Need help? Sponsorship guidance
You set the prices. Suggested templates are optional starting points. Create your packages, track conversations, deliver the agreed benefits, then share your results.
SPONSOR STRATEGY
Build partnerships that last beyond tournament day.
Clear packages. Consistent outreach. Visible results. Help businesses understand the audience they’ll reach, the community they’ll support, and the benefits you’ll deliver.
Golfday provides the guidance. You make the decision.
Your sponsor playbook
Work through these six phases at your event’s pace. Expand each phase for practical next steps.
01Define the value
Explain the audience, the community connection, and the exposure a sponsor can expect.
- Audience: expected golfers and spectators, business owners, families, and other relevant groups.
- Reach: email subscribers, website visitors, social reach, and community partners. Separate measured numbers from estimates.
- Purpose: who benefits and what the tournament makes possible.
- Write a short value proposition: why this audience and this cause are a good fit for the business.
02Build a sponsorship menu
Combine visibility, access, recognition, and hospitality. Offer only what you can deliver.
- Offer one exclusive Presenting partnership, supported by tiered packages and individual opportunities.
- Keep Tee Sign, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Presenting as useful starting points. Add Platinum or custom packages only when the benefits justify them.
- List exact benefits: logo placements, social posts, email mentions, booth space, announcements, golfer entries, and post-event recognition.
- Price included golf and hospitality separately from recognition. Consider versions with and without golfer entries.
- Set inventory limits for signs, foursomes, booths, and exclusive categories before making commitments.
03Build the prospect list
Start with people who already know your event, then expand into the local business community.
- Ask board members, volunteers, golf club members, and past supporters for introductions.
- Consider banks, realtors, law firms, insurers, restaurants, auto dealers, medical offices, construction firms, and financial advisors.
- For larger organizations, look for community giving programs, corporate philanthropy, and regional marketing teams.
- For each prospect, record company, contact, email, status, last contact, next action, package discussed, likelihood, and outcome. Use sponsor notes for details without a dedicated field.
- Match each prospect to an opportunity that serves their goals; avoid sending the same pitch to everyone.
Financial & Professional Services
- banks and credit unions
- financial advisors and wealth management
- insurance agencies
- accounting firms
- law firms
- real estate agencies
Automotive & Home Services
- car dealerships
- home builders
- roofing and construction companies
- HVAC and plumbing companies
- landscaping companies
- home improvement businesses
Retail, Hospitality & Lifestyle
- restaurants
- golf shops
- hotels
- local retailers
- fitness centers
- beverage distributors
Healthcare & Community
- hospitals and healthcare providers
- dental practices
- physical therapy clinics
- local foundations
- community organizations
- regional employers
Business Services
- staffing firms
- payroll and HR companies
04Follow a thoughtful outreach sequence
Give each conversation a clear next step. Adjust timing to the relationship and stop when someone declines.
- Week 1: send a personal introduction explaining the audience, cause, and relevant sponsorship opportunity.
- Week 2: follow up by phone to learn what the business wants from the partnership.
- Week 3: send a short follow-up with a specific package and a clear invitation to talk.
- Week 4: arrange a coffee or in-person conversation if there is interest.
- Track conversations, proposals, and confirmed partners. A sample funnel of 100 prospects → 40 conversations → 15 proposals → 5–10 sponsors is an illustration, not a forecast.
05Deliver visibility before, during, and after
Turn every promised benefit into a delivery task with an owner and a deadline.
- Before: collect logos, brand colors, preferred URLs, taglines, and social handles. Confirm artwork approvals and deadlines.
- Before: prepare agreed website listings, registration-page recognition, social announcements, email mentions, and press coverage.
- During: check registration banners, sponsor tables, hole and cart signage, digital displays, and scheduled acknowledgments.
- Capture photos of the sponsor’s actual placements and participation, with appropriate permission.
- After: send a personal thank-you, photos, attendance, verified reach, funds raised, and a recap of delivered benefits.
06Report results and plan renewal
Show evidence of the partnership’s value. Exposure measures are useful, but they are not proof of sales or financial ROI.
- Report actual golfer attendance, email impressions, social impressions, website visits, sponsor mentions, and photos delivered. Label estimates and unavailable data clearly.
- Compare promised benefits with what was delivered; explain and address any missed commitments.
- Ask the sponsor what worked and what they would change next year.
- Discuss first refusal, priority placement, or a renewal offer where appropriate; record any agreed exclusivity and deadline.
- Track cash sponsorship separately from donated goods and services such as food, printing, photography, equipment, and auction prizes.
Explore sponsorship opportunities
Offer a mix of packages and individual opportunities. Confirm availability, costs, and delivery before including an option.
| Category | Ideas for your event |
|---|---|
| Golf | Hole or tee sign, carts, driving range, putting green, closest-to-pin, long drive |
| Experience | Breakfast, lunch, beverage cart, awards dinner, registration |
| Fundraising & extras | Silent auction, gift bags, photo booth; raffle sponsorship only where the raffle is permitted and supported |
| Digital | Website, app recognition, leaderboard, event screens; livestream only if your event provides one |
Plan the sponsorship timeline
This is a suggested sequence, not a fixed deadline. Start from your event date and adjust to your lead time.
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| 6 months before | Create packages and build the prospect list |
| 5 months before | Begin personal outreach |
| 4 months before | Confirm major sponsors |
| 3 months before | Fill hole and other individual opportunities |
| 2 months before | Collect logos and brand materials |
| 1 month before | Launch agreed visibility campaigns |
| Tournament week | Check signage, placements, hospitality, and acknowledgments |
| 1 week after | Deliver the sponsor recap and begin renewal conversations |
Prepare the post-event sponsor report
Include the sponsor’s agreed benefits, evidence of delivery, actual attendance and reach, photos, funds raised, and a next-year conversation. Keep measured results separate from estimates and avoid promising a return you cannot verify.
- What we promised → What we delivered → Supporting photo or metric.
- Cash contribution and in-kind support, reported separately.
- What the sponsor valued, what to improve, and the agreed next step.
Email templates
Replace the bracketed details and review before sending.
Introduction
Subject: Local Partnership Opportunity — [Tournament Name] Hi [First Name], We’re organizing [Tournament Name] on [Date] at [Golf Course], bringing together [audience] to support [cause]. Given [Company Name]’s connection to our community, I thought [specific sponsorship opportunity] could be a good fit. Would you be open to reviewing our sponsorship opportunities or having a quick conversation? Thank you, [Your Name] [Organization] [Contact Information]
Follow-up
Subject: Re: [Tournament Name] Sponsorship Opportunity Hi [First Name], I wanted to follow up on my note about [Tournament Name]. We’re putting together our tournament partners and thought [Company Name] could be a great fit. I’d be happy to walk you through the available opportunities or explore something that better suits your business. Would you be open to a quick conversation? Thanks again, [Your Name]
Thank-you
Subject: Thank You for Supporting [Tournament Name] Hi [First Name], Thank you for being part of [Tournament Name]. Your support helped make the event possible and contributed to [verified impact]. Here are photos of your sponsorship in action and a brief event recap: [photos and recap]. We appreciate your partnership and hope to work together again. Thank you, [Your Name]