When spring comes back into full swing, so do the golf swings. Golf tournaments have been a widely successful way for businesses to network, market and show appreciation toward their customers and employees. Is there anything better than getting away from work for a day, hanging outside in the sun and connecting with all of the people that help make your business successful? We can’t think of many!
But all that fun comes with a lot of planning. Here are four steps to take to ensure a successful golf event for everyone in attendance:
Plan In Advance
There are many factors involved in planning a golf outing or tournament. Booking a golf course and renting it for the entire day should be planned one year in advance. Consider the following factors when choosing your course:
● Location
● Course condition
● Customer service
● Food and Beverage Offerings/Catering/Meal Delivery
Promote Your Event
After you have chosen your location and gathered a committee that will help in planning, the next step is promotion. The sooner you promote, the more likely you can guarantee a good turnout. Keep in mind that many corporations have golf events at the same time of year, so the earlier you promote, the likelier it is that you can get golfers to commit to your tournament over your competition. Here are some avenues you should use to spread the word about your golf event:
● Your company social media pages
● Email marketing
● Press releases
● Promotions: early bird sign up specials or group discount offers
● Direct mailers with a golf themed gift
Recruit Volunteers
A golf tournament requires a lot of helping hands. Choosing a dedicated team of employees will be essential in getting your event planned and off the ground. Here are some volunteer roles that you should consider implementing:
● Marketing
● Door Prize Collection
● 50/50 Raffle Ticket Sales
● Meal Planning
● Hole Sponsors
Implement Fun Contests and Giveaways
Although golf events are fun in their own respect, including fun contests and giveaways helps keep the crowd engaged and incentivized. Some common and popular golf tournament contests are:
● Hole in one contest
● Putting contest
● Longest drive contest
● Guess your distance contest
● Shootouts
And don’t forget to include some great looking awards for the winners of each contest!
Be sure to include Swag Bags for every attendee. Bags with golf themed items are a great way to brand the experience with merchandise that can show off your company logo, pride and messaging. Some items to consider including in your swag bags:
● Apparel (ask registrants for sizes when they sign up)
● Golf towels and cooling towels
● Sunscreen and bug repellant
Planning a successful golf tournament involves many details; planning in advance, recruiting a dedicated team of volunteers and choosing the right gifts, awards and branded merchandise that will allow for an impressive experience. We are confident that if you implement these tips, you will create an experience to remember for years to come!