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I once walked into a golf outing and lovely gentleman came up and showed me where the carts were and where I could get a cup of coffee. He then asked if I'd prefer a new pair of FootJoys or three boxes of Pro-V golf balls.
Ummm, WHAT?
He then explained (I'm paraphrasing) that just for being me, I get a freaking fantastic gift, and it doesn't matter if I stink it up on the course.
Let's just say that since then, I have never turned down an invitation to play in that event.
As a golf event organizer, offering unique and exciting door prizes is a surefire way to engage attendees and create a memorable experience. Not only do tee gifts show your appreciation for your guests, but they also generate buzz and keep people talking about your event and organization long after it's over. I sure was.
So, should you offer a door prize or tee gift? And if so, what?
There is no right or wrong answer here. A tee gift is a nice gesture to those who shelled out money and took time out of their busy schedules to attend your event. It's not an expectation, though, at least not at the events I play.
If you're hosting a charitable golf outing to raise money for a cause, most would prefer the money go to the people who need it. The selfish may have a different perspective but forget them.
However, a tee gift is probably a good idea if you're hosting a corporate outing. In many cases, corporate outings are intended to show appreciation to groups of employees, partners, and others. What better way to show appreciation than with a gift right at the outset?
Either way, as someone who likes playing in golf outings, tee gifts are a great idea if you can afford it.
But what should you give to your golfers? Below are some ideas that we've seen or brainstormed.
Prepare your golfers for their upcoming round with some of the essentials they'll need. Golf balls are always welcome, as are tees, a towel, divot poppers, a can koozie, club-head covers, or ball markers.
Taking your golf essentials up a notch, consider branding them with your event's logo and/or slogan. There are a number of places you can purchase branded golf items from, but one site we really like is Evolve Golf (evolvegolf.com). They offer some great branded products and will work with you on the design of those items.
In addition to golf products, consider giving away logoed golf shirts, hats, socks, or golf gloves. My wife regularly gets annoyed with me because every time I have to put on a nice shirt to go out for dinner, it has some random logo.
It's not my fault that my best shirts were gifted. I'm not spending that much money on clothes.
Bigger brands or local dealers may also come out to your event and set up shop, helping golfers find the perfect item. At the outing where I got the FootJoys, a FootJoy rep was there helping me find the right pair. Maui Jim will also come out and do sunglass fittings.
Offer to buy 100+ of their expensive products, and brand reps will bend over backward.
Consider bundling the above items into a gift bag. If one gift is fun, a bag of stuff is always better. By bagging the gifts before the day, you can more easily disseminate them by putting them in the golf carts before golfers arrive or handing them out at registration. Golfers also get a way to carry all their goodies.
Some companies give away products or services as a way to get people to try their offerings. Take advantage of these by giving them away to your golfers.
For example, does a local golf professional offer a free 30-minute evaluation? Ask if you can include that offer as a tee gift to your outing of 100+ golfers. Hard to imagine them saying no to that many new leads.
Taking it up a notch, for outings with big budgets, consider big-ticket gifts. Think smart watches, wireless earbuds, or golf-specific devices like rangefinders or swing analyzers.
These prizes cater to the modern golfer and can create a lot of buzz and goodwill. They are also very expensive, so budget accordingly.
And, if you go this route, please invite me!
Adding a personal touch to your tee gift can make them even more special. Consider offering customized items featuring the event logo or the attendee's name, such as engraved glassware, embroidered golf towels, or custom headcovers.
These personalized prizes serve as lasting mementos of the event and can help foster a sense of camaraderie among attendees.
Of course, offering amazing door prizes is only half the battle – you also need to figure out how to pay for them. Here are a few strategies to consider:
If you go the sponsor route, when approaching potential sponsors, clearly communicate the value of their contributions. Emphasize how their brand will be represented at the event and how their support will help create a memorable experience for attendees.
At the end of the day, the goal of any golf event is to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for your attendees. By getting creative with your tee gifts and offering a mix of high-value and budget-friendly options, you'll leave a lasting impression on your guests.