Let's Play Golf!

Planning a golf tournament might sound scary and stressful, but it doesn't have to be. With a written out checklist, it will be everything but scary and stressful.

First things first, what is the golf tournament for? Is it for a fundraiser? Maybe your business is putting it on. Or, is it a school state golf tournament. No matter the reason or the season, let's get to planning.

1. Set a budget, and stick to it! With a large event like a golf tournament, staying within your budget is important. Our budget will depict our location, as well as everything else.

2. Select a date and location. With golf tournaments being outdoor events, it's important to keep in mind the weather. I know you can't predict the weather a year from now, but we can always try to avoid seasons (like winter) that we know wouldn't be a good time to host an outdoor event.

3. Decide on a menu. The menu is an important part of planning for a golf tournament. Tournaments are typically an all-day event, therefre there has to be food and drinks for everyone. Catering is always a good idea, but to limit costs, there's always the option of grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. Another thing to think about is having food stands set up throughout the course, offering quick drinks and snacks for everyone. Beer carts are also a good idea (if the tournament is for adults, of course).

4. Looking for sponsors. Depending on the purpose of the tournament, looking for different businesses and companies that are willing to sponsor the event, or even people wanting to make donations, are important to keep in mind. Sponsors and donors are play a big role when it comes to funding an event, especially a golf tournament where awards and prizes are given to the winners. Although prizes and awards might sound like an extra expense, it often motivates people to participate, especially when the awards are something popular and useful (trophies, money, gift cards, etc.).

5. Advertise the event. In order for people to participate, they have to know about it. Using the local newspaper, radio stations, flyers, social media, and of course, word of mouth, are all good ways to advertise the tournament. Talk about the event! When people see that others are participating, they will want to, too.

6. Who will work the event? It's important to keep in mind that the event can't run on it's own. Yes, I know your company or school will be putting it on, but who will make sure the golf tournament runs smoothly and accordingly? It's important to think about who will work the score table, snack stands, beer carts, and so on.

I hope this blog post cleared up some uncertaintly about planning a golf tournament. There's a lot to do and I want help. Let's get to planning, what do you say?