Golf Tournament Auction Prizes

Posted on April 21st, 2014 | Author: | Category: Tournament Tips

By Tyson Johnson, LA & Orange County Regional Tournament Director            

When hosting a golf tournament, the add-on with the most potential for raising money is typically an auction or raffle after the tournament. Ideally, you will be able to get all the items donated, so the auction can end up being 100% profit for your organization. When deciding on auction items for your post-tournament banquet, it is crucial that some, if not the majority, of your prizes should not be golf-related. Although golf items generally do well, you can greatly expand your fundraising potential by offering non-golf related prizes. Sometimes a golfer might want to bid on an item as a gift for a spouse or a friend who does not play the sport, and having a wider range of prizes increases the chances attendees will bid.

It is also always advisable to invite spouses and family members to the dinner and auction as well. If you do plan on inviting more people, make sure you have auction items that appeal to women, for a men’s tournament, and men, for a women’s tournament. You should also have a good mix of expensive and inexpensive items on the list, so all attendees will have a chance to bid on an item within their budget.

When it comes to the items themselves, there are a few different categories you want to make sure to include. Different kinds of merchandise are the most common auction items, but thinking outside the box often leads to more profit. Bidders are typically more inclined to pay top dollar for an experiential item, like tickets to a show or live sporting event, a vacation, or family and couples' activities. These items will result in large profits, especially if spouses and families attend.

Additional items that always bring in high bids are often exclusive opportunities that would otherwise be unattainable by the attendees. These can include: rounds of golf at exclusive/private courses, meet and greets with celebrities, or tickets to a sold-out event. Exclusivity is always something people will pay top dollar for.

Lastly, another idea for your auction is to acquire items or services that people need or will need at some point. People don’t mind paying for something they would purchase later on anyway. A recent example I have of this type of item came from a small tournament who really got creative with their prizes. They convinced a local handyman, who they invited to play for free in the event, to donate one day of work as an auction item. It ended up being the highest ticket item, for $2300. When thinking about needs-based ideas, always consider things that people use in their everyday lives. Anything regarding homes, vehicles, or services we all need will always bring in good profits for your fundraising tournament.

All told, auction prizes will make a huge difference in your fundraising potential, so be sure to think outside the box and always get as many attendees to the auction as possible.

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