How to Increase Margins for a Profitable Charity Golf Tournament

Golf tournaments are a valuable addition to any fundraising schedule. They’re fun and accessible to the whole community. Golf tournament donations can be substantial, providing much-needed funds for your charitable organization. However, they are expensive to put together. Since the original purpose of a charity golf tournament is to make a profit, the expense of hosting one could prove a challenge. 

Knowing how to make money running a golf tournament is about more than giving participants a good time. It’s about coming up with creative ways to encourage donations. Keeping an open mind and exploring all the avenues to increase profits is the key to making money at a charity golf tournament. 

Why Choose a Charity Golf Tournament to Raise Funds?

Golf tournaments are among the most successful charity fundraising option. Charitable donations for golf tournaments amount to about $3.9 billion yearly — more than any other sport combined. Whether individuals or corporates, people are drawn to golf tournaments to have fun or network with other like-minded businesses. 

Golf events have limited fundraising capacities from registrations, so knowing how to make money at a charity golf tournament is essential to bridge the gap and make a profit. You can make almost limitless additions to increase margins for a profitable charity golf tournament. They provide fun for the whole family and an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as a community, supporting a worthy cause. 

1. Find Corporate Sponsors

Corporate sponsorships are the most valuable asset for any charity golf tournament. Hosting a golf tournament can be expensive, making breaking even or making a profit on ticket sales challenging. Corporate sponsors can help you offset your upfront costs in return for visibility at your event, in programs, and on any marketing materials. 

Researching other golf events is an excellent place to start. Find out which companies sponsor golf events and contact them to see if they would be interested in yours. 

You can meet sponsors in the middle and discuss what parts of your event they feel could be an asset. Some sponsorship ideas include the following:

• Title sponsor: For a more significant amount, your event will be named after your primary sponsor. 
• Food and beverage sponsor: Every event needs food and drinks, especially sports tournaments. Provide sponsors with the opportunity to cover breakfast, lunch, or beverages. 
• Hole-in-one sponsor: Sponsoring a prize for a hole-in-one is an excellent opportunity for a sponsor, especially if they can present an award after the event. 
• Hole sponsors: Offer sponsors the option of sponsoring a hole. They can set it up however they like, with food and drinks, branded items, or a customized experience. If you can get a sponsor for every hole, you can cover your greens fees. 

2. Provide a Full Experience

People who come to charity golf tournaments are looking for more than just golf — they’re looking for a memorable day out. Remember to include activities for everyone — kids, spouses, family, and friends. Ensure everyone has food and drinks and something for the kids to do, like a mini golf tournament. 

Make your tournament memorable by adding a theme. People can dress up, and all your other activities can be centered around your theme. For those attendees who are less competitive, consider adding some charity golf outing games where people can play golf and enjoy a memorable and unique experience. 

Part of providing a complete experience includes new opportunities to garner donations for your cause. You can run another fundraising event alongside the golf tournament, like holding a raffle or silent auction. With the correct fundraising software, attendees can bid via mobile device while enjoying the rest of the festivities. 

3. Offer Add-Ons

You can spice up the game at your event and make money for your organization by planning and appealing to players’ competitive natures. Give the following add-ons a try:

• Mulligans: Mulligans are a second chance for golfers. They get to retake their shot for a small fee if they make a mistake. You can sell mulligans for between $10 and $30. 
• Supplies: Station volunteers throughout the course carrying supplies golfers might need, like sweat towels, tees, and extra golf balls. They can purchase these supplies through a mobile donation application from anywhere on the course. Sponsors can donate branded items to reduce the cost of this add-on.
• Hire a pro: If you have a few willing golf pros, station them at some of the challenging holes on the course. Players can hire them to make shots on their behalf, increasing the price for each successive shot. Mobile bidding software allows players to make their donations during the game. 
• Cone game: With some enthusiastic volunteers and some cones, you can encourage golfers to donate. Set up three cones at varying distances from the green and allow golfers to buy yardage from your volunteers to tee off closer to the hole—the closer to the hole, the higher the donation. 

4. Offer Different Ticketing Options

You must decide how to make your tournament the most profitable. Decisions like whether to allow for single players or teams, designate tee-off times, and what kind of game you’ll host all make a difference to your revenue. Instead of sticking with a single format, consider diversifying your options to appeal to different types of golfers. You’ll attract a comprehensive array of guests, which is good for raising funds. 

Allow single players and teams to compete. You could give a team discount to encourage more people. Consider adding fun competitions for those who would prefer a more casual approach to their golf. Games like the longest drive, marshmallow drive, or a pink ball contest are less competitive alternatives. 

You can also provide an exclusive experience with VIP tickets, including extras like a cocktail hour, golf cart rentals, and food and drink tickets. Many attendees will donate a little extra for a more streamlined experience. 

5. Start Fundraising for your Next Event

You can use your golf tournament for advertising future events and turning your event into an annual get-together. Hosting your event annually can help you cut costs and become something your community anticipates. A repeat event also allows you to create lasting and positive relationships with sponsors. Allow repeat donor discounts to make a long-term relationship with you appealing.

Advertise your next event at your current one, and offer early bird booking packages and other unique offerings to keep your present attendees excited. 

Get a hole-in-one with GiveSmart

With GiveSmart, you can turn your charity golf tournament into a profitable event with your guests anticipating the next one with glee. Our fundraising software can help you with every event stage, from planning to raffles and expert staff managing the event on the day. GiveSmart technologies allow you to accept donations on-site without the hassle and manage them from anywhere. 

Increase your margins for a profitable charity golf tournament, and enjoy it yourself with our team to facilitate your event and make it a success. Please request a demo today and see firsthand how GiveSmart can help you host your most successful golf fundraiser, and so much more.