The Complexity of Tournament Day
A typical charity tournament might have:
- 3 closest-to-the-pin contests
- 1 long drive contest
- 2 sponsor activation tents
- 1 beverage station
- 1 hole-in-one contest
- 1 photo booth
- 8+ hole sponsor signs
- Volunteers stationed throughout
Without a plan, you'll have contests on back-to-back holes, sponsors in bad locations, and volunteers wandering around confused. Hole-by-hole planning prevents chaos.
Contest Placement Strategy
Not all holes are created equal for contests:
Closest to the pin (par 3s)
- Choose holes with good visibility from the tee
- Avoid holes where wind or elevation makes measurement tricky
- Spread across front and back nine (e.g., holes 4, 8, 15)
- Have a volunteer at each to measure and record
Longest drive (par 4 or 5)
- Pick a wide, straight hole where balls stay in play
- Mark a landing zone — ball must be in the fairway to count
- Front nine works better (players aren't tired yet)
- Hole 3 or 4 is common
Hole-in-one (par 3)
- Choose your most visible or signature par 3
- Usually around hole 6–8 (enough time to build buzz if someone hits it)
- Place sponsor signage prominently at the tee
Putting contest (practice green)
- Run before the round or during cocktail hour
- Keeps players engaged during downtime
Sponsor Activation Placement
Sponsors pay for visibility. Put them where players will actually engage:
Best locations:
- Hole 10 tee box (the turn) — Everyone stops here. Great for food, drinks, or giveaways.
- Par 3 tee boxes — Players wait here; more time to interact.
- Near the clubhouse — Holes 1, 9, 10, 18 get extra foot traffic.
Locations to avoid:
- Middle of the back nine with no natural stopping point
- Holes with long walks between green and next tee
- Anywhere without shade on a hot day
Talk to sponsors about what they want to accomplish. A tent with product demos needs a different spot than a simple sign.
Volunteer Assignment
Your volunteers need clear assignments:
- Registration desk: 2–3 people (check-in, distribute materials)
- Starter: 1 person (keeps groups moving on time)
- Contest holes: 1 per hole (measure, record, explain rules)
- Sponsor tents: 1–2 per tent (assist sponsor, engage players)
- Beverage cart: 1–2 (if not course-provided)
- Roving: 1–2 (troubleshoot, deliver supplies, check pace)
- Scoring table: 1–2 (collect cards, verify scores)
Give each volunteer a one-page instruction sheet with their location, responsibilities, and a contact number for questions.
Day-Of Coordination
Communication is everything. Options:
- Group text / WhatsApp: Quick updates, easy to set up
- Walkie-talkies: Reliable, doesn't depend on cell signal
- Tournament software: Real-time scoring and status updates
Designate one person as "tournament central" — the point of contact for all issues. Everyone else reports to them.
Sample Hole-by-Hole Run Sheet
Here's a template you can adapt:
- Hole 1: Sponsor sign (ABC Company). Starter stationed here.
- Hole 3: Longest drive contest. Volunteer: [Name]. Measure from tee, fairway only.
- Hole 5: Sponsor sign (XYZ Corp).
- Hole 6: Closest to the pin #1. Volunteer: [Name]. Measure from pin.
- Hole 7: Hole-in-one contest. Prize: [Car/Trip]. Sponsor: [Insurance Co]. Volunteer: [Name].
- Hole 9: Sponsor sign (123 Business).
- Hole 10: Beverage station. Sponsor: [Beverage Co]. Volunteers: [Names]. Snacks + drinks.
- Hole 12: Closest to the pin #2. Volunteer: [Name].
- Hole 14: Sponsor activation tent (DEF Company). Volunteers: [Names]. Giveaway + raffle entry.
- Hole 16: Sponsor sign (GHI Inc).
- Hole 17: Closest to the pin #3. Volunteer: [Name].
- Hole 18: Photo booth. Sponsor: [Photo Co]. Props available.
Kismet's Contest & Activation Planner
In Kismet Golf PRO, you can map contests, sponsor activations, and booths to specific holes — visually. Assign what happens where, share the plan with volunteers and sponsors, and make sure everyone knows the layout before tournament day.
Final Thought
Hole-by-hole planning turns tournament day from reactive chaos into proactive execution. Map your contests, place your sponsors strategically, assign volunteers clearly, and communicate constantly. When everyone knows the plan, everything runs smoother.
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