Golf courses are the perfect spots to raise money for a great cause! Whether someone tees off every weekend or only dusts off their clubs once in a while, a golf fundraiser can be a hit for everyone. You don’t have to cater just to the pros—there are so many fun and creative competitions you can set up to make it enjoyable for players of all skill levels while boosting your fundraising efforts. Ready to tee up a successful golf tournament? Check out these 25 ideas that will help your nonprofit hit a hole-in-one with your next golf tournament fundraiser!
Before golfers even step foot on the green, there’s plenty you can do to kickstart your fundraising efforts. A classic and super effective way to raise money is through hole sponsorships! It’s a win-win—you get to raise funds for your nonprofit with the help of local businesses, organizations, or individual donors. With 18 holes on the course, that’s 18 golden opportunities for different sponsors to claim a hole and show their support.
Once your sponsorships are locked in, it’s time to let everyone know who’s backing each hole. A straightforward way to do this is through signage. For example, when golfers first arrive at the tee you can have a yard sign that reads, “This hole is sponsored by the John Smith Medical Group.” Depending on your budget, you can take it up a notch with custom pin flags at each sponsored hole, proudly displaying the donor’s logo or name.
When it comes to sponsorships on and around the golf course, the possibilities are endless. You’re not just limited to sponsoring holes! Think beyond the green and consider these other sponsorship opportunities for your golf fundraiser such as:
These options can open even more ways for sponsors to get involved and for you to promote their support with different printed materials. Get creative and show off your sponsors with custom car magnets on golf carts or custom cup sleeves for coffee as golfers arrive. Is someone sponsoring the snack or drink cart on the course? Order a custom banner to hang on the cart or put together some simple table tents with their names (and yours!).
Fuel up for a great cause! One of the key sponsorships to secure is the breakfast before your golf fundraiser and the lunch afterward. Meal sponsorships are a straightforward way to boost your fundraising efforts and open the door to even more support. By lining up these sponsors early, you’ll be able to focus more on your mission and raise as much as possible for your cause!
Right from the start, offer caddies for rent as golfers arrive for your fundraiser. These caddies, who are among the many awesome volunteers you’ll need to make your event a success, can be a great way to encourage donations right off the bat! Need help finding volunteer caddies? Check with the golf club hosting your event, reach out to friends and family, or see if nearby colleges or high schools have young golfers eager to lend a hand for a great cause.
Not everyone’s a golf pro—and that’s totally okay! For those who want to support your cause but could use a little help with their swing, offer a golf clinic led by a pro. Whether it’s the day before or the day of your fundraiser, participants can donate to join the clinic and improve their game while supporting your mission. It’s a win-win! Plus, this clinic opens another great opportunity for sponsorship.
Give golfers a little extra peace of mind before they tee off by offering mulligans for purchase. A mulligan is basically a free do-over—a chance to redo a bad shot without adding an extra stroke to the scorecard. It’s a great way to ease new golfers into the game and even seasoned players will appreciate the option to take another swing without the pressure.
Another fun way to raise donations is by offering golfers the chance to buy a string or rope before they hit the green. If they find themselves with a far putt, no problem! They can use the string to move their ball closer to the hole, helping to shorten the distance they need to putt the ball.
Is this basketball or golf? Mix things up with a “thrown shot” option during your golf outing fundraiser. For a donation, golfers can throw one of their shots instead of using a club—adding a fun twist to the game. This is a great option for novices who are still learning the game and even for veteran golfers who just want to have a little fun on the green while supporting an important cause.
Take the pressure off and give golfers the chance to hire a pro for one hole during the tournament. For a donation to your nonprofit, they can use the pro’s score instead of their own. It’s a fantastic way to raise funds while giving participants a chance to play alongside a seasoned golfer.
Turn up the competition with a skins game for the more serious golfers at your event. Players can buy into this game, where they compete to get the lowest score over a series of holes. The winner walks away with a prize—or cash they can choose to donate back to your cause!
Make a personal connection and encourage donations through a direct appeal. Position a volunteer at one of the teeing areas to chat with golfers about your fundraiser and what their donations will support. A well-crafted pitch can make all the difference. For example, explain how a specific donation amount could provide groceries for a family of four for a week. When people see the real-world impact of their contributions, they’re more likely to give!
What’s a fundraiser without some fun competitions? Add a little excitement to your fundraiser with a long-drive competition. Challenge golfers to see who can hit the ball the farthest, with a donation required to enter. If they make the distance, they get their donation back—if not, it goes to your charity. Whoever hits the longest drive takes home a prize!
Put the drivers aside and have golfers putt it out to see who can do the best in a long putt competition. Like the long drive competition, have golfers put down a donation to enter, and if they make the putt, they get their money back—or they can choose to donate it to your non-profit!
Showcase some serious golf skills with a chipping contest. Set up a target on the green and have golfers pay to try chipping their ball as close to it as possible. As with the other competitions, if they hit the target, they get their money back—if not, it all goes to your charity.
For a fun and lighthearted twist, host a longest marshmallow drive contest. It’s exactly what it sounds like—see how far golfers can drive a marshmallow down the fairway! It’s a silly but entertaining challenge that both newbies and experienced players will enjoy.
Put golfers’ accuracy to the test with a “Closest to the Hole” contest. Have them put down a donation and see who can land their ball closest to the pin. If they make it onto the green, they get half their money back, and if they miss, the entire donation goes to your cause. The golfer who gets closest can keep their donation or generously give it back to your charity!
Nothing beats the thrill of a hole-in-one, so why not turn it into a competition? Set up a hole-in-one contest on a par-three hole and see who can make the shot. If someone nails it, they get their money back and could even win a special prize.
Brighten up the course with a pink ball contest. Offer foursomes the chance to buy a pink ball and enter the contest, where each player uses the pink ball on different holes while the rest play a three-person scramble. At the end of the round, tally up the scores to determine the pink ball winner. But here’s the catch, if they lose the pink ball, they’re out of the contest!
Take your fundraiser to new heights with a helicopter golf ball drop! Sell golf balls to participants, and then drop them from a helicopter over a target on the course. Whoever’s ball lands closest to the pin wins a prize or their money back, if they choose. It’s a thrilling way to end the event and make a big impact for your cause.
Bring a little star power to your event with a special guest golf-off. Whether it’s a pro golfer or a local celebrity like the town mayor or a news anchor, invite them to compete in a golf-off with participants. It could be a long drive challenge, closest to the pin, or even a mini -tournament. It’s a fun way to draw attention and get people excited about your fundraiser.
Capture the memories and raise some extra funds with a photo op on the green! Hire a photographer to snap pics of golfers before they tee off or after they finish their round. You can even set up a step-and-repeat banner with your nonprofit’s logo and the event name. Print out the photos and offer them for purchase as an extra way to donate to your charity.
Everyone loves a good raffle! Sell tickets before and during the tournament and hold the drawing during lunch or dinner afterward to keep the excitement going and encourage people to stick around. Whether it’s a 50/50 cash raffle or big-ticket items like a round of golf or local sports game tickets, raffles are a surefire way to raise extra funds.
Set up a silent auction at the clubhouse and give golfers a chance to bid on a variety of donated items from gift cards to local restaurants to a weekend getaway at a lake or beach house. It’s a great way to raise money and offer participants something special to take home.
Make your event family-friendly with a mini golf tournament! Set up a short course on the putting green or create your own course for everyone to enjoy. It’s a great way to involve families and those with younger kids, ensuring everyone can take part in the fun while supporting your cause.
For supporters who can’t make it to the event, offer the option of playing a virtual round! Encourage them to donate and play at their local course, then share a picture online to show their support. It’s also a great backup plan if your event sells out—giving people the chance to participate and support your cause from afar.
There’s a lot that goes into how to plan a nonprofit fundraiser, and it all starts with getting the word out. Beyond promoting your event online, in your nonprofit newsletter, and through social media, don’t forget the power of good old-fashioned printed materials. Create custom, eye-catching flyers and posters to hang up around town, at the golf course hosting your event, and in local businesses. It’s a great way to spread the word and get your community excited!
When the big day arrives, make sure your golfers know where to go. Golf courses can be pretty expansive, so clear signage is key. From the putting green and driving range to the first hole, clubhouse, and pro shop—guide your guests with easy-to-spot signs so they feel welcomed and know exactly where they’re headed.
And don’t forget to say thanks! Putting together a gift bag for participants is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation. Fill it with goodies like logo-branded golf balls, tees, stickers, tote bags, water bottles, hats, and more. The options are endless, and it’s a simple gesture that goes a long way.
Your sponsors deserve a shoutout too! Make sure to showcase them prominently so everyone knows who helped make your event possible. Whether it’s a banner, sign, or brochure, highlight your gold and silver sponsors to recognize their generous contributions.
Once the event wraps up, keep the gratitude going by sending out thank you notes. A handwritten letter can add a personal touch, letting attendees, volunteers, and the venue know just how much their support means to you. It’s a small but meaningful way to cap off your successful fundraiser.
Organizing and coordinating a golf tournament fundraiser is a lot of work, but you don’t have to shoulder it alone. MissionPrint has everything you need from expert tips to customizable templates to make your golf event a hole-in-one! Sign up today for easy-to-use templates and affordable printed materials to help you knock your golf fundraiser out of the park (or in this case, onto the green!).