Here is how your organization can over come some common complaints when hosting a charity golf tournament.

1.    Takes too long

To address this concern you may want to consider:

• Reviewing your current range of on course activities with your host golf course and determine if there are ways to speed up play without detracting from the sorts of activities that your golfers enjoy;
• Limit the total number of golfers and/or find ways to encourage quicker play (e.g. give each golfer a sleeve of golf balls so they do not spend time looking for lost golf balls; impose a maximum score per hole)
• Consider ways to shorten the post-golf reception without sacrificing the quality of your event. For example, give out the golf awards while the golfers are eating; limit the number of speakers and use video presentations in lieu of live speeches.   

 2.    Sponsorships are getting harder to obtain

Many corporations have reduced their golf tournament sponsorship budgets and obtaining this support has become more challenging in recent years. However, there are companies out there still willing to sponsor charity golf events. Here are some ways to refresh your sponsorship program:

• Seek out new sources of sponsorship (e.g. union locals, service clubs and new companies that have moved into your geographic area)
• Promote from within – ask the long time foursome purchaser to stretch their budget a little more this year and become a hole sponsor as well
• Contact your existing sponsors to thank them for their previous support and ask them when it is best to approach them regarding next year’s event. You may be surprised at how many are willing to commit to renewing (or upgrading) their sponsorship if asked early enough in their corporate budget cycle.

 3. Your tournament is getting stale

Many established charity golf events face the challenge of keeping their tournament  “fresh and interesting” each year. To keep your golfers coming back and to retain their financial support you can:

• Change golf courses to give the event “a fresh look”.
• Keep the location but alter the itinerary (e.g. move to a morning shotgun start instead of an afternoon start) or change the scoring format of the event.
• Change up the dinner menu from a plated meal to food stations.
• Add an element of entertainment (e.g. comedian, musician) or add a “theme” that fits your organization.
• Use the age of your tournament as an opportunity to celebrate a milestone anniversary and/or recognize long time attendees.    

 4. Attendance at our tournament is declining

Part of the challenge with holding a golf tournament is that it requires a significant time commitment by each attendee. To continue to meet your objectives on golfer participation we would suggest:

• Offer an incentive to those that register early, either by way of a small price discount or perhaps by giving those golfers an additional benefit (e.g. 2 for 1 green fee at the golf course to golf there another day other than the tournament).
• Consider offering a level of “sponsor recognition” to any company or individual buying multiple foursomes in the event.
• If a corporation regularly buys a foursome in your event but struggles to fill it with golfers, invite them to “donate” that foursome back to the organization and offer to fill it for them.
• Survey your golfers and get their input on what they would like to see changed at your tournament in order to keep attending.

 5. Golf tournaments are too expensive

Some organizations want to host a golf tournament but feel that it is too expensive an event for their organization. Before dismissing the notion of a golf event entirely, consider how you can overcome the issue of this perception by:

• Ask the local courses in your area if there are certain days in their calendar on which they may be more ”price-friendly”.
• Consider a 9-hole event as an alternative to a full 18-hole tournament. It is less expensive and a good way to introduce a “fundraising golf event” to your audience.

Much like the game of golf itself, organizing a successful charity golf tournament is always challenging, but it can be a very worthwhile experience for your organization.

Best of luck to all charity golf tournaments in 2015!