How to Raise More Money at a Charity Golf Day: 20 Proven Fundraising Ideas
Charity golf days are a fantastic way to bring together golfers, sponsors, businesses, and supporters while raising valuable funds for a worthy cause. Whether you are organising a golf day for a local charity, sports club, school, hospice, or national fundraising campaign, careful planning can make a significant difference to the amount raised.
While player entry fees provide a solid starting point, the most successful charity golf days create multiple fundraising opportunities throughout the event. From sponsorship packages and competitions to welcome packs and auctions, there are many ways to increase donations while creating a memorable experience for players and guests.
If you’re currently organising a golf event, our guide on How to Plan a Golf Day: Checklist and Tips provides a useful starting point for planning a successful event from start to finish.
Why Charity Golf Days Are So Effective
Golf days offer a unique fundraising opportunity because they combine networking, entertainment, competition, and sponsorship opportunities in a single event.
Unlike many fundraising activities, a charity golf day allows organisers to generate revenue from multiple sources, including:
- Team entry fees
- Hole sponsorship
- Charity auctions
- Raffles
- Golf competitions
- Donations
- Merchandise sales
- Corporate sponsorship packages
Combining several fundraising activities throughout the day can dramatically increase the total amount raised.
If you’re looking to attract more sponsors, our recent guide on Golf Event Sponsorship Ideas: 15 Ways to Maximise Sponsor Visibility explains how to create sponsorship opportunities that businesses genuinely want to support.
1. Secure Hole Sponsors
Hole sponsorship remains one of the easiest and most effective fundraising opportunities available.
Businesses are often happy to support a charity golf day in exchange for branding around the course. Sponsors can receive visibility through tee signs, banners, sponsor boards, and event flags positioned throughout the venue.
Large branded displays not only generate sponsorship revenue but also help create a more professional event atmosphere.
If you’re considering sponsor signage, our article on How to Choose the Right Event Signage explains the different options available and how they can be used effectively at golf events.
For organisers looking to maximise sponsor exposure, products such as custom event flags, sponsor banners, tee signs and branded tablecloths can help create additional sponsorship opportunities throughout the day.
2. Create Branded Welcome Packs
A well-presented welcome pack immediately creates a positive first impression while offering additional fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.
Many sponsors are happy to contribute towards player packs in exchange for product placement or branding opportunities.
Popular welcome pack items include:
- Custom printed golf balls
- Printed golf tees
- Golf ball markers
- Golf pencils
- Sponsor literature
- Discount vouchers
If you’re looking for inspiration, our guide on What Should You Put in a Corporate Golf Day Welcome Pack? explores some of the most popular products used at golf events across the UK.
Custom printed golf balls and branded golf tees remain particularly popular because they provide long-term visibility for both sponsors and organisers long after the event has finished.
3. Organise a Charity Raffle
A raffle remains one of the simplest ways to generate additional revenue during a charity golf day.
Many local businesses are willing to donate prizes in exchange for recognition at the event. Popular raffle prizes include golf equipment, golf clothing, restaurant vouchers, hospitality packages, and local experiences.
Creating an attractive prize display can help increase ticket sales and generate excitement throughout the day.
For ideas on presenting prizes effectively, take a look at our guide on Golf Society Prize Table Ideas, which includes practical tips for creating an eye-catching display.
4. Host a Silent Auction
Silent auctions are particularly effective at corporate golf days where attendees may be willing to bid on premium experiences or exclusive items.
Popular auction prizes include:
- Signed sporting memorabilia
- Golf breaks
- VIP sporting experiences
- Luxury hospitality packages
- Golf equipment
- Weekend getaways
Combining a silent auction with a raffle can significantly increase overall fundraising revenue.
5. Sell Mulligans
A charity golf day favourite.
Players purchase a mulligan before the round, allowing them to replay one shot during the competition.
It’s simple to organise, requires very little administration, and can generate a surprisingly healthy contribution towards the fundraising total.
Many organisers also combine mulligans with sponsored competitions to create additional fundraising opportunities throughout the day.
6. Run a Nearest the Pin Competition
Nearest the Pin competitions are popular because they appeal to golfers of all abilities.
Sponsors can support the competition by donating prizes or funding branded signage at the designated hole.
The competition also creates another opportunity to promote sponsor branding around the course.
Competition organisers should ensure events are conducted fairly and in accordance with the official Rules of Golf published by the R&A.
7. Longest Drive Competition
Longest Drive competitions remain a staple of charity golf days.
They are easy to organise, attract plenty of participation, and create another sponsorship opportunity through competition branding and prize sponsorship.
Combining Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin competitions often increases player engagement while generating additional sponsor exposure.
8. Sell Charity-Branded Golf Merchandise
Many participants like to leave with a memento from the event.
Charity-branded merchandise can help generate additional fundraising income while raising awareness for the cause.
Popular options include:
Our article on Embroidered Golf Shirts for Events and Why They Matter explains how branded apparel can help create a lasting impression long after the event has finished.
9. Offer Poker Chip Ball Markers
Custom poker chip ball markers are becoming increasingly popular at charity golf days.
They are affordable, practical, and often kept as souvenirs by players.
For many organisers, they provide an excellent balance between fundraising potential and event branding.
Our guide on Custom Golf Ball Markers for Golfers and Events explores the different styles available and how they can be used at golf days and tournaments.
10. Host a Beat the Pro Challenge
A Beat the Pro challenge is a fantastic way to engage players while raising additional funds.
Invite a local PGA Professional to take on players at a selected hole. Participants pay a small fee to enter, and anyone who beats the professional wins a prize.
This type of challenge often attracts sponsor interest too, especially when combined with branded signage, competition boards, and sponsor branding. If you’re looking for ways to increase sponsor engagement throughout your event, our guide on Golf Event Sponsorship Ideas: 15 Ways to Maximise Sponsor Visibility contains plenty of practical ideas.
11. Run a Putting Competition
Putting competitions are easy to organise and can keep guests entertained before or after their round.
You could charge a small entry fee and offer prizes for:
- Longest putt holed
- Most consecutive putts
- Closest finish
- Beat the Captain challenge
Adding branded banners and sponsor signage around the putting green can also create additional sponsorship opportunities. Our article on How to Choose the Right Event Signage explains how effective event branding can improve both the player experience and sponsor visibility.
12. Sell Entry into Team Challenges
Team challenges provide another excellent fundraising opportunity.
Popular formats include:
- Yellow Ball Challenge
- Best Team Score
- Texas Scramble Bonus Competition
- Mystery Team Competition
Charging a small fee for optional team competitions can quickly add to your fundraising total while creating extra excitement throughout the day.
If you’re looking for inspiration when organising your event, our How to Plan a Golf Day: Checklist and Tips guide covers many of the practical considerations involved in running a successful golf day.
13. Create a Premium Prize Table
A professionally presented prize table helps build anticipation and encourages participation in fundraising activities.
Popular prizes include:
- Golf gift sets
- Golf balls
- Branded apparel
- Golf accessories
- Experience days
- Golf vouchers
If you’re looking for inspiration, our articles on Golf Society Prize Table Ideas and Best Corporate Golf Day Gifts & Prizes in 2026 showcase some of the most popular prize options for golf events.
Many organisers also choose to display sponsor logos around the prize table to provide additional recognition for supporters.
14. Offer Charity-Branded Golf Balls
Custom printed golf balls can create a lasting keepsake while generating additional fundraising revenue.
Many organisers choose to print:
- Charity logos
- Event logos
- Sponsor logos
- Anniversary branding
Players are often happy to purchase commemorative golf balls that help support the chosen cause.
Our guide on Custom Printed Golf Balls for Corporate Golf Days & Events explains the different branding options available and why printed golf balls remain one of the most popular products at golf events.
15. Run a Charity Sweepstake
A charity sweepstake is a simple way to generate additional donations while creating extra excitement during the event.
Popular sweepstake ideas include:
- Predict the winning team score
- Guess the number of putts holed during the day
- Predict the nearest the pin winning distance
- Guess the charity fundraising total
Players can purchase entries before play begins, with the winner receiving a prize donated by a sponsor or local business.
Sweepstakes are easy to organise, require very little administration, and can generate additional fundraising revenue throughout the event.
Many organisers combine sweepstakes with other competitions such as Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin to maximise participation and engagement.
16. Create Tiered Sponsorship Packages
Not every sponsor has the same budget.
Creating Bronze, Silver and Gold sponsorship packages allows businesses of all sizes to get involved while helping maximise fundraising revenue.
For example:
Gold Sponsor
- Welcome pack branding
- Hole sponsorship
- Event flags
- Prize presentation branding
Silver Sponsor
- Hole sponsorship
- Golf balls
- Ball markers
Bronze Sponsor
- Hole signage
Our Golf Event Sponsorship Ideas: 15 Ways to Maximise Sponsor Visibility guide contains additional ideas that can help create attractive sponsorship packages for potential supporters.
17. Hold a Charity Beat the Scorecard Challenge
This is a fun fundraising activity that requires very little organisation.
Players predict their score before teeing off. The golfer who finishes closest to their prediction wins a prize.
You can charge a small entry fee and offer prizes donated by sponsors.
This challenge works particularly well alongside competitions such as Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive, helping to increase participation throughout the day.
18. Sell a Charity Draw for Premium Experiences
Instead of a standard raffle, consider offering a premium prize draw featuring high-value experiences.
Popular prizes include:
- Golf breaks
- Fourballs at prestigious golf clubs
- Hospitality packages
- Signed sporting memorabilia
- VIP event tickets
Premium draws often generate higher ticket sales than traditional raffles because participants perceive greater value in the prizes.
19. Encourage Donations Before Event Day
Many organisers focus solely on fundraising during the event itself.
However, promoting donation opportunities before the day through email marketing, social media and registration forms can significantly increase fundraising totals.
Sponsors can also be promoted before the event to help demonstrate the value of their support.
Combining pre-event fundraising with effective sponsorship opportunities often produces the strongest results. Our Golf Event Sponsorship Ideas guide contains several ideas that can help increase sponsor engagement before players even arrive at the course.
20. Celebrate Sponsors and Supporters After the Event
Fundraising doesn’t end when the final putt drops.
Taking time to thank sponsors, volunteers, prize donors and participants can help build long-term relationships and encourage future support.
Consider:
- Thank-you emails
- Social media recognition
- Event recap blogs
- Newsletter features
- Sponsor spotlights
Many successful organisers create post-event content that highlights sponsors, fundraising achievements and memorable moments from the day. This not only recognises supporters but also helps build momentum for future events.
Why Event Caddie?
At Event Caddie, we help organisers create memorable charity golf days through:
- Branded golf merchandise
- Golf event signage
- Sponsor activation products
- Welcome packs
- Golf gifts and prizes
From custom golf balls and printed tees to event flags and sponsor signage, we provide everything needed to create a successful fundraising event.
FAQS
How much can a charity golf day raise?
The amount raised depends on player numbers, sponsorship, raffles, auctions, and fundraising activities. Many charity golf days generate income from multiple revenue streams rather than relying solely on entry fees.
What is the best fundraiser for a charity golf day?
Hole sponsorship, raffles, silent auctions, and golf competitions are often among the most successful fundraising activities.
How do you attract sponsors to a charity golf day?
Create sponsorship packages that provide visibility through signage, welcome packs, golf balls, competitions, and event branding.
What prizes work best at charity golf days?
Golf equipment, golf gifts, vouchers, branded merchandise, hospitality experiences, and golf breaks are all popular prize options.
What should be included in a charity golf day welcome pack?
Many organisers include golf balls, tees, ball markers, sponsor information, and event merchandise.
Can branded golf merchandise help raise money?
Yes. Many organisers sell branded golf balls, golf towels, apparel, and ball markers to generate additional fundraising revenue.
