Anyone ever planning a charity golf outing?

[justincredible]

I run an Ohio-based sports and general discussion forum. We were throwing around the idea of having a golf outing this summer and now we have turned it in to a charity golf outing to benefit the Progeria Research Foundation (the daughter of a member has progeria).

I've never ran a golf outing before, I've never even really played in one, so I am kinda lost and trying to seek out any information I can that will help.

Any pointers, info, links to helpful websites, etc that anyone can post would be greatly appreciated.

*title should say "planned" not "planning"*

[justincredible]

As far as format goes, it will be a 4 man scramble.

[plugged]

A few pointers:

1. Find local courses and ask them what they charge/how they organize tournaments
2. Check with an accountant about how money can be raised/prizes given (each state is different)
3. Estimate total costs to hold tourney
4. Find sponsers that will donate prizes/sponser teams
5. Offer different levels of sponsership
6. Find free publicity (radio, public TV, local golf shops, local golf courses, email lists)
7. Find volunteers to work the tourney
8. Develop rules for scramble
9. If you can, find local celebs to participate


My observations on scrambles:

1. The bigger the sponsers, the better the prizes
2. The better the prizes, the more people show up
3. Share the good prizes equally among drawings (raffle) and earned (e.g., closest to the hole)
4. Profusely thank your sponsers

[justincredible]

Appreciate the tips!

Anyone else?

[drglew]

Plugged has very good tips--agree 100%.

I have not planned one, but have been invited/played enough through my involvement with various not-for-profits to add my 2 cents:

If at all possible within budget, have the tourney at a nice course; preferably private club. Although you'd love to think that participants really care about your cause, at many of the tourneys i've seen the participants didn't even know what the charity was; they were just excited to be able to play a course they wouldn't otherwise (esp if on a company's "donation"). I.e. if Augusta National were the site of some charity tourney for $2000 per participant, i'd bet MANY readers of this forum would find a way to scrounge up the dough -- even if they disagreed with the sponsored cause! On the other hand, some are less willing to shell out dough and skip a day of work to play somewhere they could play on their own (often for a lower rate with all the web specials you see these days).

[alf174]

Don't scrimp on food especially if you plan on making this an annual event.

[walk18]

All good ideas. I'd add looking into a hole in one contest for a car or large prize. You can usually have it set up and insured by a company. It's great publicity for the event and will add a lot of excitement and more golfers.

[goblue107501]

Plugged has very good tips--agree 100%.

Couldn't agree more. You can get companies to buy a 4-some anywhere. If you hold it at a place where most people can't ever play, you will start getting the individual people using their own money. We get tons of charity tournaments around here and unless my company pays for them, I will never play. Some are 2 or even 3 times more than the greens fees at a local cow pasture muni. Why would I pay $75 to play a course that I could play for $30 an hour later? I would gladly pay $100 of my own money at the private course than I have never been on before.

[justincredible]

Wonder if Muirfield would allow an outing? :)

[722Brain]

If you want to participate in a charity outing to help fight brain disease at a beautiful course in NJ you should join us at IES Brain Research Foundation Golf Outing & Dinner on May 31st!!!

[rustyredcab]

Two main reasons people play in charity outings:

1. the venue

2. the charity

If you think people will come out to support the cause, then an exclusive venue may not matter to the bottom line (they are more expensive). If you get an exclusive venue then a scramble is an issue for many players (they want to play their own ball).

There are variations on the above two reasons: people come to play with celebrities or the format is super cool (I helped create a 36 hole Ryder Cup style event that is very nice).

If the goal is fundraising, make sure are plenty of chances for people to give money to the cause like auctions and raffles. Real money is not made from selling entry fees. It is sponsors and chances to give money once you are there. Avoid asking people to give small amounts ($5 beat the pro) and instead think a little bigger ($10 beat the pro or $100 to beat the pro for the group). Consider getting credit card or other payment information during registration so that any of the opportunities to give can be done quickly and without cash. Unless it is a low ticket event, try and avoid paying for the give-aways that are available at registration (sponsor provided stuff is great to promote your sponsors). If you feel you must give away logo balls, have a big bowl of balls and let everyone take up to two (or three) at registration. many of us will not take any and the ball purchase can last for years.

One of the last events I attended did not give away logo balls. They had some from prior years. After the auction, they "auctioned" off these cheap logo balls for $80 each -- an amount that supported on child for six months. It gave everyone a chance to give as they wished by purchase one or more balls. They remain the most expensive golf balls I've ever owned.

[Clambake]

Some very good advice here, particularly from Plugged and rustyredcab.       Rusty's simple comment that it is either about the event or the charity is spot on, and in your case I'd feel you ought to really zero in on a great venue because your cause isn't very well known and publicized.

I'd add that many of the nicer courses, either semi-private or private, do these types of things all the time and they have tournament event planners who can help you consider the myriad of options and set it all up for you.

You may also find in your area there are some individuals that specialize in this and can help a lot.    For example, here in Southern California a guy named Eric Tracy does a lot of events.    His website is here for some potentially helpful thoughts: http://themulliganman.com

I'd suggest seeking out people at either a course or an individual who has experience in this - they can really be the difference between having a few people out to play golf and raise a little money or putting together a really good event that will get press and further interest and raise a lot of money.

[Beachcomber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by goblue107501

None

Couldn't agree more. You can get companies to buy a 4-some anywhere. If you hold it at a place where most people can't ever play, you will start getting the individual people using their own money. We get tons of charity tournaments around here and unless my company pays for them, I will never play. Some are 2 or even 3 times more than the greens fees at a local cow pasture muni.

Why would I pay $75 to play a course that I could play for $30 an hour later? I would gladly pay $100 of my own money at the private course than I have never been on before.

For the charity?

[Double Bogey]

I have help organize a tourney for charity.  Plenty of great advice listed already.  I would add that we did a silent auction on items donated from sponsors some examples being 4 day badges to FedEx Cup final at East Lake in Atlanta, a foursome at Atlanta Athletic Club, clubs, balls, etc. Getting credit card numbers of guests worked out great for us.  We were able to let people "charge" the auctions and any other thing they wanted to "buy."  We sold mulligans and as RustyRedCab said... they were not cheap, but they were for charity.  Someone else mentioned a hole in one for a car.  We did that, and every dealership has the ability to take out the insurance policy on that, it is fairly cheap.  It was really cool seeing a Range Rover parked on a sidehill lie behind the tee box.  One of the highlights of the event as far as sponsorship product placement.

Just remember that the sponsors basically pay for the tourney and all prizes, so doing the "leg work" in getting sponsors is key.  Start early and lock them in via a "contract" drawn up letting them know exactly what they are getting for their money.  Most business jump all over golf outings for charity, if their business is catering toward the 18-65 year old man. :)