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> C L I C K H E R E T O C O N TA C T C H A R I TA B L E S A L E S & M A R K E T I N G M A N A G E R D I A N E P L I C H TA O R C A L L ( 7 6 0 ) 6 0 1 ' 3 6 7 9
C
harity golf tourna-
ments should be fun.
But their purpose is
to raise funds.
When planning, start with
financial goals, says Diane
Plichta, Charitable Sales and
Marketing Manager at Clas-
sic Club.
"You have to have a busi-
ness plan," says Plichta,
who's been involved with
golf tournaments for nearly
20 years.
First, establish the
size of the tourna-
ment and the number
of players. Be realis-
tic. You may want a
full field of 144, but
70 may be likelier.
While entry fees
help pay for the venue, there
will be no event without
players. You don't want to
price out participants, and a
lofty fee will do just that.
Next, decide how much
money you want to raise.
"You need to know your
goal and how you are going
to get there," Plichta says.
"What food and prizes you
offer, whether you'll include
an auction or raffles, are all
ways to maximize proceeds."
That leads to the number
of sponsors. Those dollars
help cover the cost of run-
ning the event and lead to
more money for the charity.
Start securing those spon-
sors early, Plichta advises. If
you're stumbling along the
way, ask the tournament di-
rector for suggestions. Don't
have the greatest intentions
but low turnout because of
poor planning.
Once you have a business
plan, Plichta says set a time-
line to stay on course. Get
started early, and plot out the
things you need to accom-
plish.
Above all, remember that
inaugural tournaments de-
cide future success. Most or-
ganizers want to make their
event annual, so establish
yours as a well-run, fun tour-
nament.
"There's a lot of competi-
tion when it comes to golf
tournaments," Plichta says.
"You want your participants
to feel their money was well
spent and to walk away say-
ing, 'I'd play in that event
again next year.'"
dOllArs & sEnsE
A solid business plan leads to tourney success
A FEAT WORTHY
OF RECOGNITION
C
lassic Club – whose main
goal is to enable charities
to maximize fund-raising –
has accomplished a feat as
worthy as its PGA Tour-qual-
ity course: charitable events
held at its facilities in 2014
raised more than $5 million.
This includes the annual
Warburton Celebrity Golf
Tournament, which raised
$1.12 million for St. Jude Chil-
dren's Research Hospital.
Classic Club accounted for
39 donated golf events,
which generated 673 do-
nated rounds valued at
$93,547, as well as $404,768
in donated savings. Likewise,
Bellatrix Restaurant donated
163 events, generating
$185,644 in donated food
and beverage costs.
FOR
A
GOOD
CAUSE
diane
plichta
Charitable
Sales and
Marketing
Manager
The Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament
at Classic Club raised $1.2 million.
