Golf Outing Planning - getting started

OK now you have to get started planing the Golf Outing. The first step is set some goals and define what is a successful golf outing event.

What is the Purpose of the Event?

There are many reason to have a golf outing and many times the goals over lap. It is a good idea to define the purpose of the event and set some goals.

Some typical goals for a golf outing: Fundraising; Entertaining Clients, Donors or Volunteers; Competition (a tournament not an outing); Social; Raise Awareness of Cause or Organization

               

18th Hole Edgmont Country Club 

Think out the purpose for the event. It may be a combination of the reasons listed above or others. Write the purpose down! It will help with the decision making in all areas of planning and executing the event. It will also help to sell the golf outing event to sponsors, players and volunteers.

Example:

                       

The Purpose of the  (organization name) Golf Outing held on (date) at Edgmont Country Club  is to (fill in blank). The Mission of  (organization name) is (state mission).

            Set event goals for attendance, fundraising, and numbers of sponsors.
            Again, write them down.

• Be realistic
• The economy may be good or it may be not so good keep that in mind.
• Understand your support base. Can you market a $10, $50, $150, $250 or a $1000 fee to your base of supporters. It is necessary to understand your support base very well when picking a price point for you event. 
• How established is your golf outing.
• Is it a new event?  May be harder to accurately set numbers
• Has attendance been increasing or decreasing the past 2-3 years
• Understand the level of interest in your cause or organization and you core support base and plan accordingly. Other events may make more sense than a golf outing.
• Golf Outing vs Golf Event; Auction; Beef & Beer, 5 K run/walk
• Understand the resources available to your organization.
• You many have more resources than you think even if you are just getting started. Networking with you committee and friends will help find much of what you need to be successful.
• Set 1-3-5 year goals
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• Communicate the goals to your organization, committee member & volunteers, sponsors, and players.
• People want to know "Why are you doing all of this work and why should I help you?" If you know why you are doing it it will help you to communicate it to others. 
• It will also help you in the future and people see your passion and vision for your organization and may help as a volunteer or sponsor.

Getting this upfront thinking done will help you communicate a vision for the event. It will also help you and your team to make decisions consistent with the goals for the golf outing and the mission of the organization all along the planning process.

Edgmont Country Club does offer a class on how to manage and improve your golf outing. Also our experienced staff is ready to answer your questions 

Time to start planing your golf outing - yesterday

OK somehow someway (you think from some deception by your so called friends) you are chairperson of the golf outing for your organization.  You missed one meeting and they made you Chairperson! You do not even play golf!

First thing is to breathe.  It is not that bad. A golf outing is no different than any other event or project you have been responsible for. There are a few concepts that are specific to a golf outing but this blog will help you plan.

The second thing to do is think. What are the goals of this event? What are the 1, 3, 5 year goals for the event? Is it a social event for an alumni association or  people that work together? Is it to raise money for a cause? Is it raise awareness for your organization/ cause? Are the goals some combination of the above? What other events does your organization do and how does the golf outing fit? Is it just another event?  Is it the big event for the year? Thinking about the golf outing like this and setting goals will help you make decisions along the way.

9th green Edgmont Country Club 

The third thing to do is recruit. Even if you are a full time event planner you need a committee to be successful. The golf outing committee should be at least 5-6 and more like 9-12 and a few more if you have an charity auction or a great deal of other activities. Much more then that become hard to manage.

People come to and sponsor a golf outing because someone they they know is involved and they were asked. The more people involved in planning the bigger the pool of people they know to ask.

The forth thing to do is develop a time line. You should have started yesterday but the next best time to start it today! Depending on your goals a new golf outing should allocate 9-12 months. An experienced group 6-9 months. The more time the better and less intense it will be.

Follow the blog  for updates. More to come.


If you have any questions please contact Edgmont Country Club Pro shop 610.353.1800 x 3