Charity Golf Tourneament Questions

Question
Hello Skip! I was hoping you might be able to help me out. My father passed away in may and golf was his favorite pasttime. I grew up in Forest Oaks in Greensboro, NC where the PGA has had a tournament every year for years. My husband thought that a great way to remember my dad and to raise money for St. Judes Charity (daddy loved children)is to hold an annual golf invitational. My uncle is also an avid golfer, knows and loves many of the pros, plays in the Jimmy V every year and suggested using Forest Oaks, or another course either in/near Greensboro, NC or on the southern NC coast-/near Myrtle Beach, SC since my mom and dad lived there the past several years and it's the "golf capital." Do you have any suggestions for the planning and execution of such a tournemant? I'm a graphics designer so we have promo material under control...it's the bare bones we're struggling with. Thanks for your time!

Answer
Dear Samantha, thanks for the inquiry and I'm sorry for the loss of your father.  I'm psyched that you have chosen to honor him while raising money for a great cause.  My mom is a regular donar to St. Judes as far back as I can remember; I'll be sure to tell her of your efforts.  I think the best way to begin is by visiting with a few of the courses in the area.  Ask for an appointment with the General Manager (sometimes called Director of Golf) to discuss a possible annual memorial outing for charity.  Those are buzz words they generally like to hear.  From there I would trust your instincts as to which club or course is most receptable to your ideas.  Go ahead a tell them that you really don't know where to begin with the process and monitor the responses you get.  One of the big things is that you'll need corporate sponsorships, not necessarily big ones, but businesses that would sponsor things such as the tee boxes, or the closest-to-the-pin contest, or perhaps a title sponsor for the entire day.  With that, you'll need people who can solicit those businesses etc, usually volunteers, perhaps family.  The general mgrs should be able to help you with appropriate prices to charge the businesses, as well as the players, so that, in the end, there is plenty left over to give to St. Judes.  Samantha, this can be a large endeaver and has been known to consume people in the past, and in effect, tarnish the memory you had hoped to preserve.  My best advice is to keep things small at first and measure the success or problems you have, and go from there in planning subsequent years.  There are companies that plan such events, and thereby relieve the stress of learning everything there is to know about outings, but with that relief comes another cost, cutting into your donation.  A simply route, especially in the first year, might simply be to find a nice local course who will offer a fair price per person, (and an appealing available date) run an inexpensive ad in the paper seeking foursomes to play in the "First Annual..." You could even mention in the ad, "sponsors welcome, please call" "all proceeds to benefit..."  Get on the phone to a few area small businesses and ask for a tee/contest sponsor (pick businesses/restaurants etc that your Dad liked) and then play with the numbers to see what you have.  For example:

COSTS
Elm Tree Golf Club: $100/player (approx 100 players: $10000)
includes golf, cart, gift bag, boxlunch, finger-food reception
Prizes: $3000
Misc: $2500 (ads, signs, etc.)
Total $15500

PROCEEDS
100 Players @ $200 ea: $20000
Front nine sponsor: $500 (or more)
Back nine sponsor: $500
Longest Drive: $1000
Closet to the Pin $1000
(and more sponsors if you can get them)
Total: $23000

Approx $7000 for Charity.

Of course this is all approx...depending on many factors, but certainly feasable. You can do it. Good luck with everthing, have fun in the process, and remember...

Love the game,
Skipper