How to Organise a Golf Society Day: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Knowing how to organise a golf society day is mostly about doing the boring bits early: pin down the date, the format and the budget, and the day itself looks after itself. A society day is simply a group booking with a competition attached, and Lullingstone Park, a pay and play course in Eynsford on the edge of the Darent Valley, is a straightforward place to run one. This checklist takes you from first enquiry to the last putt.

Start with the date, numbers and budget

Fix three things before anything else: a rough date, the number of players, and what each person will pay. Weekday mornings are usually cheaper and quieter than weekends, so if your group is flexible you will get better tee times and better value. Count your likely turnout honestly, then set an entry fee that covers green fees, any catering and prizes with a small buffer. Confirm numbers with a deposit so no-shows do not leave you out of pocket.

Book the course and talk to the pro shop

Once you have a date and a headcount, contact the course to reserve your tee times. For a society you have two options: consecutive tee times off the first, where groups set off a few minutes apart, or, for larger groups, ask whether a two-tee start is possible so everyone finishes closer together. Lullingstone Park has an 18-hole Championship course and a 9-hole Valley course, so decide which suits your group and how many holes you want to play. Ask about society or group rates, buggy and trolley availability, and whether food can be arranged for when you come in.

See our green fees and tee booking guide for how visitor pricing and booking work, and check current rates directly with the course before you set your entry fee.

Choose a format that suits mixed abilities

The format decides whether everyone enjoys the day or the higher handicappers give up by the ninth. Pick one that keeps all abilities in the game:

• Individual Stableford: points for each hole based on net score, so a bad hole costs points rather than wrecking the round. The default for most society days.
• Texas scramble: teams of three or four all play, then use the best shot each time. Sociable, quick and forgiving, ideal for beginners or corporate groups.
• Better ball: pairs count the better score on each hole. Competitive without being punishing.

Use handicaps so the result is fair. Golfers with an official handicap can bring their World Handicap System index; for casual players, agree a simple allowance in advance. England Golf explains how the World Handicap System works if you need a refresher.

Add the extras that make the day

The competition is the backbone, but the small touches are what people remember. Consider nearest the pin and longest drive prizes on suitable holes, a modest team or individual prize table, and a halfway or post-round meal so everyone gathers afterwards. Keep prizes proportionate to the entry fee, and lean on donated prizes if you are raising money for a cause. If your day is a fundraiser, our guide to charity golf day ideas covers the income streams worth layering on.

Plan the running order

Send everyone the details a week ahead: arrival time, first tee time, format, dress expectations and the plan for food. Aim for players to arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes before their tee time to check in, warm up and sort scorecards. Draw up the groups in advance, mixing abilities so games stay competitive, and appoint someone to collect cards and confirm the results at the end. A tidy running order keeps the day relaxed rather than rushed.

A simple checklist

• Agree date, numbers and entry fee, and take deposits.
• Book tee times with the course and confirm catering and buggy hire.
• Choose the format and handicap allowance.
• Organise prizes and any on-course games.
• Circulate the running order and group draw in advance.
• Assign someone to check in players, collect cards and present prizes.

Do the planning in that order and your society day at Lullingstone Park will run smoothly from the first tee to the prizes.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book a golf society day?

Book as early as you can, especially for weekends and summer dates when courses fill up. Several weeks to a couple of months ahead is sensible for a larger group, so you can secure the tee times and rates you want and give players time to commit.

What is the best format for a golf society day with mixed abilities?

Individual Stableford or a team Texas scramble both work well. Stableford keeps a bad hole from ruining a round, while a scramble hides weaker shots because the team plays the best ball each time, which suits beginners and corporate groups.

How many players do you need for a society day?

There is no fixed minimum; small groups of eight to twelve work fine, while larger societies of 20 to 40 or more may want consecutive tee times or, where available, a two-tee start so everyone finishes around the same time.

Do all players need an official handicap?

No. Golfers with a World Handicap System index should use it, but for casual players you can agree a simple handicap allowance in advance so the competition stays fair without everyone needing a formal handicap.

Can we arrange food and buggies for a society day at Lullingstone Park?

Ask the course when you book. Catering and buggy or trolley hire are usually arranged in advance for group days, so confirm what is available and the cost so you can build it into the entry fee.