It doesn’t take a single-digit handicap to plan a golf tournament. Instead, an ideal chairperson needs to be a supreme organizer with excellent planning skills to take an event from original blueprint to post-round barbecue. Before targeting potential participants and sponsors, a golf tournament needs a purpose, golf course, name and date. And because the more visual elements incorporated into the event the better, a Web site dedicated to your tournament and a colorful, eye-catching logo wouldn’t hurt. And if you’re really into New Media, making a Twitter account or Facebook page dedicated to your golf tournament is a quick and easy way to promote and update the progress of the event.
Golf tournaments come in many shapes and sizes, but the most popular models are charity, celebrity and corporate (workrelated) outings. The most common format is some variation of a four-man scramble. If you’re hosting a causal event designed to be a good time for everyone involved, the Texas Scramble format is an option that keeps the pace of play moving and promotes more interaction among the groups of players.
The Texas Scramble involves four-person teams playing four balls, but with each shot coming from the same spot (the best of the four drives is chosen and all four team members then hit from that spot, and so on).
Determining a venue is as much about cost, finding a central location and availability as it is picking a course with name recognition or a celebrated architect.
The golf course should be playable for all skill levels, have a friendly and helpful staff and be within your budget. If you can mirror the personality of your tournament with its host course, the more successful your event will be.
Once you have the time, date, location and format nailed down, you’ll need to focus on the financial aspect of the event.
Bringing sponsors into the mix will help to subsidize your costs. Local businesses, donors and golf-related companies can get involved by enrolling a team in the event, sponsoring a hole, awarding prizes or attaching their name to the title of the tournament.
Once those details are ironed out, it’s all about promoting the event and delivering a memorable experience for the participants. Stay organized and things should fall nicely into place.