Golf Fundraising Ideas: On the Course

 One way to make great use of your in-kind donations is to host a Fundraising Raffle. Reach out to the local community months before the actual tournament to get a variety of prizes donated. Showcase the items before the tournament starts so people can see the items they could win and sell the raffle tickets before they hit the course. Have raffle ticket sales also available on the course and conduct the raffle at the awards ceremony, following the tournament. 

 A great way to raise additional dollars is by hitting up golfers while they are on the course. The best way to do this is with a fully-stocked cash-bar cart! Load up the back of a golf cart with snacks, ice and cold drinks, then drive the course and sell your golfers what they want. Cold beer and sodas are the best sellers, but don’t forget to include snack foods like pretzels and chips. You may also want to add items like small bottles of sunscreen or hats and visors in case people forgot the essentials. And, don’t forget to send extra raffle tickets, just in case someone is in the buying mood after a great drive. 

 Your golf fundraiser can also raise more money on the course through hosting golf tournament contests at different holes throughout the day. Some examples include: Closest to the Pin, Beat the Pro, Longest Drive, and Hole in One contests. Golfers pay to be part of the contest. These contests can really create a fun and exciting atmosphere for golfers and create a “buzz” during the day of the event as well as bringing in some bonus fundraising dollars. 

 Helicopter Ball Drops have become popular for fundraising golf tournaments. This is how it works – You sell golf balls for the drop on your website and at check-in. A helicopter (there are special companies that do this) then takes numbered balls, flies over the golf course and drops the balls simultaneously at your target hole. The golf ball that lands closest to the hole is the grand prize winner. You can also offer additional prizes for 2nd place or even furthest from the pin. 

One great way to raise additional funds is to host a golf charity auction as part of your golf fundraiser. Since your golf tournament is bound to attract a number of attendees, a golf charity auction is great way to earn additional funds, while providing an opportunity for guests to bid on valuable one-of-a-kind items. There are two types of auctions to consider – a live auction provides your event an opportunity to auction large ticket items such as vacation packages , electronics or autographs from celebrity's. You can offer these at no risk to your event with our No Rick Auction Items. A silent auction is often used in conjunction with a live auction, and includes smaller items that have been donated to your event by sponsors and constituents.

A golf charity auction is a very common golf fundraising idea (because it works!) and great add-on to your post-tournament party.

 Since golf outings usually attract a large number of people from your community, this is a fantastic time to host a dinner or banquet in conjunction with the tournament. For people not interested in the game of golf itself, the banquet provides another opportunity to raise additional dollars. Sell separate tickets for this event and provide entertainment, excellent food and drinks, a silent auction and an awards ceremony. For the golfers, a banquet is a perfect time to wind down from the long day of playing golf. People are hungry, thirsty and happy. They will enjoy the time to share the experiences of the day with friends and co-workers, while finding out results of contests and raffle prizes. This is also a great time to make any announcements about what your MS Golf Project goals are, helping us spread awareness for our cause. Be sure to thank golfers, volunteers and sponsors and highlight specific community members who made a difference. Which brings us to our final golf fundraising idea – 

Give customers a reason to do business with you. 

Don’t assume that golfers know about your organization or have already been hit up for a donation. Many golfers may be part of a corporate team and haven’t paid anything to come to your tournament. You don’t want to bug your golfers, but you certainly want to give them every opportunity to make an additional donation to your organization.

Donation appeals can be made throughout your golf tournament:

• Include a Donation request on your website’s golf registration page.
• Post Development professionals at one of your holes or back at the clubhouse (with drinks!) asking for additional donations to be made on the spot.
• Follow up the tournament with thank yous to your golfers and sponsors, along with a link to your tournaments website that we will make for your event.