The 8 Steps To A Successful Golf Tournament
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STEP ONE.     Pick A Date.
The first thing is to plan a date during the golf season for your tournament.  You'll have to coordinate it with the course and check  VIP's vacation plans so you don't schedule a tournament that your President can't attend!

STEP TWO.      Select A Course.
Try to get a course that's geographically appealing to the majority of your golfers.   You'll have to do some research here ... call several golf courses and compare rates and amenities, available dates, restrictions, etc., and then pick one.

STEP THREE.      The Contract.
Most golf courses will have a contract prepared that will outline what they are responsible for and what they'll provide for the tournament.  Rates, dates, number of players, etc., are all outlined.  Sign and return the contract to reserve the course for your outing.

STEP FOUR.      Design a Theme and Determine your Entry Fee.
Design your tournament around a theme.  It's always more memorable and it adds to the promotional aspect.  "Sorenson's Summer Splash", "Shoot For The Stars", etc.

Entry fees for golfers are usually in the $100 - $300 per golfer range which includes the greens fees, cart and banquent/dinner and any giveaways you decide on.

STEP FIVE.     Invitations.
Have the invitations prepared, printed and mailed to your golfers with a "Must RSVP by _____" date!  Make sure the RSVP date allows you enough time to plan the banquet/refreshments and the gifts you'll be using for the tournament!

STEP SIX.     Decide on your refreshment plans.
Will you have a coffee/donuts/danish registration hour?  Do you want water, juice, fruit, etc. on the golf course at certain locations?  Are you having a banquet after the tournament?  If so, will it be a sit-down dinner or a buffet style affair?   What food are you planning to serve?  If the course going to handle it all, or will you have outside caterers?

STEP SEVEN.     Promotional items and  Sponsorship signs.
Decide on your promotional items you'll be giving away at the tournament.  Golf balls, tees, divot repair tools, umbrellas, golf shirts, t-shirts, ball markers, bag tags, club and shoe cleaners, gloves and head covers, CUSTOMIZED SCORE CARDS ... there are hundreds of super items to choose from, and UNI-SERV carries all the best valued products!  Call us and we'll help you select items that work with your chosen theme.  We help you plan a coordinated promotional experience!

You'll also need to acquire your tournament sponsors and arrange for their hole sponsor signs.  Sponsorship fees are usually in the $100 - $200 range, but you set your own price depending on the tournament and the clientele you'll have.  You may have some "high-level" sponsors (i.e. Gold, Silver, Bronze) where you'll receive several hundred/thousand dollars.   See our Golf Sign section for more info.

You may also have Cocktail Hour Sponsors, Banquet Sponsors, etc.  Special signs should be made for these sponsors, and Uni-Serv can help you there too!

Depending on the size of your tournament, you could also consider a "Tournament Book" complete with articles, pictures and advertising that you would sell.  Prices for a full-page ad in such a book are usually in the $500 per page range.

STEP EIGHT.      RSVP final count.
Get your final count of golfers and call the course with the number.

STEP NINE.     Select the format for the tournament.
Most tournaments are run on a "Scramble" format ... discussed below.

STEP TEN.     Deliver Promotional Items and Hole Sponsorship Signs to the course prior to the tournament.  Decide on some other money-making, give away programs such as 50/50 raffles, donated items used in a "prizes raffle" where participants pay $20 for a ticket to enter the drawing for each item.  Items can include signed or unsigned footballs, baseball, caps, golf shoes, individual clubs, balls, shirts, and a host of other golf-related items!  Use your imagination!

STEP ELEVEN.     Pray for good weather!

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FREQUENTLY REQUESTED INFORMATION and things to consider for your golf tournaments:

* With up to 79 players, most tournaments will begin on a "First Tee Start" basis - everyone goes off from the 1st tee about 7 minutes apart.
* With 80-199 players, the start will be based on a "One & Ten"
method - half your golfers will begin at the 1st tee and the other half will start at the 10th.
* With 120+ players, you'll probably have a "Shotgun" start and have exclusive use of the golf course.

* Most course require a "per-golfer deposit" in the $4-8.00 range.

* Most tournaments are done using a "Scramble" format.  The typical rules for a Scramble event are:
          1. Each group will select a team captain prior to teeing off.
          2. Play begins with each member of the group teeing off.
          3. With the agreement of the other members of the group, the
              team captain decides which drive is the most desirable.
          4. The other members of the group pick up their balls and proceed
              to the spot of the selected drive, where they will hit their
              second shots.
          5. The best of the second shots is then chosen.  The group will then
              hit all their putts (or third shots) from that spot.
          6. This procedure continues until the ball is in the hole.
          7. At the end of each hole, the score for the group is recorded on
              the score card.

* Some tournament hosts give out pre-play golf gifts at the registration table, and others wait until the banquet.   Some do both.

* If you are having HOLE SPONSORSHIP SIGNS, make sure to get them from Uni-Serv - we have an industry-unique sign that has been overwhelmingly welcomed at each tournament we've done!  Full color signs with logos, etc. - see the sign section of this site for details!

* MAKE SURE to get the details on:
          (1) Hole-In-One Giveaway and Insurance
          (2) Does the course offer rental clubs?
          (3) Does the course have locker rooms/shower facilities?
          (4) Do you want a photographer to take pictures throughout the day?  It's a great follow-up to send people candid pictures of the event!
          (5) Are you planning on music?   If so, a band or DJ?
          (6) What Special Events are you having?
                    Longest Drive?
                    Closest To The Pin?
                    Most Accurate Drive>

Most everything involving the actual tournament should be discussed and planned in coordination with your chosen golf course.   They can handle a lot of the detail work for you.

The promotional items, score cards, hole sponsor signs, gifts and awards should be handled by Uni-Serv, who can be reached at 1-732-74-1010, Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM.

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