Golf Tournament Registration Form: What to Include

The Goal: Collect What You Need, Nothing More

Every field you add is friction. Players are busy. They're signing up on their phone between meetings. The longer your form, the more likely they are to abandon it.

Ask yourself: Do I actually need this information? Will I use it? If the answer is no, cut it.

Essential Fields

These are the non-negotiables for most golf tournaments:

Player Information

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number

Registration Details

• Registration package (individual, foursome, etc.)
• Playing partners (if registering a team)
• Handicap or average score (for flighting)

Payment

• Credit card / payment info
• Billing address (if required by processor)

That's it for the basics. Everything else is optional — include it only if you'll actually use the data.

Common Optional Fields

Depending on your event, you might also need:

Apparel

• Shirt size (if you're giving away polos or t-shirts)
• Jacket size (for premium events)

Meal / Dietary

• Meal choice (chicken, fish, vegetarian)
• Dietary restrictions or allergies

Golf-Specific

• GHIN number (for competitive events)
• Home course
• Equipment needs (rental clubs, cart preferences)

Team vs. Individual Registration

One of the first decisions you'll make: Do you let individuals sign up, or require full foursomes?

Individual registration

• Pro: Lower barrier to entry. More signups.
• Con: You have to build foursomes yourself.

Foursome registration

• Pro: Less work for you. Groups arrive together.
• Con: Harder to sell. Some players don't have a full team.

Many tournaments offer both: a "foursome" package at a slight discount, and an "individual" option for solo players.

Payment and Pricing

Your form should handle payment directly — no "mail a check" or "pay at the door" unless absolutely necessary.

Online payment means:

• Instant confirmation for the player
• Less chasing for you
• Better cash flow before the event

If you're offering multiple packages (individual, foursome, VIP), make sure the form clearly shows what's included in each and updates the price dynamically.

Confirmation and Follow-Up

After someone registers, they should immediately receive:

• On-screen confirmation. "You're registered! Here's what's next."
• Email confirmation. Receipt, event details, calendar invite.

The confirmation email is your chance to remind them of the date, time, and location, share what to bring, encourage them to invite others, and upsell add-ons like mulligans or raffle tickets.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Too many required fields. Not everything needs to be mandatory.
• No mobile optimization. Most people will register on their phone.
• No payment integration. "Register now, pay later" creates work for you.
• No confirmation email. If they don't get a receipt, they'll wonder if it went through.
• Asking for the same info twice. If you're collecting team info, don't ask each player for the event date again.

Sample Registration Flow

Here's what a clean registration experience looks like:

1. Player lands on your event page
2. Clicks "Register Now"
3. Selects package (individual or foursome)
4. Enters player info (name, email, phone, handicap)
5. Adds optional items (mulligans, raffle tickets, dinner guest)
6. Enters payment info
7. Submits → sees confirmation → gets email

Total time: under 3 minutes.

Final Thought

Your registration form sets the tone for your event. A smooth, professional signup process signals that you've got your act together — and makes players confident they're in good hands. Keep it short. Make it mobile-friendly. Collect payment upfront. And always send a confirmation.