Today’s Tournament: Your Club’s Best Opportunity to Impress
For golf course pros and management staff, hosting a tournament isn’t just about filling the tee sheet. It’s a chance to create a lasting impression on participants and encourage them to come back—either for future events or as full-fledged members. From providing seamless service to leveraging marketing strategies, every touch point matters. Here’s how you can make your tournaments a springboard for success.
Ways to Impress Tournament Participants
Exceptional Customer Service
Customer service is king. From the first handshake to the final goodbye, personalized and attentive service can set the tone for a positive experience. Staff training to anticipate participant needs—like answering common questions or assisting with logistics—can go a long way toward leaving a lasting impression.
Well-Organized Logistics
Clear signage, seamless check-ins, and efficient scheduling show professionalism and care. Many nonprofit tournaments rely on volunteers who may not be familiar with golf—as the course pro, your expertise can make all the difference. Share tips on streamlining check-ins, preparing registration tables, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
High-Quality Amenities
Participants notice the small details. Well-maintained golf carts, clean facilities, and premium rental equipment elevate the experience. Don’t overlook on-course bathrooms, trash cans, and watering stations. Even small extras, like branded towels or snacks, can leave a lasting impression.
Engaging Event Perks
On-course contests, such as longest drive or closest-to-the-pin challenges, create excitement and break up the play. Consider adding contests that cater to less experienced players, like “Straightest Drive” or “Most Accurate Chip,” to keep everyone engaged. Thoughtful prizes and sponsored giveaways also reinforce positive memories.
Professional Presentation
From branded materials to high quality tournament scoreboards, professional aesthetics can make a big impact. A visually impressive setup not only enhances the player experience but also signals that the event is of high quality and prestige.
On-Site Hospitality
Beverage stations, food trucks, or post-event gatherings like BBQs or cocktail hours offer participants a chance to relax and connect. Since most courses only break even on greens fees for charity tournaments, food and beverage sales are often where profits are made. Ensuring consistent access to refreshments on the course can make a huge difference. Schedule beverage cart rotations to visit each side of the course every hour—no more waiting for drinks!
Marketing Tactics to Encourage Return Participation
Collect and Leverage Contact Information for Personalized Follow-Up
Use tournament registration to build a participant database. Include this requirement in your agreement with the organizing entity. After the event, send a simple thank-you email with highlights of the amenities, links to your calendar, and exclusive offers. Personal touches go a long way.
Create FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Share event highlights, testimonials, and photos on social media to showcase the energy and excitement of your tournaments. Tagging participants and sponsors creates goodwill and boosts visibility, encouraging participants to return and bringing in new ones.
Exclusive Offers
Provide discounts for future tournaments, free range tokens, or a reduced rate for a round of golf. Consider “bring a friend” incentives to maximize participation.
Highlight Club Benefits
Position your tournaments as introductions to the broader club experience. Offer single-day access to amenities like the pool or coupons for the restaurant and bar. These experiences allow non-members to envision themselves returning as part of the community.
Build a Community
Foster ongoing engagement by promoting leagues, clinics, and social events designed for tournament participants. Including a printed calendar of upcoming events in the tee prize bag is a simple but effective way to keep your club top of mind. Better yet, include a QR code for a digital calendar so participants can easily save events to their personal schedules.
Final Thoughts
Every tournament is an opportunity to showcase your course’s professionalism, amenities, and hospitality. By impressing participants and keeping them engaged after the event, you’re not only boosting return participation but also positioning your club as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts. With thoughtful planning and execution, today’s tournament can lay the foundation for tomorrow’s success.
