Frequently Asked Questions

For a large charity or corporate event, plan 9–12 months ahead. This gives you time to secure the best courses, allow sponsors to budget, and build your marketing timeline. For smaller outings or friend-group scrambles, 4–6 months is typically sufficient. The most critical first step is always booking your course and locking in the date.

Most organizers have their event live and accepting registrations within 15 minutes. That includes creating the event, setting your format, building the registration form, and sharing the link. No training required.

Not at all. Golfday's adaptive planning checklist walks you through every phase of the process—from signing the course contract to sending post-event thank-you emails. If it's your first event, the checklist becomes your playbook.

Yes. Golfday accepts CSV or spreadsheet uploads, so you can migrate your existing database of player names, contact details, and handicaps in just a few clicks—eliminating hours of manual data entry.

It depends on your goals. Private events work better for member-only clubs, corporate outings, and alumni groups where the guest list is curated. Open events attract broader participation and higher revenue but require more marketing. Golfday supports both—you control whether your registration link is public or restricted.

All three. Golfday supports individual registrations you can pair later, pre-formed teams, and hybrid approaches where players register together but you reserve the right to adjust pairings for competitive balance.

Yes. Determine your maximum capacity based on course size, pace-of-play requirements, and staffing. Golfday enforces the cap automatically—when registration is full, players are prompted to join a waitlist. You can also set an early-bird cutoff and a registration deadline.

Set a clear cancellation deadline (typically 48–72 hours before the event) and define your refund policy at registration. Golfday adjusts groups and notifies affected players automatically when someone cancels. Have a waitlist enabled to fill spots quickly.

They are designed to keep the tournament fair. Official handicaps (GHIN/WHS) are needed for net scoring and fair team pairing. If a player doesn't have an official handicap, Golfday lets you capture their average score and estimate one. Don't skip this step—it's the foundation of competitive fairness.

Yes. Your Golfday dashboard shows real-time payment status for every registered player—paid, pending, or outstanding. No more chasing checks or managing spreadsheet columns.

The 4-Man Scramble is the gold standard for charity events, corporate outings, and friend groups. Every player tees off, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays from there—until the ball is holed. It's fast, inclusive, and fun regardless of skill level. If you want more individual strategy, consider a Shamble (best drive, then individual play).

Gross score is your raw stroke count. Net score is gross minus your handicap strokes. Net scoring levels the playing field, allowing a 20-handicapper to compete fairly against a scratch golfer by rewarding relative improvement. Most casual tournaments use net scoring for the main competition.

Use the A-B-C-D system: rank each team member by handicap (A = lowest), then apply: 25% of A-player's handicap + 20% of B + 15% of C + 10% of D. This prevents stacked teams from dominating and ensures every team can compete. Golfday calculates this automatically once handicaps are entered.

In a scramble, the team selects the best drive, then everyone plays their next shot from that spot—and this continues until the ball is holed. In a shamble, the team picks the best drive, but then each player plays their own ball from that spot into the hole, and you record the best 1–2 individual scores. Shambles are a nice mix of playing your own ball while keeping a good pace of play.

A skins game assigns a prize pool to each hole. The team with the lowest score on that hole wins the skin. If teams tie, the skin carries over and accumulates on the next hole. It creates intense hole-by-hole excitement and keeps players engaged throughout the round. Highly recommended as a side game.

Shotgun starts have all groups tee off simultaneously from different holes, so everyone finishes together—perfect for 72+ player events with a unified awards ceremony. Tee times stagger groups off hole 1 and work better for smaller fields or public courses where you can't buy out the whole facility. For most charity and corporate events, shotgun is preferred.

Use a scorecard playoff (countback): compare net scores on the back 9, then last 6 holes, then last 3 holes, then last hole. If still tied, go to the 18th hole net score and work backwards. This method is standard for amateur tournaments and avoids the need for play-offs. Golfday calculates countbacks automatically.

Calculate your total event costs, divide by expected player count, then add your desired profit margin or fundraising goal. For charity events in most markets, $150–300 per golfer is typical depending on course quality and amenities included. Always validate against comparable events in your area.

Yes. Golfday integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing directly inside the registration form. Players pay at the time of registration—credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay—and funds are tracked in your dashboard. No separate payment platform required.

Yes. A 10–15% discount for registrations received 4+ weeks before the event drives early sign-ups, improves planning visibility, and creates urgency. Set a hard early-bird deadline, display it on your registration page, and mention it in your first email campaign.

Allocate 15–30% of gross entry fee revenue to prizes. Beyond the standard 1st/2nd/3rd, distribute payouts to on-course contests (Longest Drive, Closest-to-Pin), skins, and fun categories (Best Team Name, Most Honest Team). Spread the winnings so more players go home with something.

For mid-tier sponsors ($500–2,000), approach 4–6 months out. For title or presenting sponsors ($2,500–10,000+), start a full year in advance—they need time for budget approval and internal sign-off. Don't wait. The best sponsors book up early.

Three tiers work best, or four if you can land a Title Sponsor. Entry-level Bronze Sponsor ($250–750) for local businesses, mid-tier Silver Sponsor ($500–2,000), upper-tier Gold Sponsor ($1,000–3,500) for solid brand placement, and a premium Title Sponsor ($2,500–10,000+) for naming rights and maximum visibility. Clear tiers let prospects self-select the right level without a complicated proposal. Pro tip: Businesses can deduct the full amount as a business expense, and if the tournament benefits a registered 501(c)(3) charity, sponsors may also be eligible for a charitable deduction.

Move beyond a tee sign on hole 7. Offer: digital leaderboard naming rights (constant phone screen visibility), logo on every digital scorecard, sponsored push notifications sent directly to golfers' phones during the round, and branded content in your email campaigns. These are measurable and scalable.

Send a post-event sponsorship report within 2 weeks: total leaderboard views and page impressions, email open rates and click-throughs featuring their logo, social media mentions, photos of on-site branding, and total funds raised. Frame it as a business investment recap, not a thank-you note. This is what drives renewals.

The most popular: mulligans (sell do-over shots in packs), string swap (buy string to move your ball), tee box upgrades (play from shorter boxes for a fee), hole-in-one contests (insure them), 50/50 (golfers pay a set amount before teeing off on a par 3—players who hit the green enter a raffle for 50% of the pot), silent auctions, and raffles. Set up buyins at registration or sell them at check-in to maximize impulse purchases.

Use this cadence: 8–12 weeks out: save-the-date. 6–8 weeks: official invitation with registration link. 4 weeks: sponsor spotlight and prize preview. 2 weeks: reminder to anyone who hasn't registered. 1 week: day-of logistics (arrival time, dress code, what to bring). 2–3 days before: final tee sheets and pairings. Morning of: weather update and any last-minute notes.

SMS/text messaging. Email is too slow for weather delays, tee time shifts, or urgent announcements on the day. Golfday's broadcast messaging sends a text to every registered player instantly. Designate one point-person for all communications to avoid confusion or contradictory messages.

Yes. A professional event page gives players and sponsors a central source of truth. Include: course details, format rules, pricing, sponsor logos, FAQ, and your registration link. Golfday's registration pages are shareable and mobile-optimized out of the box.

Send a sponsor update 2 months out with final registration numbers and a preview of their placement. A second update 1 week before with day-of logistics, their specific roles, and any signage details. Sponsors who feel informed are sponsors who return next year.

Staff and key volunteers should arrive 2–3 hours before the first golfer tees off. Use this time to: set up signage, organize the registration table and welcome packets, brief all volunteers on their roles, confirm sponsor materials are at the correct holes, test the live scoring system, and do a final on-course walkthrough.

Keep it fast and welcoming: confirm player name, scan their Golfday QR code, hand them their welcome packet (scorecard, rules sheet, drink tickets, swag), answer quick questions, send them to the range or pro shop. Have coffee, pastries, and music playing to set the tone. Aim for each check-in to take under 60 seconds.

The three staples: Longest Drive (a par-5 with a wide fairway), Closest-to-Pin (a scenic par-3), and a Skins game (hole-by-hole competition with a separate buyin). Place them strategically to spread excitement across the course. Add a putting contest on the practice green during check-in for extra energy.

Each group has one person enter scores after each hole through a link you text them—no app download required. Scores sync in seconds to the leaderboard, which all players can watch on their phones in real time. No paper scorecards to collect, no manual calculations. Results are ready the moment the last group finishes.

Communicate immediately via text. Have a clear policy communicated at the start: play resumes when the course declares it safe, a horn signals groups to clear the course, and a second signal brings everyone back. If delays are severe, you may need a shortened format or rescheduling. Golfday can push weather notifications to all players instantly.

With live scoring, results are finalized and ready the moment the last group's final hole syncs—often within minutes of the last putt. The system verifies scores, applies handicap adjustments, calculates standings across all flights, and handles countback tiebreakers automatically. No manual spreadsheet work.

Send within 24–48 hours while the experience is fresh: a genuine thank-you, a link to the final leaderboard and results, highlights and photos from the day, sponsor shout-outs with links, a 3-question feedback survey, and (if applicable) the total raised for your cause. Mention next year's event if you have a date.

The core metrics: registration conversion rate, player satisfaction scores (survey), sponsorship revenue vs. goal, fundraising total, on-course contest participation, live scoring adoption rate, and attendance vs. capacity. Track these every year to identify what's working and where to improve.

Lock in your course and date for next year before you leave the property—courses fill up fast. Send save-the-dates to this year's attendees within a week. Publish your feedback survey promptly and act on top complaints. Returning attendees are your best marketing: a great experience turns a one-year event into an annual tradition.

No. Golfday uses web-based scoring that opens directly in a phone browser—players just click a link. This eliminates the #1 barrier to adoption ("I don't want to download another app") and results in significantly higher participation rates than traditional app-based systems. The Golfday app does provide a more premium experience if they opt to download it.

Golfday saves scores locally on the device when connectivity drops, then syncs automatically when signal returns. No data is lost and no manual re-entry is needed.

Yes. You can run A-flight (lower handicaps), B-flight, C-flight, and a recreational division simultaneously within the same event. Each flight has its own leaderboard and standings while sharing the same course and schedule.

The adaptive checklist spans 10 planning phases and 100+ tasks—from venue selection and contract review, through registration setup, sponsor outreach, communication campaigns, day-of operations, scoring setup, and post-event follow-up. It personalizes itself based on your event type (charity, corporate, friend group, etc.) so you only see what's relevant.

Both. Golfday scales from a 20-person friend group scramble to a 150-player charity tournament. The tools and checklist adapt to your event size.

Golfday provides direct support during your event hours. If you hit a scoring issue, pairing problem, or technical question on the day of your tournament, you need a real person who understands golf—not an email ticket. Reach us via chat or phone, and we'll solve it with you.