Golf tournament contests are a fantastic way to amp up the excitement at your charity golf event. These contests give golfers the thrill of competing for golf tournament prizes and cash and offer your organization the chance to boost fundraising by collecting entry fees and wagers.
In this article, we’ll share the most popular and fun-filled golf tournament contests to make your next event a huge hit with your supporters.
What We’ll Cover
- 7 Popular Golf Tournament Contests for Fundraising and Charity Golf Tournaments
- Hole-in-One Contests
- Beat the Pro Contests
- Pro for Hire
- Closest to the Pin
- Longest Drive Contests
- Putting Contests
- 19th Hole Contests
- When Should I Run Golf Tournament Contests?
- Charity Golf Tournament Websites and More Golf Resources
7 Popular Golf Tournament Contests for Fundraising and Charity Golf Tournaments
The following golf contests are the most popular for fundraising and charity golf tournaments.
Hole-in-One Contests
The Hole-in-One contest is probably the most popular competition for charity tournaments. Hosting organizations advertise extravagant grand prizes, such as $10,000 cash or a new car, for the golfer who can make a hole-in-one on the designated hole. Of course, hosting groups don’t want to lose their tournament revenue to pay for a prize, so organizations protect themselves by purchasing hole-in-one insurance. This allows the hosting organization to advertise a large grand prize without being liable for paying for it if there should be a winner.
Get a free Hole-in-One insurance quote.
Beat the Pro Contests
A golf pro is stationed at a par- three hole for most Beat the Pro contests. The pro will tee off first, and then players pay for a chance to hit closer to the pin than the pro. If a player does not hit closer to the pin on his drive off the tee, the money wagered goes into the donations pot. If the golfer beats the pro, he wins a prize or part of the pot. With this contest, you’ll need a volunteer with a measuring device to ensure accuracy.
You’ll want to make sure you have a good pro working for you to make money from this contest. The golf course where you host the event should be able to recommend someone with skills and consistency, and they may be on staff.
Pro for Hire
Instead of competing against the golf pro in this contest, players or teams can hire the pro to hit their drive on a difficult hole. A pro hit could save golfers a few strokes and make the difference in a heated competition. Hiring the pro could be even more desirable if prizes are awarded at the end of the tournament based on team or individual scores. Of course, the pro should be able to hit long drives; therefore, charging $25 or more for the service makes sense. If your charity event doesn’t offer prizes for the best individual or team golf game, this contest is not likely for you.
Closest to the Pin
A Closest to the Pin contest typically occurs on a par-3 hole, and the drive that lands closest to the pin wins. Inform players that if they’d like to participate, there will be an entry fee, and they will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, such as free golf balls, rounds of golf, gift certificates, or golf shirts. These prizes are typically donated by sponsors and the hosting golf course, allowing the money raised from the entry fees to go toward your charitable cause. A second volunteer will be stationed on the green near the hole to record distances. The winners will be announced at the end of the tournament.
Longest Drive Contests
This same philosophy can apply to the Longest Drive Contest, where an entry fee is required to participate, and winners are eligible for prizes. In this contest, players compete to see who can hit the ball the farthest off the tee on a designated hole. It adds an exciting competitive edge, as golfers love the challenge of testing their driving skills. You can raise extra funds by charging an entry fee for participation or by offering the chance to buy mulligans. The winner usually receives a prize or recognition during the awards ceremony.
Putting Contests
There are typically two kinds of putting contests: a single or one-putt contest and a combination or three-putt contest. In a single putt contest, golfers get the chance to make one putt to win a prize. In combination putting contests, golfers must make all three putts to win. Insurance can also be sold for this type of hole-in-one contest if you wish to offer a large prize that allows your nonprofit to charge more for contest tickets.
19th Hole Contests
There are 18 holes played in a typical charity round of golf (unless you’re hosting a Golf Marathon, which is a fabulous way to raise money). The 19th hole represents the golf course clubhouse. Here is how this contest works – the first 20 golfers or another specified number to return their completed scorecards to the clubhouse are entered into an exclusive raffle. Raffle prizes are donated by sponsors and the golf course or country club, so this is another contest that doesn’t cost your organization anything to run and allows you to raise money by selling raffle tickets.
When Should I Run Golf Tournament Contests?
Tournament planners often have one on-course contest on the front nine and one on the back nine. Be sure to include these details on your golf tournament website, as these contests add excitement to the typical 18-hole golf game and provide an opportunity to make some extra money while teams are on the course.
Charity Golf Tournament Websites and More Golf Resources
DoJiggy powers free golf tournament software for charity and fundraising golf tournaments.
Still looking for ideas for your next golf outing? Check out this great article on organizing a charity golf tournament. We cover mulligan and product sales, sponsorships, silent auctions, and more exciting fundraising options.
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