20+ Exciting Golf Tournament Fundraising Ideas to Raise More
Golf tournaments present countless opportunities to inspire greater generosity for your nonprofit’s mission. To take your golf event to the next level, why not engage your supporters with a mix of on-course and off-course fun?
Check out our exciting golf tournament fundraising ideas to raise more funds for your cause:
Combine these engaging activities with a robust fundraising software solution to create friendly competition, offer additional fundraising avenues, and leave attendees with a memorable experience.
Golf Tournament Fundraisers: 18 Holes
One of the best parts of hosting a golf tournament is the 18 unique opportunities to leave a lasting impression on your supporters. Your organization has roughly four hours of fundraising potential on the course alone!
Let’s look at our favorite golf fundraising ideas that will drive excitement at every swing to tee you up for success:
- Discounted Ticket Packages
- Mulligans
- Hole Sponsorship
- Hole-in-One Contest
- Putting Contest
- Pink Ball Contest
- Food and Drink Tickets
- Rent a Caddie
- Beat the Pro/Pay the Pro
- Team Competitions
- Speed Golf
- Target Golf
- Longest Drive Contest
- Longest Marshmallow Drive Contest
- Straightest Drive Contest
- Closest to the Curve Contest
- Most Team Spirit Contest
- The 19th Hole Contest
1. Discounted Ticket Packages
With the right ticket options, encouraging more golfers to hit the green is easier. To generate greater interest, offer team packages at discounted rates alongside regular-priced individual tickets. After all, golf is always more enjoyable with friends!
To boost your revenue further, we recommend including an incentive for group purchases, such as a VIP experience with drink tickets. Golf Event Management by OneCause allows you to offer group registrations and pairings to maximize revenue easily.
2. Mulligans
A mulligan is a golfer’s second chance to swing without adding an extra stroke! Let your players purchase them before and during your outing as an additional way to fundraise on the course.
The new Golf Event Management solution makes it easy for golfers to purchase mulligans or add-ons with a single click using intuitive, mobile-friendly software to amplify giving.
3. Hole Sponsorship
Strengthen your connections with partners and local businesses by encouraging them to sponsor holes at your next golf outing. Present each of the 18 holes as an opportunity for valuable exposure.
Leverage your fundraising software to efficiently manage sponsorships and build excitement for guests by showcasing the sponsor’s logos not only on the course but on your event page as well.
4. Hole-in-One Contest
Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition? Add excitement to the course by offering a special prize for golfers who sink a hole-in-one. Encourage participation by partnering with sponsors who can provide high-valued prizes.
This contest works great on a par 3 hole, allowing you to run it separately from the main event. Charging an entry fee for the contest will create an additional revenue stream for your tournament.
5. Putting Contest
Add a fun twist to your golf outing by having unconventional “golf club” options, like croquet mallets or whiffle ball bats, once players have reached the green to replace their regular golf clubs. The goal is to be the first to sink the ball.
Alternatively, you can set up a mini-golf course to engage non-golfers or beginners. This unique approach will help you welcome a new crowd to your event and expand participation beyond traditional golf players.
6. Pink Ball Contest
The pink ball contest is one of the most popular charity golf outing games, and for good reason! It’s easy to set up, easy to play, and easy to win.
Here’s how it works: each foursome pays for one pink golf ball, which is rotated between players at each hole. At each hole, the score of the golfer with the pink ball is recorded. Any team that loses the ball is eliminated. The team with the lowest score for the pink ball is the winner.
Make sure to promote pink ball contest tickets on your event homepage! If it’s one of the first things your donors see when they visit your custom event landing page, they’ll be sure to participate, and in return, you’ll raise even more for your cause. Customizing your event microsite is easier than ever before with event fundraising software by OneCause.
7. Food and Drink Tickets
Golfing under the sun can work up an appetite! Use the OneCause Fundraising Platform to optimize your event page for seamless mobile purchases, allowing golfers to buy food and drink tickets right from the course.
Encourage donors to purchase ahead of time by promoting a snack and drink combo as a fixed-price package.
8. Rent a Caddie
Sell caddie services on your event site as fixed-price items. This option makes a great PTA fundraising idea or strategy for sports-based organizations because you can involve the community in your event! Ask the golf team to volunteer as caddies, carrying a golfer’s clubs or driving the golf carts.
Some of your golfers might not think they want a caddie when they’re registering but later decide they do. Make sure to have volunteers stationed around the course to assist in any additional purchases so your donors can add these donations and services throughout the day of your event!
9. Beat the Pro/Pay the Pro
Ask the golf club/course’s local pro to volunteer during your outing. Station them at one of the 18 holes, then make sure you’ve got an option on your event site to make a donation to “Beat the Pro or “Pay the Pro.”
- For Beat the Pro, each golfer will place a bet with the pro that they can hit the ball closer to the pin. If the golfer wins, they are paid double! If the pro wins, the money is donated to your organization.
- For Pay the Pro, each golfer can donate a specific dollar amount to have the pro drive the ball for them.
See if your pro can offer a few lessons individually, too! “Learn from a pro” prizes make excellent live auction packages for various events and missions, but golf pointers are an especially popular option for golf tournament fundraisers.
10. Team Competitions
Encourage friendly competition among teams with a simple yet effective approach to your outing. The contest is easy: Each hole is worth a specific amount of money, and the lowest team score is awarded money.
If multiple players tie on a hole, the prize carries over to the next hole, increasing its value and creating even more excitement. This is a great opportunity for your organization to offer a buy-in to the competition and motivate groups to register as teams.
11. Speed Golf
Get the crowd going by challenging players to complete a round as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy. Connect with sponsors to provide prizes for the fastest or most accurate players to attract greater participation.
Give your fundraising a boost by incorporating a small fee to participate in this contest. Display a real-time leaderboard from your golf event software to build excitement and engagement.
12. Target Golf
Test the aim of your players with this fun addition to their round of golf. Arrange target points that are not holes on the course. The player to hit the ball closest to each target wins!
This can be a mini-game held before, during, or after the tournament for extra fun. Be sure to secure sponsorships to provide prizes to get more supporters engaged.
13. Longest Drive Contest
Who can hit the ball the farthest from the tee? The longest drive wins!
Your donors will love the chance to engage in a little friendly competition. Just be sure to station a volunteer or staff member who can facilitate participation to keep track of the winner. Save this contest for a par 5 or par 6 to give your golfers plenty of room to show their stuff.
14. Longest Marshmallow Drive Contest
Who can hit the ball the farthest from the tee? The longest drive wins!
Your donors will love the chance to engage in a little friendly competition. Just be sure to station a volunteer or staff member who can facilitate participation to keep track of the winner. Save this contest for a par 5 or par 6 to give your golfers plenty of room to show their stuff.
15. Straightest Drive Contest
An alternative to the longest drive, the straightest drive contest awards a prize to the golf player whose first shot from the tee box lands closest to a straight line marked clearly in the fairway. It’s all about accuracy!
Extend the challenge online and have participants share a video of their shot on social media. Use an event microsite, powered by OneCause, to make sharing and donating easy and increase visibility for your cause.
16. Closest to the Curve Contest
Bring creativity to the course with this contest! Make a curved or zig-zag line in the fairway, and whoever’s ball lands closest to a line is the winner.
Create a live leaderboard where participants can see who’s in the lead to drive competition. You can even give donors the option to try again by donating a specific amount. For instance, one more try is $10, two more tries are $15, and so on.
17. Most Team Spirit Contest
Bring creativity to the course with this contest! Make a curved or zig-zag line in the fairway, and whoever’s ball lands closest to a line is the winner.
Create a live leaderboard where participants can see who’s in the lead to drive competition. You can even give donors the option to try again by donating a specific amount. For instance, one more try is $10, two more tries are $15, and so on.
18. The 19th Hole Contest
As there are only 18 holes played in a round of golf, the elusive 19th hole represents the Course Clubhouse. The first 5 or 10 golfers to return their completed scorecards to the 19th hole are entered into an exclusive opportunity drawing for a great prize! Sell the 19th hole drawing before the event and during registration.
Make sure that your contestants have something to do while they’re waiting for the rest of your donors to show up. Provide plenty of snacks and drinks to buy and display your charity auction items prominently to entice more bidding.
Off the Green Golf Tournament Fundraising Ideas
The fundraising doesn’t have to stop at the course at your charity golf outing. Check out these exciting ideas to engage supporters off the green and increase your event’s impact!
Donation Appeals
Making a donation appeal is easy:
- Connect with supporters to initiate a conversation about giving.
- Request a fixed dollar amount.
- Identify a specific financial goal and beneficiary.
- Use this as a chance to educate supporters on your cause!
If every golfer donates $50 / every foursome donates $200, you’re guaranteed to hit your goal of $3,600 to cover a year’s tuition for a student in need. Alternatively, if every golfer donates $25 / every foursome donates $100, you’ll hit your goal of $1,800, which feeds the shelter’s puppies for one full year.
Offer a small gift or gesture of gratitude in exchange for their generosity. For example, a sleeve of golf balls (donated by a sponsor) or their names and photos on your website.
Matching Gift Requests
A great way to boost your fundraising impact is to encourage eligible donors to submit matching gift requests to their employers. Many people don’t take advantage simply because they’re unaware of the opportunity.
Train your staff or volunteers to ask golfers if they are eligible for matching gifts when they ask for donations. If the donors don’t know what a matching gift is, explain it to them and provide them with a way to check their eligibility from their mobile phones. Follow up with donors afterward to ensure you make the most of these corporate philanthropy opportunities!
Additionally, don’t overlook the power of a matching gift challenge. In this fundraising activity, your organization will secure a sponsor or major donor to agree to match gifts during your golf tournament. With their help, you can effectively triple donations made during your event!
Logo Accessories
Sell branded merchandise that helps promote your mission! Consider golf-themed items, such as:
- Golf balls
- Ball markers
- Towels
- Golf head covers
Make these items available for your golfers upon arrival to be used on the course. Include the option to add them to a ticket purchase during registration — or, even better, bundle them with higher-priced ticket packages!
For that, you’ll need online event software with features supporting multiple ticket package levels, like OneCause.
Auctions
A classic way to drive event revenue is with an auction! You can customize this to offer exclusive golf experiences or equipment. To make the most of your silent auction, open bidding days before heading to the course.
Simplify your auction management with OneCause! Make it easier for golf players to bid at their convenience with mobile bidding. Leverage mobile-friendly silent auction software from OneCause to fuel your mission with innovative features for higher engagement beyond the green.
Raffles
Another easy but exciting way to raise extra funds is hosting a raffle at your golf tournament. From golf lessons and high-valued golf clubs to a trip to a famous golf course, the raffle basket ideas are endless.
Consider selling bundles or discounts for multiple raffle entries. The more tickets your supporters purchase, the more chances they’ll have to win and the more money you can raise! Like an auction, leverage your fundraising software to engage all your supporters from your event site.
Golf Tournaments with OneCause
Charity golf outings are increasingly popular thanks to fundraising technology. Partner with OneCause to access a Golf Event Management solution that provides all the features you need, including:
- Customizable event setup
- Efficient team management
- Personalized player communication
- Dynamic scoring and leaderboards
Take a tour today to explore how we can boost your golf tournament’s results.
Inspire Gifts with Your Golf Tournament Fundraiser
Golf fundraisers are extremely valuable for engaging donors, attracting new supporters, and raising visibility for your mission. With the right fundraising ideas, you’ll execute a golf event that meets and exceeds your goals!
Tee up for fundraising success at future events with these additional resources:
- 10+ Fun Golf Tournament Games to Shatter Your Goals. Looking for more golf tournament fundraising ideas? Explore our list of fun golf tournament games.
- How to Plan a Fundraising Event: 13 Steps to Raise More. Ready to plan your first fundraising event? Discover the steps you must take to raise more.
- 10 Nonprofit Fundraising Platforms to Inspire More Giving. Leverage fundraising software to boost giving and streamline the fundraising process. Check out our top 10 recommended platforms!
