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GOLF OUTINGS! Tips & Ideas to MAKE THEM ACTUALLY WORK!!

This looks nice huh?? I have worked over 22 different golf outings in the last 11 years, and here is my SHORT LIST of suggestions to make them WORK FOR YOU and/or your business! One question before we begin though....Do you have business cards on you right now??

1. GET assigned a PAR 3 hole if possible! (more on that later)

2. Give away an item for closest WOMAN to the PIN! SPA treatment or day,massage, etc..etc Here's the rub, many GOLF OUTINGS are designed as "play times" for THE GUYS! Women are ignored quite often at these events and dont WIN as many prizes! It is nice to do something JUST for them!

3. Give away BOTTLED water! With all the BOOZE being guzzled at these events, remain CLASSY, and HAND THEM TO PEOPLE as they get up to the tee box!

4. Have the golf carts pre-loaded with something from your company that is TOTALLY different than most! PLEASE dont give out coozies! We have WAYYY to many of these already! Example, maybe a nice green repair tool! Everyone needs these, and few people OWN a nice one!

5. Bring a WEBER grill OUT TO the hole! COOK OUT JOHNSONVILLE BRATS right at the hole! People need FOOD to soak up the booze, and will need food to use the FREE water to wash down! (notice a pattern here?) The smell is fantastic too!

6. DRESS UP YOUR HOLE! Attach long stringed balloons to the tee markers, and if you have a "TARGET" or banner with your company LOGO on it, place it somewhere on the green so it can be seen from the tee box! (more on THAT later)

7. This is a simple one, MEET & GREET each person, and have ONLY POSITIVE, WINNING ATTITUDE, people working at the hole! Ask THEM for a business card, and give them ONE of yours! This creates a followup list for THANK YOU'S, other invites & events, ezines & newsletters! Do this when giving them the water! see # 3

8. If a local SPORTING EVENT of issue is going on...dont be afraid to give UPDATES to people! For example, if there is a baseball game on...bring a radio, and in between groups, turn it on! NOBODY DOES THIS!!! YOU will be a hit! (Yes, I know that was a pun)

9. Have at least ONE QUESTION ready for each Realtor that comes along...about a program,product, or service! You can use this as a "test market" to see what the general understanding is, and keep NOTES! PAR 3's are great because they are slower than the other holes, and people get held up waiting for the group in front of them to get off the green!

10. Dress NICELY and/or in company shirts..etc...but be a team..Dress similar! Red shirts, kahki shorts etc... I know, youll end up looking like you work at Best buy...so what! It's one day! :)

-NOW-

Let's get back to #1 & #6

GET INVOLVED WITH A CHARITY LIKE:

- OR -

Have a seperate $1 challenge for charity! This raises awareness AND helps the charity! This is also where your banner comes into play....Offer this to the golfers and say, if you LAND your shot on the TARGET or BANNER you win a DVD player...or...Home Depot gift card..or something like that! $1 per chance! Like a "birdies for charity" thing...and I am sure that the people RUNNING this will put it on the program or the announcer will...or on the EVENTS card in each cart! Again, MORE awareness for your company AND for the charity! A WIN WIN! Best part is, when the outing is over,you call the charity, newspapers, chamber of commerce etc...and do a CHECK presentation! Newspaper puts the check giving in the paper...good pub...maybe even TV picks it up as a "local event"...Charity wins because they get coverage AND MONEY, you win because it is free advertising for you and your company!

MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW UP WITH ALL LEADS YOU OBTAIN THROUGH THESE OUTINGS WITHIN 48 hours or they will get stale, and YOU will be harder to remember!

**** LAST BUT NOT LEAST! ****

IF you want to go big time....................

If the PAR 3 is a LAND HOLE....buy the insurance, have a hole in one contest, and put a Harley Davidson Motorcycle out there...or if you are eco friendly, A PRIUS!

If the Par 3 is a water hole, or ISLAND HOLE, buy the insurance, and put a SEA DOO out there in the water, or a bass boat!

You can find the insurance to purchase by going to: http://www.holeinoneinsurance.com/

or by clicking HERE!

I hope you enjoyed these ideas, and good luck at your next outing!

Here is also a GREAT website to vist to purchase all kinds of COOL stuff! www.rightpathmarketing.com

As always, if you have any questions, comments, issues or concerns, please direct them to Darin@osmwi.com or 608-592-2227 Also, any additional GREAT ideas will be posted as UPDATES on the bottom of this blog!!!

If you enjoyed this blog you can subsribe by clicking on the icon below!

Proudly Serving the ENTIRE State of Wisconsin since 2003

Update#1- I received a suggestion today from a person that has sponsored a KEG on the course..etc..and/or cigars for people! I am not so sure that is the way I WOULD go...but i said I would post it! - Thanks!...Darin

Update#2- Anyone who wants to cut & paste this material, or RE-BLOG ME, is TOTALLY WELCOME TO!
Thanks again!

Update #3- SELL MULLIGANS for charity!!!

Bucky

Posted by Darin Osenberg on 05/30/2009 10:04 PM

Comments (71)

Making a Golf Outing a Successful One! in the Mortgage / Finance Channel

golf outings, sales tips, selling ideas, wisconsin, realtors, mortgage lenders, appraisers, prizes, giveaways, realtor outings

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71 Comments on GOLF OUTINGS! Tips & Ideas to MAKE THEM ACTUALLY WORK!!

MAY

Darin, I am sure glad I stopped over....love the aspca spot...sounds like a grand ol time ! TGIF!!

These are some great tips. I love golf, wish the weather would clear up so I could get out there again soon.

Darin,

We are having our Board of Realtors Golf Outing on the 12th of June. I will certainly put some of your ideas to work for us. Thanks for sharing.

Connie Lou

Kristin! Im glad you stopped over too! I am actually a member of Defenders of Wildlife, and LOVE incorporating ANIMAL charity...into an outing, or even ANY kind of event! You know, what is a $1.00 on a golf course anyway! Come on...one less tip for the beer cart, right?? LOL

Thanks!

Darin

David- Glad you liked em! I have worked quite a few...and there are SO many golf outings that are SO LAME..I had to do a blog on this, before they starting hitting all over the country! Probably less of them though, with the economy being down! They also serve a HUGE purpose of just flat out getting people together! Some of the contacts I made 10 years ago, are my best ones still today! Thanks for sharing! - Darin

Connie Lou- You know, timing is everything right?? LOL I had not seen ONE GOLF OUTING blog, so I said to myself...>Self, why not?? I love doing these, and they are fantastic stress relief, and networking! If done properly, they yield GREAT response for your HOLE sponsors!!! Thanks, and glad they could help!

Darin

I've chaired many a golf outing, including the local REALTORS Association annual event for several years. We always invited sponsors to claim a hole, meet and greet people there and conduct an event such as the ones you described. It is great exposure for sponsors, not to mention fun, and the payoff will continue for months (even years) after the event for the sponsor who does as you suggest, and doesn't "just" write a check. GREAT post!

Darin - WOW -what a wealth of info for our golf lovers out there. I, personally, have sadly never stepped foot on a golf course (gasp!), but I couldn't resist looking into the hole in one insurance - I had never heard of that! Too cool.

Great Post, thanks for the tips!

Margaret, that is AWESOME THAT you have chaired these things, and I AM GLAD to see that your organization encourages things like this! I just believe that if you are going to do something, that you do it right! Sounds like you do! Kudos,...and thank you very much for commenting! Glad you apprecitated it! Darin

Kim- You know, even if you have not BEEN on a golf course, it doesnt mean you cannot get INVOLVED in things like this! :) They are a blast, and a great way to network...Plus, even working at a single golf hole is most of the time very beautiful! Sunshine, happy people, cocktails, even happier people etc....FUN!!! Great way to get away! :) Thanks...and glad you checked out the insurance! Really, not a bad deal! I like the HARLEY! Dealership brings the item to the hole too!!!

Darin

Hey Josh! You got it! Happy to oblige! I love these things, and you know...if you do it right, people will def remember you AND YOUR COMPANY!!! Take care- thanks for sharing!

D

Thanks for the tips. I chair a charity golf tournament every fall and the hardest part for me is actually getting people willing to sponsor holes and contests.

Stacey - You know, if you SHOW people this blog, it might actually help! I know people are short on money right now, but that means to me,,,NOW MORE THAN EVER is the time to get your name out there! It is just another form of prospecting!

ILl have to oome up with some sponsorship ideas for ya, and update the blog!

Thanks!!!! Darin

Darin... I have been to many of these functions, I have chaired a few, and I have even started 1 or 2 of my own. Some good tips... but in regards to number 7? I am playing in it, no matter if it's mine, that I chaired it, or just visiting... ;o) If we have other employees that don't play, yes, I have had them out on the golf course meeting & greeting... and driving around in the beer cart or the food cart. So, when are we playing golf? How about the FHA Expert invitational... lol

jeff belonger

Hey Jeff! Congrats on YOUR feature! #7 is always the tough one..I always lead by example, and dont play...but work the hole instead! I LOVE GOLF! TOTALLY ADDICTED actually! I wait and play at the ones I AM INVITED TO...rather than sponsoring! Normally let my top sales people play...instead...but, if I WERE/and have been a TOP SALESPERSON, i would want to work the hole! It's fun actually... Would love to CHAIR the Active RAIN open!! :) I would need YOUR help tho! Great name btw of FHA expert invitational @....Augusta?? LOL

Thanks pal! - Darin

Hi Darn -- What a fun read, and very visual. I would be first in line at the Weber!

I made a hard copy of your article to be sure I had it for our next event. Liked the spa suggestion.

Kathy

Chris- If you are 1st in line for the BRATS, that means you are cooking! Ill tell my team we have a chef!! :) Glad you stopped by and thank you for commenting! - Darin

Team Honeycutt- What a great name for a Company & A TEAM!!! I am glad it helped, and you enjoyed it!!! I really thinnk that with the HIGH percentage of women in realestate, coupled with the fact that not as many WOMEN play golf at the outings, that if you pay MORE ATTENTION TO THEM, you will gain MORE people at your event, as well as a MUCH higher turn out the following year too!

Thanks again..and I appreciate your taking the time to comment!

Darin

Darin this is great! We do a ton of golk tourney's in Phoenix and this gives me some new ideas to have fun with. Love it! The ladies will love you too!

Have a fun golf summer.............it's warming down here so it'll be too hot for me soon!

ANNA!!! Nice to see you back here commenting on my blog! THANK YOU!! I am glad you enjoyed them, and I hope you can use them! If during YOUR travels out there in the "Dry heat", you come up with some more...reblog me...please! That way< I CAN CHEAT and add them to my arsenal as well!!!

Take care, and thanks so much! Drink alot of water...not margaritas!! :)

D

I have worked on our TREPAC golf tournament every year for 5 years now and one agent friend of mine always gets this same hole, a very challenging one and her schtick is that she hands out bottled water and bananas. Everyone loves it and looks forward to getting to the hole with the banana lady!

Exit- See, she found her niche!!! She is proof that it works! Now, if we could only get ANNA BANNANA to do that huh?? :) THere was a comment earlier in the blog concerning the difficulty of getting SPONSORS..Well, that is one way to KEEP THEM!! ! That's for sure, by giving her the same HOLE!!!!

Thanks alot, and take care....I appreciate your comments! Darin

Great ideas, we do three every year for the board, Rotary and Habitat and have even had a hole in one winner a while back.

Darin - great idea for me to show some people this blog. I am going to do that. Thanks.

MAY

This is a very creative look at how to make golf outings work for you. Thanks for sharing!

Sharon

Charles- WOW, that is awesome you had a hole in one winner! You know, I was going thru the website earlier today, and there is some REALLY cool stuff on there! You get quite alot for the buck actually! I ran a scenario and had the ..ummm...program so to speak, sent to my email! I WISH i could post it here on AR as an attachment! Wouldnt that be cool! Anyway, I am going to cut & paste it a little into the bottom of the Blog...! Thanks for sharing! Glad it is working for you!

D

Stacey-Ann- You know, your earlier comment really got me thinking...HOW, do you motivate people to sponsor holes! Well, I think the key is just planting the seed so to speak..You know, taking your excitement and planting IDEAS in their head..that is why I suggested showing POTENTIAL ONES my blog! Also, I think the people you go after are important too right now...If you have 18 holes, at least 2 are going to be sponsor holes for your event...at least 3 SHOULD be Realtors from 3 different companies, at least 1 should be a big bank, and at least 2 others should be mortgage companies or lenders...That leaves only 7 more holes...How about a Home Inspector, an appraiser, a stager, an INSURANCE agent, maybe a management company, a financial planner,or....get into a couple of different cool things....LIKE< a company that puts YOUR LABEL on WINE to give as gifts, how about a Widget,gidget & gizmo company...how about a SIGNAGE company, how about a beer sponsor or two...Once you get Miller Lite, it is easy to get BUD! :) Last but not least, get the Charity to actually HELP you at a hole! They will! Anyway, one suggestion I would have for the EVENT planners..and really the blog was desigend around making a HOLE work for you...would be to have an actual MC do the event! Someone with radio/tv, or speaking abilities! too often you cannot hear the person in charge of the event, and they are shy etc...NOT A TIME To be shy! ANyway, enjoy and thanks so much!

Darin

Frank & Sharon- I love sharing ideas! I am glad you stopped by, and very happy you got something out of it! I normally put quite a bit of time & effort both in to my blogs, and into the responses..I figure, if we are all going to do this AR thing...we might as well do it right! :)

Thanks so much! Bucky...i mean...Darin!

free water with logo ad...also if you have closest to pin/on the green prizes include logo awards like repair tools and ball markers.....golfers love free stuff and agents love free advertising..what a combo!!

Hey there Brian- Thanks for the input of ideas, and ideas to get sponsors! I agree with all...Sometimes tho...I tried to find something DIFFERENT than a sleeve of balls, etc...one time, I got as a free gift a little zip up POUCH that attachs to my golf bag...inside, was a package of tees, band aids, a bee sting kit, and small thing of sun block! I thought THAT was awesome!

Thanks so much!- Darin

Great list of suggestions to really leverage golf sponsorships, Darin. Johnsonville brats and seeing the Brewers at County Stadium bring back a lot of good memories for me growing up in Menomonee Falls.

Darin, I think many of your ideas will work well at other types of events such as community festivals and other local and neighbourhood events.

The last one I went . . . I couldn't remember much by the time we got to the 18Th. . they gave us beer by the buckets and I almost got a hole in one!

I am planning two outings this summer. This information is invaluable! Thanks!

Hey Buckster..nice feature...one more thought...when we wheel our iced bottled water, we put insulator sleeves a/k/a Koozies on the bottle....AND if you know the folks running it...suggest to them that they give the hole sponsors the names of the participants so they can send them a note afterward if the choose...top of mind awareness is a big thing...keep hitting those balls with sticks....and watch out for the gophers !

Darin - 'Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to respond to Stacey's comment... Getting sponsors is hard if you're just asking for their checks. EXPOSURE is the magic word!

We found sponsors love the idea of sitting on the hole all day... the opportunity for face-to-face networking was worth paying for. We pre-determined the contest for each hole, i.e. closest to the pin, hole-in-one, men's longest drive, women's longest drive, etc. with the understanding they would not only sponsor the hole but also provide the prize - and sponsors filled those holes first, even though they cost more. After a few years, we were selling sponsorships for both tees and greens and even the beverage carts (yes, they paid for the beverages). By the way, sometimes golfers paid an extra $1 or $5 to participate in the contest, and that money went to the charity.

It's all about the "exposure" and Darin offers some great ideas on how to maximize that.

These are all great tips for increasing business and awareness in the public. Cards are a must all the time. Everyone wants a card.

We do golf outings all the time and there are some really great ideas here that we might borrow for future events. Thanks for the great tips!

Interesting. We have many golf outings here, with sponsorships but the sponsors usually play and nobody mans the course or does things like on your list.

Darin: Thanks for the post! I've been to a number of golf events and have seen several of these promotions tried successfully. Take care.

John- You know, people that have never lived here, or had a beer and a brat outside at County Stadium probably cannot appreciate the aroma as much as we can! Thanks for the compliment! I am glad you got something out of it, and hope it will be put to use at a later day for ya! - Darin

Marc Swartz- Fantastic point! The other types of events would flow with all of this info as well! NICE JOB! If you actually go INTO the hole in one website, you will see that they have other contests as well...there are ones for Baseball as well! Hence, if you, your organization, OR, you community sponsored something like a HUGE softball tourney, etc...this would be perfect that as well! There'a alot of cool stuff in that website, and I bookmarked it on my desktop! Thanks again! Darin

Fernando- That is hilarious! You know, I hear that and SEE that at many golf outings..I have often wondered WHO has the burden of responsility on injuries etc...I LOVE THEM..dont get me wrong..but I saw two guys 3 years ago, JOUSTING with the carts and drivers...one, crashed the cart, hit his head on the windshield, and needed 18 stiches! Not good! ...:) However, if done right, these things can bring a GREAT awareness to how YOU do business vs. the people that are not professional! - Thanks so much! Darin

Cindy Edwards- Thank you for the compliment! Good luck with your outings, and I would love some feedback later, if you have tried something on my list that yo hadnt thought of or done before! Thanks again! Darin

Team Hanson- You know, any time you WORK an event, I think a participant LIST is critical to the followup success! I think it should be mandatory with contact info & emails! Great point! That one is being filed away..! :)

Margaret- NO PROBLEM with interjecting! no worries! ALL Great points, and you put the nail in what I was trying to say as well! Thank you! - While the blog was really designed to help people actually WORKING the hole, it wasnt until Stacey's comments, and others...I realized that ORGANIZERS probably need some help too! Thanks so much for your comments!-- Darin

Harry- I HAVE BEEN amazed at how many people DONT carry business cards on them! AMAZED!!!!I once did a regional sales training seminar, and surprised the 90 people there by asking them to all hold up their business card...ONLY 65% of the room had them!!! WOW! Simple thing..but wooahhh..How stupid huh?? Thanks again!- Darin

Yvette & Dennis- Borrow away, and you are welcome! I THINK that is one of the best parts of AR...the Sharing! :)

Erica- WOW, what a missed opportunity for the sponsors! WOW...Now, if I was in your area...I would be the first one working the hole, and the only one!!! Think everyone there would give me SOME time?? I THINK SO! :) WOW...thank you!

Paul- Thank you for commenting and your input! It is always nice to get support on your ideas, if you dont...they are just your ideas! :) Thanks again! - Darin

You gave me a great idea. Thanks so much.

sweet! glad i could help!!!!!! thanks erica!

Love all the ideas - you have certainly analyzed what works best! we have bookmarked your post for future reference Darin - thanks!

Sincerely,

Grace

Hi Grace- One of my favorite cousins is name Grace! Love the name! Anyway, I am glad you and Jeff could appreciate what I did here! I LOVE working these events, and I am very passionate about it! It is also AMAZING to me, that apathy at these events when you actually GET TO A HOLE with someone on it, and they are just like...Hi, here you go...have a good round! NOPE! That is not me at all! ....:) LOL....Thanks so much for commenting, and truly appreciating it by bookmarking me!

Darin

oh and btw-

ONLY place i have played golf at in Indiana was the French Lick Sheraton a NUMBER of years ago...Got stung by an entire nest of bees that day...so yes, I remember it..oh...and WHILE i was on the GOLF COURSE...i was having one of the best rounds of my life! Doggonne!!!>>>LOL

Hi Darin - thanks for your suggestions. I am going to reblog this to encourage people to get on board with my tournament. Shame you are too far to come hang out and enjoy the day with us in September.

Stacey..YOU ARE TOTALLY WELCOME! I love helping people...I really do...EXCEPT YOU reminded me of something I FORGOT in the blog!

DO THE GOLF OUTINGS IN THE FALL!!!! EVERYONE does them in the HEAT of the summer!

There are fewer outings, and the course is in better shape, and...it is of course..beautiful!

Sometimes, the course will charge you LESS ALSO, so that makes it much more attatractive for your sponsors! That way, you can have brats going, football game on..etc...imagine!!!

Take care, !

D

I am so happy I came to this blog...I'm in the midst of planning a golf tournament to benefit our local food bank...your advice is wonderful and I'm sure I will put it to good use.

Darin,

"Give away...a massage. Here's the rub..." I broke up! Congratulations on the feature!!

Mike in Tucson

I had to come back and say that this is a tremendously GOOD IDEA! You seem to have had a few today. Look for Starbucks in your future!

Kellie- I AM SO GLAD you found my blog too! :) I am very glad I could help! I have ANOTHER one coming soon that is on working HOME IMPROVEMENT shows, and other events such as that...so, maybe that will be something you are interested in as well! The call CAPTURE blog will hit Tuesday!

Thanks again! - Darin

Mike- YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE who caught my pun...or at least mentioned it!

Glad I could help today, and thanks for everything in return! I appreciate the good will, and wait till you see my CALL CAPTURE blog on Tuesday! It will be a good read for you and your team! Take care and thanks! Darin

Awesome Blog! I'm NOT a golfer and always shy away from sponsoring golf tournies, etc.

Now I've got some great tools to sponsor one!

Thank you!

Hey Richard- I was hoping to get responses from someone like you...who just isnt in it to PLAY! You know, sometimes just being out there, and the experience of the people, nice weather, nature..etc...truly makes it all worthwhile! COMBINE THAT with selling...and we are all happy!! :)

Thanks again !! You might also enjoy my previous blog about open houses!

Take care!

Darin

Awesome Post!

I am not a golfer but I think you made me a fan. Good Luck!

Anthony, Nice to see you here again!

I am giving you the official HOORAY FOR YOU! This is a MAJOR award! No, it is not from Italy!! LOL

(that was a christmas story reference)

Glad I could help make you a fan!

Golf outings are a BLAST and the networking side is truly worth it!

Thanks....Darin

Amazing information, and one that is being bookmarked right now!

Thank you for sharing!

- Harrison Painter

Harrison- THANK YOU for sharing! I appreciate your kind words, and know this...I LOVE helping people succeed! karma is a big thing...it truly is!

Take care HOOSIER!

Bucky

MAY

You are a wise man not to ignore the lady Realtor golfers as many of us are also top producers as well as good golfers. Plus, I love the freebies handed out. Last year one lender passed out really nice ball marker visor clip and I am so sad to have lost it. It was the best, looking forward to maybe getting another one this summer.

Nice post. The insurance gets the best bang for the buck for us.....plus bodies. I have 2-3 people at the par 3's to gain great exposure. I do see the other signs that businesses sponsor the hole, but I have noticed that no one pays attention to the signs, they do pay attention to the giant give aways.

Man, if i lived where you do, I'd enter the tournaments just to see what you are up to. Lot of clever marketing ideas there. Way to go...

Mary- Thanks for commenting! VISOR clips..hmm...Great idea! I know that women wear alot of visors, so THANK YOU for the tips! Good luck this year, and if I can do something for you , ever, please let me know! Darin

Tim- Thanks for sharing! You know, a hole is really WHAT you make it! Signage is a really good POINT to bring up too! I noticed on the HOLE IN ONE website that there ARE REALLY cool signs on there too! DVD players are very nice SMALL gifts becuz everyone can use one in an extra room, and they are cheap. Thanks again! D

Ronnie- I have only done 1 LOAN EVER in Hawaii, and the customer wanted me to come to close...but alas, I couldnt make it! :) Thanks SOOO much for commenting, and believe me when I tell you..I wish I was closer to you! HOwever, I would STILL have the best SPONSOR HOLE on the course! :) Thanks! D

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