Tournament Gift Ideas To Draw A Crowd

[Coulter]

 Hey Spies I figured I’d come here for your advice as there is definitely more experience here for how to organize a successful tournament than I have so here goes. 
 My church is putting on its 3rd annual memorial tournament/scholarship in memory of a girl that passed away a couple of years ago from moya moya disease. She grew up in the church and it’s our way of remembering her. 
 That being said we are trying to grow the tournament to get a full slate of teams. I’ve had the idea of getting more high dollar prizes to maybe do a raffle or closest to the pin/long drive prize. Then promoting these items along with the tournament. I think I have a Lombardi putter lined up as a prize but not sure on other things to get or other companies to possibly reach out to. 
Any ideas on how to grow this tournament to attract more people and grow the scholarship (all proceeds go to the scholarship which is awarded to a local senior each year and to helping families in the local community) would be greatly appreciated!

[TJ Hall]

Played in a few that have raffles for a booze barrel (a wheelbarrow filled with various beer/liquor), also rounds of golf at the course.  Putters/drivers are good for longest drive/closest to the pin.

50/50 has always been successful in raising money…the last few years I’ve seen it the winner gave the money back to the event (fundraiser for dogs).

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Last year I was in one that had at least 50 bottles of booze all scattered around the practice putting green. You paid $20 for a putt. Whatever bottle you hit was yours. You couldn’t miss. A person was always on the green to direct your putt if it looked like you would miss. 
They also had the gun that shot golf balls. Closest to the pins and long drive. They also had a stand at a tee box on a par 5. The person had a deck of cards. One person from each group pulled a card. Red cards got an automatic move to 165 yards. Black cards meant you had to tee from the tee box.

[Rob Person]

Depending on the size of your police, fire, or sherrifs department , get some flyers into their hands!  Ours actually sponsors a number of charity tournaments every year locally. Turn out is in the mid hundreds!

Getting local businesses involved as "hole sponsors" is also a great way to raise the capital to help pay for the course rate, the signs, banners, gift bags, etc.

It's not always about the prizes, but to help boost that side, Find other local interest groups/clubs to donate for a silent raffle too. (Jeep, car, motorcycle,  etc) 

It doesn't have to be golf related products!

And, when you gain a sponsor, give em a few flyers  and the more flyers will be out there to attract players. It will grow teams and sponsors.

 

Good luck

 

[Coulter]

Thank you all for the replies! Those are great ideas!

[Vatenack]

For me, it sounds like you’re pulling together a pretty awesome event, and it’s for a great cause too.

[Northern Monkey]

You could speak to the course and see if they’d be willing to offer a Par 3 challenge. Choose one of the par 3 holes and then have a set amount to enter the challenge. If you land on the green you get a free round. 
I know it’s dependent on the course being agreeable but could benefit them too by attracting more players

[Josh Parker]

On 7/23/2024 at 4:01 PM, Coulter said:

Thank you all for the replies! Those are great ideas!

Did this ever kick off?  If not or for the next one, go to local businesses for donations so clubs can be purchased for prizes. Surely some of the members own or work at some companies that would donate. 

[Coulter]

28 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

Did this ever kick off?  If not or for the next one, go to local businesses for donations so clubs can be purchased for prizes. Surely some of the members own or work at some companies that would donate. 

We had the tournament in September and it was a success. I can’t remember the numbers on money raised but it was more than enough to meet our goal. I believe we had just under 50 players and 10-20 that just showed up for support.

Hole sponsers, and donations ended up being a big help. Each hole sponser spent $50 per hole. we had a closest to the pin and long drive hole. I was able to get ahold of a putter company that donated 2 putters for a raffle for the event. I ended up winning one of those putters which of course caused a lot of teasing that it had been rigged. It didn’t help that someone donated a 50” tv and that person won the tv in the raffle lol So the going joke now is if you have something you want just get someone to donate it to the raffle for next year and you’re a lock to win it. My Preacher has his eye on getting a truck donated

Thanks again for all the suggestions and if anyone thinks of any more I’d love to hear them as this is a tournament that we put on every year.

[Josh Parker]

5 minutes ago, Coulter said:

We had the tournament in September and it was a success. I can’t remember the numbers on money raised but it was more than enough to meet our goal. I believe we had just under 50 players and 10-20 that just showed up for support.

Hole sponsers, and donations ended up being a big help. Each hole sponser spent $50 per hole. we had a closest to the pin and long drive hole. I was able to get ahold of a putter company that donated 2 putters for a raffle for the event. I ended up winning one of those putters which of course caused a lot of teasing that it had been rigged. It didn’t help that someone donated a 50” tv and that person won the tv in the raffle lol So the going joke now is if you have something you want just get someone to donate it to the raffle for next year and you’re a lock to win it. My Preacher has his eye on getting a truck donated

Thanks again for all the suggestions and if anyone thinks of any more I’d love to hear them as this is a tournament that we put on every year.

Nice!  Congrats!

[Rob Person]

Really glad to hear this was a success for you and your church.!