Golf Tournament

What it is

Teams of four pay to play a scramble at a local course. Businesses sponsor holes, and you add a lunch, prizes, and maybe a putting contest.

Typical net: $3,000 to $15,000 (rough estimate only. Hole sponsors are often most of the profit.)

Step by step

8 weeks out

• Book the course (often 6+ months ahead is better)
• Set team fee

6 weeks out

• Sell hole sponsors
• Line up prizes

4 weeks out

• Open team sign-ups
• Order sponsor signs

2 weeks out

• Confirm teams and pairings

1 week out

• Give final count to the course

Day before

• Pick up signs and prizes

Day of

• Check-in table
• Shotgun start
• Awards lunch

Tips that work

• Most courses offer charity rates on weekdays or off-season.
• Sell 18 hole sponsor signs before you worry about teams.
• Mulligans, a 50/50 drawing (where legal), and a longest-drive contest add income.
• Put a volunteer with a cooler of water on the hottest holes.
• Mail thank-you letters to sponsors within a week. They'll come back next year.

Volunteer jobs

• Chair: Works with the course
• Sponsor team: Calls businesses
• Registration (2): Checks in teams
• Hole volunteers: Watch contest holes
• Awards: Runs prizes and lunch

Supplies

• Hole sponsor signs
• Registration list and name tags
• Prizes and trophies
• Cash box
• Contest markers
• Rule sheets

Permits and insurance

• Get a certificate of insurance from the venue
• Ask if your club's general liability insurance covers this event
• Check city rules for signs and public gatherings
• A hole-in-one prize needs separate hole-in-one insurance

General tips, not legal advice. Check with your city, county, and state.

Getting the word out

• Personal calls to business owners work best
• Ask last year's sponsors first
• List sponsors in your thank-you

Sample announcement

Fore a good cause! Join the [Club name] Charity Golf Scramble on [date] at [course]. 4-person teams, $[price] per team, includes cart, lunch and prizes. Hole sponsorships available. Proceeds support [cause]. Call [name] at [phone] to sign up.

On the day

• Signs on every hole
• Check-in table ready
• Rules explained before start
• Photos of every team
• Thank sponsors at lunch