Get the most out of your tournament...

Golf tournaments are a great opportunity to promote your brand and network with taproom/brewpub customers, key distro accounts, and community leaders. Whether you are hosting the golf tournament or participating as a sponsor, thoughtful planning can ensure you get great value out of your efforts while providing a fantastic experience for your participants.

Keep your goal in sight.

What is your primary and secondary goal in sponsoring and/or hosting your golf outing? Never lose sight of the value you will deliver to entice participants out of their office or market for the day.

• Fundraising? Be certain your costs stay under control to deliver your goal.
• Networking among participants? Be sure the day is designed to encourage interaction among participants.
• Employee or customer rewards? Make sure the experience is a great one.
• Drive Traffic to your brewery? Include a “Call to Action” that will get them into the taproom/brewpub in the days/weeks after the event.

How will your event be structured?

• Is your event fully sponsored or hosted by a company?
• Will attendees be asked to pay to participate?
• Will there be sponsorship opportunities? If yes, what and who will you target to attract sponsors?

When should you start planning?
If you host an annual golf tournament, planning next year's tournament starts the day after your annual event. But if you are planning a first time or a one-time event, planning should start no less than six months in advance.

Milestones:
Six Months in Advance:

• Secure the golf course and choose menus
• Determine tournament format and tee prizes
• Create guest list and send Save the Date invites
• Secure sponsors

Three Months in Advance:

• Order branded gifts, prizes and giveaways
• Order banners, hold signs and other graphic materials
• Secure a photographer
• Send invitations

One Month in Advance:

• Review start time and arrangements with the golf course
• Check status on any items you have on order and confirm delivery times
• Send email/mail reminder of event and confirmations to those who have signed up
• Schedule final review with golf course

Two Weeks in Advance:

• Review your checklist
• Finalize guest list
• Call golf course with final head count
• Send a press release to local media

One Week in Advance:

• Ensure prizes, gifts and giveaways have been received
• Send your team list to the golf course

Day Prior:

• Review pairings list and spelling of names with golf course
• Alert golf course of any last-minute changes
• Review final numbers

Branding Opportunities

SWAG

You can provide many small touches that help your brand or your sponsor's brands connect beyond the event. You can offer fewer but more valuable prizes that are guaranteed to gain attention at the event and that have longer staying power with the winners.

Big Prize Ideas

• Odyssey putter
• Branded golf bag
• Golf shoes with branded bag
• Sunglasses with branded case

SWAG Ideas

Shirts (Hint: For guest shirts, choose a color and quality that your invitees are likely to wear after the event. For staff shirts, choose a bright or branded color that is easily identifiable by your guests.)

Balls, tees and ball markers are great golf related items.

Umbrellas, towels, hats, visors and ditty bags are nice mementos.

A group picture in a custom frame provides a special memory of the day.

Prizes

Tee prizes add fun to the tournament. Consider prizes for Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and of course, the Hole-in-One. Be creative with the prizes! These don't always need to be golf related.

Let us help you choose exactly the right products and gifts for your event.