Several years ago, National Golf Foundation research revealed that more than 35,000 fundraising golf events are conducted each year across the United States and that these tournaments raise more than $250 million a year for worthy causes.

With this kind of money at stake, it is no wonder that many nonprofit agencies are turning to golf events as the major tool in their fund raising arsenal.

Unfortunately most nonprofit staffers, while extremely adept at their jobs, are not seasoned golf event planners and hiring a golf event planner can cost anywhere from $2,000 - $10,000 dollars. That kind of money is not feasible for most for profit businesses to spend, let alone non- profits.

Planning and conducting a successful golf tournament is not difficult, it simply requires a little know-how and some organizational skills.

Here are a few tips on how to run a golf tournament that meets your organization's needs:

1. Develop and effectively use a golf tournament committee and define the roles of each team member:
   1. Designate one person to be the tournament director. This person will be the leader and chief organizer of the tournament.
   2. Designate a committee of others who will be in charge of budgeting, public relations, contacting sponsors, registering participants and volunteers, etc. Have each team member report to the tournament director to insure a smooth process.
2. Get Organized
   1. Give yourself plenty of time to plan. Start early by finding out how many volunteers will take part and get a firm commitment. Many private clubs allow tee times to be booked up to six weeks in advance, so you're looking at eight weeks of organization. Obviously, the bigger the tournament the more time you'll need. The more time you have, the easier your task will be.
3. Select a course and play format.
   1. Gauge the playing ability of the participants and pick a course to match. The last thing you want to do is book a complicated course if the tournament will have lots of first-time golfers.
   2. Golf tournaments are either played by a scramble or stroke play format. Of the two formats, the four man scramble is by far the most common type of format used in fund raising golf outings.
   3. If the budget permits, engage a golf pro or known personality to participate in the golf tournament.
   4. Determine the sources of income for your tournament.

      Golf events provide fundraisers with an opportunity to make several different revenue streams before, during and after the event. There are many ways to generate revenue from your event including:

      Entry fees, sponsorships, contributions and contest fees.

4. Obtain Insurance
   1. Insurance can be purchased to cover the prizes offered for making a hole in one on a designated hole.
   2. Prizes given can be trips, cars, boats, etc. Hole in one prizes are an excellent drawing card to the tournament and they also add more fun and prestige to your event.

Remember, golf tournaments are a great opportunity for any organization anywhere that needs to raise substantial funds quickly and easily. Follow the simple rules listed above and you will far surpass the knowledge of the average golf planner and this is sure to move your tournament and your organization closer to success.