Golf Tournament Planning

There is no point in giving your golfers promotional material if it ends up in the next garage sale or even worse in the garbage

You can save money and still make an impact and retain the players for next year

If your gifts are donated and the players are disappointed, this will cost you more than you realize

Here are some prize ideas to enhance your event:

Choose Non Golf Gifts over Golf Gifts

Tournament participants are not often avid golfers. Tournament participants usually go out 2 times a year. The average number of rounds played by Canadian golfers is approximately 13 per year

Most participants are not into logo pens, T-shirts, or coffee mugs. In fact, watch the reaction most players give as they look in the goody bags. Inexpensive “free-bee” These items are more suited as a customer giveaway as oppose to golf gift. If the donated pen goes in the trash and the t-shirt stays in the drawer, does that make a player remember your event fondly? Put something in the “swag bag “that they will actually use, and will remind them each time they use it.

Choose understated Logos over Large Logos

The fashion these days is to keep logos small and subtle, so if you want players to use wear the item – use subtle logos

Keep in mind, your logo is perhaps more important to you than it is to the participants, so avoid turning your gifts into Goodwill donations. Golfers want small logos or no logo at all, so keep it subtle. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Embroider cap with the golf course logo on the front and your event name on the back.

Microfiber pocket towel with your logo embroidered in the corner.

If you are going to choose clothing choose brand name vs. generic A brand often gives the (customer) some reassurance that they are getting a quality product because they see it at retail, they know the name, and It also is a way to help ensure that the person receiving the gift is going to use it.

Whether it’s the Nike swoosh symbol or the Ralph Lauren polo player, the logo or brand name stands out on most apparel items.

Stay away from items that you need different sizes or left handed or right handed specific

The problem with sizable items…. you may run out of the required size for the last guest to register and it also slows down the registration table when your guest needs to decide on size and keep the colors to a minimum of two

Hats are great as long as it’s not a fitted hat

Choose 2 or 3 small Prizes over 1 Big Item

With 1 large tee gift is the potential of “missing” with many of the participants. What if they like the one they have now better? What if they only play golf a few times a year? When you have a generous budget for golf gifts, select several to increase the odds of participant satisfaction. Remember to add a non-golfing item for those who are not regular golfers. Here are a few popular tournament gift ideas for generous budgets:

Golf Gifts under $10.00 – golf caps, hat clips, greens towels, tees, sunscreen, lip balm, money clips golf balls.

Golf Gifts over $10.00 – caddy towels, umbrellas, head covers, and putter covers,

Non-Golfing Gifts over $10.00 – duffle bags, electronic gadgets, shaving kits, wallets, shoe bags, apparel, outerwear, barbecue sets, Tech items blue tooth, charging ports, Bags and Coolers and Echo friendly product

If you are going to choose one big gift…..this is the one to impress…. This is not your cost effective promotional product, but if you are looking for something that will really wow a client, this remote control flying drone will do the trick!

Don’t forget the female golfers

Plan on unisex gift or better yet make sure you purchase a quantity of gift specifically intended for your lady guest. 74% of all Canadian golfers are men, 26% are women

Plan a Mid-Year Thank-you Gift

Think outside the box. Send every participant from this year’s tournament a “Save the Date” thank-you gift. Many golfers play in more than one event and are being invited to play at other tournaments. Set yourself apart from other events with an appreciation gift and ask them to save the date for next year’s golf tournament. This gift does not have to be big or expensive, just memorable and usable.

Think of Gifts as Investments – Not Expenses

Golf tournament Gifts does not have to be a costly expense, they are brand investments . Golf tournament prizes will either impress players positively or negatively. Experts say, “It is less expensive to keep a customer happy, than it is to get a new one”.  Look at your golf outing prizes as your best opportunity to make positive lasting impressions. Choose gifts that are original, practical and in fact get used! These are the best golf tee prizes.

Lorraine Ferrari has been a Golf Promotion Expert for almost 2 decade. She has worked with Golf Tournaments from Church Fundraisers, to Charitable, Corporate Golf & Restaurant Events. To find the best golf outing gifts or hole in prizes you can reach her by e-mail:  [email protected]