If you're planning a charity golf outing, sponsors can be the difference between hosting a nice day of golf and putting on an event that actually raises serious money.

But there's a problem.

Most golf outings approach sponsorships the exact same way.

“Would you like to sponsor a hole for $250?”

There's nothing wrong with hole sponsors. They're easy to understand and they generate revenue.

But if that's the only opportunity you're offering businesses, you're probably leaving money on the table.

The best sponsorship packages give companies something valuable in return: visibility, interaction with golfers, recognition, or an opportunity to provide something attendees will actually use.

Here are 10 ways to build better sponsorship opportunities for your next golf outing.

1. Start With a Presenting Sponsor

Your presenting sponsor should be the biggest sponsorship available.

Instead of simply putting their logo on one hole, integrate them throughout the event.

A presenting sponsorship could include:

• Event naming rights

• Top logo placement on tournament materials

• Recognition on the registration page

• Signage at check-in

• Social media recognition

• A complimentary foursome

• Logo placement at the awards dinner

• Recognition during announcements

• Branding on golfer gifts

If you're asking a company to make a significant contribution, make the sponsorship feel significant.

Don't give your $5,000 sponsor essentially the same package as your $500 sponsor with a slightly bigger sign.

2. Create a Golfer Gift Sponsor

This is one of the most underused sponsorship opportunities at golf outings.

Every tournament wants to give golfers something at registration.

Why not let a sponsor pay for it?

Instead of your organization spending $1,500 on golfer gifts, you could approach a sponsor and say:

“Would you like to be our official golfer gift sponsor?”

Their logo could then appear alongside the tournament logo on something golfers receive.

Examples include:

• Custom golf balls

• Golf towels

• Ball markers

• Bag tags

• Divot tools

• Cooler bags

• Tumblers

• Valuables pouches

This can be a win for everyone.

The tournament reduces an expense.

The sponsor gets its logo on something golfers may use long after the event.

And golfers receive a better gift because someone helped fund it.

3. Sell More Than Just Hole Sponsorships

Hole sponsors are a staple of golf outings, and you should absolutely offer them.

But you have 18 holes.

Your sponsorship opportunities don't have to stop at 18.

Think about everything golfers interact with during the day.

You could offer a:

• Registration Sponsor

• Driving Range Sponsor

• Putting Green Sponsor

• Beverage Cart Sponsor

• Lunch Sponsor

• Dinner Sponsor

• Scorecard Sponsor

• Golf Cart Sponsor

• Photography Sponsor

• Awards Sponsor

• Raffle Sponsor

• Golfer Gift Sponsor

Instead of asking 18 businesses for money, you now have dozens of potential sponsorship opportunities.

4. Match the Sponsorship to the Business

This is where you can get creative.

Suppose a local insurance agency wants to support your event.

Sure, you could give them Hole #7.

But maybe they would rather sponsor your hole-in-one contest.

A restaurant could sponsor lunch.

A local brewery could sponsor a beverage station.

An automotive company could sponsor the golf carts.

A financial firm could sponsor the putting contest.

A healthcare company could sponsor bottled water or hydration stations.

Think beyond putting logos on signs.

When the sponsorship actually makes sense for the company, it's easier for that business to understand the value.

5. Give Sponsors Access to the Golfers

For some companies, face-to-face interaction may be much more valuable than logo placement.

Allow selected sponsors to set up an activation on a tee box.

They might offer:

• Drinks

• Snacks

• Games

• Giveaways

• Contests

• Product samples

• Prize drawings

Now golfers aren't simply driving past the company's logo.

They're interacting with someone from the company.

Just be careful not to overdo it.

If golfers have to stop for five minutes at eight different sponsor tents, you're going to create a six-hour round.

A handful of good sponsor experiences beats an obstacle course of sales pitches.

6. Put Sponsor Logos on Something Golfers Keep

There's a major difference between a sponsor logo on a sign and a sponsor logo on an item.

The sign disappears when the outing ends.

A useful golf item might end up in someone's golf bag for years.

That's why products such as custom golf balls, ball markers, towels, bag tags and divot tools can work particularly well for sponsorships.

The key is tasteful branding.

You don't necessarily need a sponsor's giant logo covering the entire item.

A well-designed tournament logo combined with subtle sponsor branding can create something golfers actually want to keep.

That's much more valuable than making the item look like a miniature billboard.

7. Build Sponsorship Packages at Different Price Points

Not every business has the same marketing budget.

Give companies options.

For example:

$250 – Hole Sponsor

• Sign at one tee box

• Recognition on tournament website

$500 – Contest Sponsor

• Sponsor one on-course contest

• Larger signage

• Website recognition

• Social media recognition

$1,000 – Event Sponsor

• Premium signage

• Foursome included

• Website and social recognition

• Recognition during awards

$2,500 – Golfer Gift Sponsor

• Logo featured on golfer gift

• Premium event signage

• Foursome included

• Social media recognition

• Awards dinner recognition

$5,000 – Presenting Sponsor

• Naming rights

• Largest logo placement

• Multiple signs

• Golfer gift branding

• Complimentary foursomes

• Recognition throughout the event

Those numbers are only examples.

Your prices should depend on the size of your outing, golfer demographics, fundraising goals and what you're providing in return.

The important thing is giving businesses choices.

8. Explain What Their Sponsorship Actually Accomplishes

This is particularly important for charity golf outings.

Don't only tell a business what they receive.

Tell them what their money does.

Compare these two asks:

“Would you like to sponsor our outing for $1,000?”

versus:

“A $1,000 sponsorship helps us provide programming for 20 local families while also putting your company in front of 144 golfers and more than 30 participating businesses.”

That's a completely different conversation.

Companies want marketing exposure, but the people making these decisions also want to know they're helping accomplish something meaningful.

Tell the story.

9. Make Sponsoring the Event Easy

Don't make someone track you down to give you money.

Your sponsorship information should clearly show:

• Sponsorship levels

• Pricing

• What's included

• Event date

• Golf course

• Expected attendance

• Who benefits from the outing

• Contact information

• Payment options

• Logo submission instructions

• Sponsorship deadline

Ideally, businesses should be able to select and purchase a sponsorship directly from your event website.

The fewer emails and phone calls required, the better.

10. Treat This Year's Sponsors Like Next Year's Prospects

Getting a new sponsor is difficult.

Keeping a good sponsor should be much easier.

After the tournament, don't disappear for 11 months.

Send sponsors:

• A thank-you message

• Photos from the outing

• Pictures showing their signage

• Pictures of golfers using sponsored items

• Final fundraising results

• Attendance numbers

• Social media highlights

If their $2,500 helped your organization raise $60,000, tell them.

Then, when next year's outing rolls around, you're not starting with a cold sales pitch.

You're continuing an existing relationship.

Bonus: Ask Vendors and Existing Business Relationships First

You probably already know more potential sponsors than you think.

Before cold calling random companies, make a list of everyone your organization already does business with.

That could include:

• Banks

• Insurance agencies

• Accountants

• Attorneys

• Suppliers

• Restaurants

• Contractors

• Automotive dealers

• Healthcare providers

• Technology companies

• Real estate companies

• Local businesses

• Customers

• Vendors

If they're already doing business with your organization, there's an existing relationship.

Start there.

What Makes a Good Golf Outing Sponsorship?

A good sponsorship shouldn't feel like a donation with a logo attached to it.

Ideally, all three groups benefit.

The tournament benefits because sponsorship revenue helps cover expenses or increase fundraising.

The sponsor benefits because its company gets exposure and interaction with a relevant audience.

The golfer benefits because sponsorship dollars help create a better event.

That's the sweet spot.

Instead of asking:

“Where can we put another sponsor logo?”

Ask:

“What can this sponsor help us make better?”

That's a much more powerful way to build your sponsorship program.

One Sponsorship Idea We See Work Especially Well

At DrivePuttPromote, we work with golf outings that use sponsors to help cover the cost of custom golfer gifts.

Rather than spending tournament funds on golf balls, towels, ball markers, bag tags, cooler bags or other golf accessories, organizers can offer that branding opportunity to a sponsor.

It gives the sponsor visibility, lowers the tournament's costs and lets the organizer provide golfers with a better-quality gift.

If you're considering this approach, send us your event date, number of golfers and approximate budget, and we'll help you figure out which custom golf products make sense for your outing.

The mockups are free, so you can even use them when pitching the sponsorship to potential sponsors.

A better sponsor package can create a better golf outing — and hopefully raise a lot more money in the process.