Getting the most from your Golf Society or Charity Event
Planning a Golf Day
Organising a golf day of any magnitude is not as easy as people make out. Therefore it’s very important that you find volunteers to help, before, during and after the event.
This will help in making decisions that leave no stone unturned and important things don’t get forgotten.
The venue choice is very important. Choosing a golf course that’s not too difficult, well-manicured and with limited rough, while still offering many challenges – this will keep players of all abilities wanting to join the day and support the event.
The clubhouse should also be able to cater for many people during the day, and at an evening function, if that’s what you’re offering.
Organisers prefer member’s clubs because they benefit more from holding an event and are more attentive than the popular corporate venues. They also seem to give better value for money.
Format
Choose a format that people will enjoy, based on players’ handicaps and abilities. Here are a few suggestions:
- Texas Scramble – Very popular for beginners, those new to the game and non-golfers.
- Best Ball – Either in teams of 2, 3 or 4 (Stableford is preferred as it helps with speed of play, however, stroke play is another option)
- Alternate Shot – Known as Foursomes, it’s not common on golf days but can be fun.
- Waltz (123, 123) – Teams of 3 with 1 out 3 scores to count on first hole, 2 out 3 scores to count on second hole and all 3 scores to count on third hole, then repeat until the end of round.
- Danger Ball – Teams of 3 or 4 where each player takes it in turn, hole by hole, to use a coloured ball. Their score must count on that hole along with 1 score from the remaining players. However, if the ball gets lost at any time, then your score is frozen.
Extra Ideas
- Yellow Ball – When planning a golf day, a good competition within a competition, is to see how far a team can get a coloured ball round the course without losing it. Each player takes it in turn to play a hole. If they don’t lose the ball, next hole it then passes on to next player. The team who gets the ball furthest without losing the ball wins.
- Nearest Pins, Straightest and/or Longest Drive competitions.
Fundraising for a Society or Charity
To encourage people to join the event, entry fees should be competitively priced. Negotiate with the golf club for a good deal. Ask for 1 in 8 to go free. This can raise funds towards your target.
On the day, you can raise money by running any of the following ideas:
- Raffle Tickets
- Mulligans – Players can re-play a shot without penalty e.g., 3 Mulligans for £10
- Charity Bunker – Anyone going in bunker pays a fine
- Hit or Miss green on a Par 3 – Hit go into a draw, Miss pays a fine
- LIVE Auction – 4 balls vouchers are great for this
- Hole sponsorship
- You could just leave a donation envelope on the table after golf meal.
To help with fundraising, it’s important to get all golf prizes, raffle prizes and auction items donated from any source available. Just ask your local professional to donate a prize and ask golf clubs to donate a 4-ball voucher. If it’s a charity golf event they usually oblige.
Also, approach local businesses close to the chosen golf club.
Promoting your Golf Event
Use any material that the Charity you choose to support can provide. Most charities help promote fundraising events on their websites and social media platforms.
Posters indicating all key information (venue, price and date etc.) to be posted at golf clubs, local shops, and public houses in the areas around the chosen course.
Ask local businesses and golf clubs to promote on their social networks but the tried and tested method still works – asking family and friends to send out invites to people they know who play golf.
If it’s a big event, then you can ask local radio and newspapers to advertise, as this gets to a wider audience.
Conclusion
If you’re considering organising a golf event, do your research. Give yourself plenty of time to do your research and get the support of people you can trust to achieve your goal.
Happy Golfing!
By Kevin Booth