The Golf Marathon: A Charity Golf Fundraiser Tournament

Golf Marathon: How Small Nonprofit Groups Can Use Golf For Fundraising

Golf Marathons are a way Nonprofit Groups

should consider running a fundraiser charity golf tournament. Many don’t, because they’re consider they’re too small. They might know they could never get the support of from 48 to 144 or more golfers to sign up for their cause. However a Golf Marathon could work very well for them.

So Little is known about a “Golf Marathon Charity Fundraiser”

that in my book “Golf Tournaments 101 Second Edition” I devote a complete chapter to it. Covering everything that’s needed in the planning and running of this type of event. There are even thirty five downloadable tools in Excel and Word files, designed specifically for a golf marathon. These make a huge reduction in the event’s planning time, as well as helping to eliminate “rookie mistakes”. The files are available through the book’s website https://charitygolf101.com using a password supplied with the book.

Only a Small Committee

along with a few volunteers is all the team that’s necessary to plan and run this event.

The Golf Marathon

is certainly a one-day fundraiser golf event that’s not widely known about. It could be called the second cousin to the usual one-day-charity fundraiser golf tournament. A much bigger event where the field is made up of teams of four players. The player count in this type of tournament could start with a few as 48 players, going all the way up to 300 if two courses are used.

However the Golf Marathon

has its place in fundraising and can be perfect for smaller nonprofit charities. These organizations may not have a large pool of players to call on, or the recourses to run a bigger event. The format is simple; each player plays his or her own ball. It’s an event that can be profitable with as few as 15 players but a target approaching 40 should be the goal.

Every Player’s First Goal

is to have as many sponsors as possible. Fundraising dollars come from the players’ sponsors, who individually pledge a small amount of money for every hole their player completes. Then the second goal of each player is to complete as many holes as possible throughout tournament day.

One of the Downloadable Excel Files

is set up to automatically calculate how much an individual player could raise from each sponsor who supports him or her. For example:

One sponsor pledges 50 cents per hole. The player completes 54 holes (3 rounds of 18 holes) the cost to the sponsor and therefore the amount raises is $27.00. Not a large amount but consider this. A player could play upwards of 100 holes and some sponsors might pledge $2.00 or more per hole. Consider 20 golfers all with 20 sponsors pledging $2.00 per hole. If each player completes 36 holes (that’s only 2 rounds) the amount raised would be $28,800.00.

Here are Some of the Many Points covered and fully explained in the chapter:

• When can a “Golf Marathon” be played?
• Why would a Country Club rent one of its courses?
• The Golf Marathon Seasons
• The Rental amount a Country Club might charge
• Why all that’s needed is just a handful of players
• Bringing in players should be easy, because there should be no “Player Entry Fee”
• Why no Tournament Prizes or Trophies are necessary
• Why there’s not the expense of an After Golf Awards Dinner

Tournament Sponsorships. How they can increase your fundraising dollars. For example:

• Covering the cost of food for your players
• Sponsoring the golf cart rental fees
• Providing “Player-Perks”. Perhaps a “Golfer’s Goodie Gift Bag”
• Buying “On-Course” advertising signage

In Conclusion

Tip of the Iceberg:

If you’ve read any of my many blogs on planning and running a one day charity fundraising golf tournament, then look at them as being just the tip of the iceberg.

Golf Tournaments 101 Second Edition

is full of much more detailed information, guidelines and tips than blogs can fully cover. It’s unique in that there’s not another guide and planning book on the market containing as much information to assist charities raise money through golf.

Downloadable Tools:

Through the book’s website https://charitygolf101.com over 35 downloadable tools are made available. These Excel and Word files are set up to assist in pre-tournament planning along with a tournament day timeline. Some files are ready to go; others can be modified to suit your own requirements.

If You Take the Challenge, wishing you every success with your fundraiser tournament.

—Mel Lewis