10 Reliable Golf Tournament Gifts for Fundraisers

If you are like thousands of other charitable golf tournament committees, you are looking for golf outing prizes that will impress your participants without breaking the budget. Unfortunately, many of your options seem either too cheap or irrelevant, leaving you in the unenviable position of choosing gifts that could be tossed in the trash by the cart boy at the end of the golf tournament. If that’s the situation you find yourself in then read on.

Most charitable golf tournament boards are looking to give as much back to the Charity as possible which is admirable. Over the years, I have served on the board of several Golf Fundraisers and understand the complexities sitting on that side of the table. As a participant player in many golf fundraisers, I have opened many goodie bags that were appealing as well as those that should not have been handed out. I have also been active in the golf merchandise trade for 25 years and have witnessed hundreds of unforced errors made by selection committees that were trying to do the right thing. It is a proper balance from these 3 perspectives that has allowed me to assist over 500 charitable organizations with their golf fundraiser prizes. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when selecting your golf tournament gifts:

It is easier and less costly to retain players than to find new ones every year. The gifts you put in your goody bags will have a direct impact on player retention. Many players will participate in several events during the year, so operate as though you have stiff competition trying to steal your participants.
When put to good use, an outing prize with no logo will be far more fruitful than a custom prize that is throw away. If the golf course trash barrels are full of your tournament gifts, you have lost your opportunity to capture memories, even if they were a free donation, resist the temptation to underwhelm.
Golf relevant gifts will usually produce more smiles than non-golf related prizes. Participants in golf tournament fundraisers are usually either deeply involved in the charity (will likely return anyway) or avid golfers with a little bit of time and money on their hands. They will be looking for a good reason to return next year, so your outing prize selections need to be targeted at player #2.
Golf Balls don’t count as golf tournament gifts unless they are the #1 Brand. Good Players will only play with their favorite brand of golf balls which will likely be too costly, bad players will lose them in the first 6 holes. Forget golf balls. Tees are a great throw in for convenience but players are not wowed. I do like some of the new longer lasting performance tees.
Food, snacks, and beverages are not golf tournament gifts, but they are awesome event goody bag adds.

Here are 10 affordable golf outing prizes for charitable fundraisers.

Golf Towels with a small embroidered logo. Towels must be plush quality or they will get tossed.
Golf ball markers customized with Charity name on 1 side and a sponsor logo or course logo on the other side.
Golf Divot Repair Tools with custom ball marker.
Golf Hat Clips with custom ball marker.
Golf Valuables Pouches with a small logo. Upscale please.
Golf Caps with course logo on the front and a small event logo on the side or in the back.
Performance Golf Tees with or without a logo on them. (These would be a second or third item not the main item).
Golf Club Head Covers or a putter cover with logo.
A quality duffle bag with small logo, do not go cheap here or it will be donated to good will on Dec 28th.
A quality hot/cold water bottle with small logo, quality important.

All of these gifts come in under $12.00 because the majority of the money is likely going back to your Charity. Many events will combine 2 or more of these gifts for maximum long term impact. If you want your players to keep the product for the whole season, be sure to stay with small / subtle logos and middle to upper quality. Brand Names are not essential in any of these categories.

Mark Ziminsky is the Founder of Clip Wipes, a towel company based in Southern California. He has been active in the golf trade for over 25 years and has helped many charitable golf events (Small and Large) find high quality gifts at affordable prices.