Charity Golf Day Ideas: How to Run a Fundraiser That Works

A charity golf day is one of the most reliable fundraisers going, but the difference between a day that breaks even and one that raises a serious sum is all in the planning. The best charity golf day ideas are not gimmicks; they are the handful of income streams, sponsorship, on-course games and a good raffle, that you layer on top of the entry fee so the money adds up while everyone has a genuinely good day out. This guide sets out how to run one at Lullingstone Park, from the format to the final prize-giving.

Lullingstone Park works well for a fundraiser because it has two courses, an 18-hole Championship course for the main event and a 9-hole Valley course for a shorter format, and it is set in Kent countryside within easy reach of London and the M25. For the practical side of booking, see our guides to society and group day packages and green fees and tee booking.

Start with a target and a budget

Before anything else, decide what you want the day to raise and work backwards. List your fixed costs, the green fee, catering, prizes and any signage, then set the team entry price to cover them with a clear margin for the cause. Everything else, sponsorship, games and the raffle, is profit on top. Be open that it is a fundraiser: golfers expect a charity day to cost a little more than a normal round and are happy to pay when they can see where the money goes.

Choose a format that suits a mixed field

A charity day always draws a wide range of abilities, from low handicappers to people who play twice a year, so the format has to carry all of them. A Texas scramble is the standard choice: teams of four play the best drive each time, nobody holds up the group, and a beginner still contributes a putt without slowing anyone down. It also lets you sell mulligans and team extras cleanly. If your field all play regularly and hold handicaps, individual Stableford works too. Our guide to on-course competition formats explains each one and the handicap allowances that keep them fair.

Run a shotgun start if numbers allow, so every team begins and finishes together. It makes the day sociable, keeps the timings tight, and means the prize-giving can start on schedule rather than waiting for stragglers.

The income streams that actually raise money

A profitable day stacks several sources of income together rather than leaning on the entry fee alone.

• Hole sponsorship. The single biggest earner at most days. Sell each of the eighteen holes to a local business for a fixed sum, with a sponsor board on the tee. Companies get their name in front of a captive, well-networked audience, and eighteen sponsors add up quickly.
• Tee and green sponsorship, plus a headline sponsor. Offer a larger package, day sponsor, dinner sponsor or prize sponsor, for a business that wants top billing on the banner, the scorecard and from the microphone.
• On-course games. Nearest the pin on a par three and longest drive on a par five are cheap to run and always popular. Add a beat-the-pro hole if a professional is available. Charge a small entry for each.
• Mulligans. Sell each team the right to replay a bad shot, one or two per player, at the registration desk. It is painless income and adds to the fun of a scramble.
• Raffle and auction. Run these at the meal afterwards when everyone is together and relaxed. A raffle of donated prizes plus a short auction of a few strong lots, a signed item, an experience day, a weekend away, often raises as much as the golf itself.
• A halfway house or charity hole. A drinks and snack stop, or a buy-a-drive hole, gives another light-touch way to raise a little more mid-round.

Prizes, mostly donated

The golden rule is that prizes should cost the cause as little as possible, so ask local businesses to donate in exchange for recognition on the day. Aim for a team-of-the-day prize, nearest the pin and longest drive prizes, and a spread of raffle and auction lots. A good letter or email to local firms, explaining the cause and the exposure they get in return, will fill a prize table surprisingly quickly. Every donated prize means more of the entry money reaches the charity.

A planning timeline

Give yourself time. A rough schedule that works:

• Six to nine months out: book the course and confirm the package, catering and per-head costs. Good summer dates go early.
• Four to six months out: open team entries, and start approaching hole sponsors and prize donors while the diary is still open.
• Two to three months out: push team recruitment, confirm sponsors, and plan the running order and the meal.
• Final month: confirm numbers with the club, print scorecards, signage and sponsor boards, brief volunteers, and prepare the raffle and auction.
• On the day: set up registration early, run a clear briefing before the shotgun start, staff the on-course games, and keep the prize-giving punchy.

Running the day smoothly

A registration desk with a bacon roll and coffee sets the tone. Collect mulligan and game money there so it does not interrupt play. Have volunteers stationed at the nearest-the-pin and longest-drive holes to witness and record. Keep scoring simple, one card per team for a scramble, and have someone ready to total scores while the meal is served so the prize-giving flows straight on. A short, warm speech about the cause, before the prizes rather than after, is when people give most generously to a closing collection.

A note on Gift Aid

One point that catches organisers out: Gift Aid generally cannot be claimed on the entry fee, raffle tickets or auction lots, because the participant receives something in return for the money. It can be claimed on genuine voluntary donations from UK taxpayers where nothing is received back, so it is worth offering a clearly separate donation option, a collection bucket or an online donation page, alongside the paid elements. The detail matters, so check the current HMRC guidance or take advice before the day.

Ready to book

A charity golf day rewards preparation more than luck. Lock in the venue, choose a forgiving format, layer your income streams, chase donated prizes, and give yourself months rather than weeks. To get started, see our guides to booking a society or group day and booking a tee time, or return to the Lullingstone Park Golf Course homepage. Guidance for running competitions and handicap allowances is published by England Golf, and the rules on claiming Gift Aid are on GOV.UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a charity golf day make money?

The bulk usually comes from team entry fees and hole sponsorship, topped up by on-course games such as mulligans, longest drive and nearest the pin, and by a raffle or auction at the meal afterwards. A well-run day layers several of these together rather than relying on entry fees alone, which is what turns a break-even day into a profitable one.

What is the best format for a charity golf day?

A Texas scramble is the usual choice, because it suits a mixed field of good golfers, occasional players and beginners, keeps everyone moving and means nobody holds up the group. It also lets you sell mulligans and team extras cleanly. Individual Stableford works if everyone plays regularly and holds a handicap.

How far in advance should you plan a charity golf day?

Book the course six to nine months ahead to secure a good date, then spend the following months recruiting teams and securing sponsors and prizes. The last month is for confirming numbers, printing signage and scorecards, and briefing volunteers. Popular summer dates at good courses go early, so the venue is the first thing to lock in.

How much should you charge per team?

Set the team price to cover the green fee, catering and prizes with a clear margin left over for the cause, and be transparent that it is a fundraiser. Many days build in the golf, a bacon roll on arrival and a two-course meal, and price a four-person team accordingly. Confirm the package and per-head costs with the club before you set your price.

Can a charity claim Gift Aid on a golf day?

Generally not on the entry fee, the raffle tickets or an auction lot, because the participant receives something in return. Gift Aid can be claimed on genuine voluntary donations from UK taxpayers where nothing is received back, so it is worth adding a clearly separate donation option. Check the current HMRC rules or take advice, as the detail matters.

What prizes work best at a charity golf day?

Donated prizes are best, because they cost the cause nothing and let all the entry money go further. Aim for a team-of-the-day prize, nearest the pin and longest drive prizes, and a raffle or auction with a few strong lots such as a signed item, an experience day or a weekend away. Ask local businesses to donate in exchange for recognition on the day.