Finding Players to Play in a Charity Golf Tournament

By Kerry Johnson, Palm Valley Country Club

The consistent question not-for-profit organizations and charities must ask themselves is: how can we raise money for our cause?

There are many different answers to this question, from events as small as a bake sale and car wash to a black tie gala with donation-based tickets. However, one viable source of nonprofit fundraising over the years has been from hosting a charity golf tournament.

A charity golf tournament provides the opportunity for participants to incorporate a love of golf with a desire to donate to a worthy cause. Yet after an organization decides to host a golf tournament, how do you go about finding players to play in your event?

It's all about recruitment.

Who would be willing to participate in a charity golf tournament? The simple answer is: anyone who is even remotely interested in golf.

Unlike an amateur golf event, where most people playing in the tournament are fairly good at golf with a lower handicap, a charity golf tournament is not about winning or losing. It's about raising money for a good cause. Thus, the opportunity for participation is much larger, as this can appeal to a greater number of people.

Who might play in your charity golf tournament?

- Coworkers
- Non-profit Volunteers
- Community Leaders
- Community Social Groups
- Local Golf Leagues
- Corporate Sponsors and their Employees
- Residents of the Neighborhood
- Previous Organization Donors
- Business Leaders & Owners

Want to widen your reach? Many local golf courses offer ways to help organize a charity golf tournament and will even advertise your event to people playing their course and course members. GolfTournamentManagement.com offers a Nonprofit Partnership Program with a collection of fundraising resources, including free live fundraising seminars and helpful guides for first-time planners.

Another avenue to find willing players for your event is to contact local businesses. Many businesses are willing to sponsor a team from their office as a fun team-building reward. Bonus: sponsoring a team can be submitted as a tax write-off and may also be used as a work incentive. Corporate sponsors can also provide hole and tee sign sponsorships, and in some instances, a company might be willing to sponsor your entire charity golf tournament.