments have a thousand moving parts and people. As the event planner, you are going to be focused on the “flow” from registration through until last call so you might want to find a professional photographer.
Photos are a fantastic way to capture players having fun, promote your charity’s fundraising goals and, provide assets to promote your tourney next year. Post the high fives and game day reels on your social media and be sure to thank and tag your sponsors!
9. Follow-Up
Everyone appreciates being thanked. Keep the momentum going after the event by sending a thank you email with game day photos to players, sponsors, and attendees. This is also a great opportunity to communicate your fundraising tally, request feedback and ask for a testimonial.
10. Inform the Community
Don’t forget to let the local community know about your tourney. Reach out to local media; radio, newspapers, local TV and FB groups. Local news sources will often share info your tournament details for free if you provide information on your charity’s impact and how the funds will be contribute to helping the community.
Incorporate these 10 tips and there’s a good chance both your players and sponsors will remember your event and sign up again next year!!
Peter Ruzyski is the founder and VP of Sales for Millennium Logo Glove. Peter has provided MLG branded gloves to over 3000 tournaments in 7 countries.
Want to talk Sponsorship Strategy? Book a Call
Peter Ruzyski
VP of Sales, Millennium Logo Glove
