The annual corporate golf outing is still popular with millions of business golfers. Here are 8 very simple tips for creating a memorable corporate golf outing, year-after-year.
At Golf Trip Junkie, we have been very fortunate and appreciative to work with a number of larger corporate groups, in particular, one group of 56 golfers.
During the planning and preparation of these golf outings, I have noticed a few things they do that give them the greatest opportunity for a successful event. In fact, not only a successful event but also one that only gets better year-after-year.
To that end, here are just a few of the details they do right, that you can apply, with the help of the team at Golf Trip Junkie, to your next corporate golf outing.
1. GIVE IT A NAME
Giving your corporate golf outing a name likely would not be the first thing you would think of or think I would start with. With this particular group of 56 golfers, they have a name for their corporate golf outing—The SeniorBud Invitational.
By giving it a name it transcends from being a normal everyday ‘corporate event’ to be a golf outing where the fun is there to be had, team games are played, and prizes are awarded. Not a bad approach.
Furthermore, ‘2018 SeniorBud Invitational’ gives it meaning and implies that it will be an annual event. In addition, it certainly sounds better than “hey, do you want to come to our company golf thingy”, wouldn’t you agree?
2. HAVE A PRACTICE ROUND
In typical ‘Invitational golf events’, a practice round is a great way to get into the spirit of the event.
It gives your clients, key staff and personnel, sponsors, and partners the opportunity to fly in earlier in the day to convene on the first tee for a fun and spirited round of golf. While the purpose is likely to get some of the cobwebs out, I believe the real reason is to have a couple beverages or 10, and start the relationship building a few hours earlier.
3. PLAN VERY EARLY BUT FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT STUFF TO START WITH
I cannot stress this enough . . .
When you get into larger numbers, you as a group likely have a very specific golf schedule that you would like to stick with, therefore, plan as early as possible.
For the SeniorBud group of 56 golfers, we typically have the event mid-April, which means that by mid-May, we have the following year booked and deposit paid a few weeks later.
Therefore, that means within a few weeks of the completion of the annual SeniorBud Invitational we have dates confirmed, along with lodging and desired golf schedule, with breakfast and lunch included. The rest of the stuff, for example, dinners and dinner schedule, prizes, etc. will be completed at a later date.
4. INVITATIONS START GOING OUT 4 TO 5 MONTHS IN ADVANCE
With the details of the corporate golf outing confirmed almost a year in advance, invitations must go out. That said, they do not need to go out 11 months in advance. Generally, people have no clue what they’re doing 5 days from now, so asking them to commit to a golf outing 11 months in advance is likely not the approach.
With this particular group, they do it right. They start sending out invitations when the new year begins, approximately 4 months in advance. This seems to work out well for them.
As for the practice round, we typically start getting the numbers when folks confirm their entry into the Invitational. At the very least, feelers are put out there so they know it is an option for when booking their flights.
For first-timers or first ever corporate golf outings, I would suggest that the invitations are sent out earlier as a “save-the-date” type thing, with your staff getting a feel of who is interested leading up to when the first round of official invitations is sent out. By taking this approach, you have a good feel of how many golfers of your originally anticipated numbers will be attending.
5. FIRST-CLASS TREATMENT OF YOUR CLIENTS AND STAFF
Last year, the SeniorBud Invitational was elevated to a whole other level.
With having a beautiful oceanfront home as Command Central, in addition to 25 (twenty-five) 2-bedroom villas, each night following a 36-hole day of golf they hired masseuses to come into the home, where everyone convenes for dinner and drinks, to provide treatment to all interested attendees.
This turned out, in addition to dinner delivered, the bartenders and servers, a massive hit with everyone involved.
What a way to show how much you value all attendees and how important they are to you and your business.
6. WEEKLY CONFERENCE CALLS ARE KEY
Starting approximately two months from the day of the event, run weekly conference calls with key personnel, and of course, the team at Golf Trip Junkie.
These conference calls are critical to the success of your corporate golf outing, as there are finite details that need to be discussed. Of course, it depends on how deep you want to go, how big the budget is, etc., but these calls are very important in ensuring that all i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.
For example, with the SeniorBud crew, we cover several different details over the course of a half an hour weekly call—Invites, confirmed participants, ordering of team golf shirts, gift bags and details of gift bags, practice round participant confirmations, pairings, sleeping arrangements, meals, etc.
Following the corporate golf event, have one last conference call to go over some of the results, insights, and key takeaways from the even. Furthermore, and especially if the lodging was exactly what you were hoping for, settle on dates for the following year ASAP so the Golf Trip Junkie team can start putting together package info and pricing for you.
7. SEND OUT A SURVEY TO YOUR CLIENTS
One thing to keep in mind is that once the corporate golf event is completed it does not mean that the details stop there. Quite the contrary. Put together, or hire someone to put together, a survey to that will provide you with important feedback from your valued participating clients, partners, and sponsors.
8. LEAVE THE GOLF & LODGING PLANNING IN THE CAPABLE HANDS OF THE TEAM AT GOLF TRIP JUNKIE
Bottom line, we at Golf Trip Junkie specialize in large corporate golf outings. We have the rates, we have the knowledge, we have the expertise, and we are the perfect liaison between our customers and golf resorts/golf courses.
Take it from me; there are a lot of minor details (and stresses) that come into planning a perfect, or as close to perfect, golf-outing for your valued clients, so leaving it in our capable hands gives you the best chance for the ultimate success that you are looking for.
Quite simply, it’s what we do. It’s what we specialize in. You focus on your day-job while we take care of all the important details for you.
To start planning your corporate golf outing, contact one of Golf Trip Junkie’s Golf Vacation Specialists today—877.634.0790.
At GTJ, we are always ready and available to help you plan the most memorable corporate golf event!
Let me know how I can help!
