15 Golf Tournament Games to Raise Money

Planning a golf tournament fundraiser?

Adding a few fun games can be a great way to raise extra money while giving players something to look forward to between shots.

And they don’t have to be complicated.

From classic challenges like Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive to fun ideas like a Marshmallow Drive or a Mystery Hole, there are plenty of ways to get players involved and add a little extra excitement to the day.

The best part? Many of these games can be set up with a small entry fee, donation or optional challenge.

That means more fundraising opportunities without turning your tournament into one big sales pitch.

In this post, you’ll find 15 golf tournament games to raise money, with ideas that are easy to organize, fun to play and suitable for a range of golf events.

Let’s get started!

How Do Golf Tournament Games Raise Money?

Golf tournament games can do more than add a little friendly competition. They can also bring in extra funds for your cause.

The simplest approach is to charge a small fee to take part. Players can choose the games they want to play, while every entry adds to your fundraising total.

You can also ask local businesses to sponsor a challenge. For example, a company might sponsor your Closest to the Pin competition and have their name displayed at the hole.

Some games work particularly well with donations, raffles or prize entries. Others can be included as an optional extra when players register.

The key is to keep things simple.

Choose games that are easy to explain, quick to play and fun enough that players actually want to take part. A few well-planned games can raise a surprising amount while making your tournament even more memorable.

1. Mulligan Tickets

Who doesn’t love a second chance?

Sell Mulligan tickets before the tournament or as players check in. Each ticket gives the player the chance to replay a shot they’re not happy with.

You can set a limit on how many Mulligans each player can purchase. For example, one ticket might give them one extra shot, while a small bundle could offer several.

Mulligans are easy to explain and don’t require much extra setup. They also give players a fun way to recover from that occasional “What was I thinking?” shot.

Fundraising tip: Keep the price affordable and make it clear that Mulligans are optional. You can also create a special Mulligan package as part of registration.

Planning tip: Have the tickets ready at check-in so players can purchase them before heading onto the course.

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2. Closest to the Pin Challenge

The Closest to the Pin challenge is a tournament favourite for a reason. It’s simple, quick and adds a little extra competition to the day.

Choose a par 3 and place a marker near the green. Players who want to take part pay a small entry fee before playing the hole. The winner is the player whose ball finishes closest to the pin.

You can offer a donated prize to the winner, or use a sponsored prize from a local golf business.

Fundraising tip: Make participation optional and charge a small additional fee. If you have a sponsor, consider having them cover the prize while the entry fees go directly toward your fundraising total.

Planning tip: Use a clearly visible Closest to the Pin sign so players know where to enter and where to record the winning distance.

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3. Longest Drive Challenge

Time to let the big hitters have some fun!

Choose a suitable hole and set up a Longest Drive competition. Players can pay a small entry fee to take part, with the winner being the golfer who hits the longest drive within the designated area.

It’s an easy game to add to your tournament because the hole is already part of the round. You’re simply adding an extra challenge.

Fundraising tip: Ask a local business to sponsor the challenge and provide the prize. You can then use the player entry fees to boost your fundraising total.

Planning tip: Make sure the landing area is clearly marked and choose a hole that gives players a fair chance to compete. You may also want separate categories, such as women and men, depending on your tournament format.

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4. Beat the Pro Challenge

Think you can beat the pro?

This challenge is most commonly played on a par 3. The golf pro hits their tee shot first and sets the target. Players then pay to take their shot and try to get their ball closer to the pin than the pro’s ball.

It’s simple, quick and adds a fun competitive element to the round. And for many players, having the chance to beat the pro makes the challenge hard to resist!

Fundraising tip: Charge a small entry fee for each attempt. You can also ask a sponsor to provide the prize, allowing more of the entry fees to go toward your fundraising total.

Planning tip: Place a clear marker where the pro’s ball lands so players can easily see what they need to beat.

5. Putting Challenge

A putting challenge is an easy way to add some extra fun before or after the round.

Set up a small putting competition and invite players to pay a fee to take part. You could have players putt from a set distance, complete a short putting course or see who can sink the most putts in a limited number of attempts.

Keep it quick and easy. The goal is to create a fun challenge that players can join without taking up too much time.

Fundraising tip: Charge a small entry fee for each player or attempt. A donated prize from a golf shop or local business can help keep your costs down.

Planning tip: Set up the challenge near registration, the clubhouse or reception area so players can easily take part before or after their round.

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6. Marshmallow Drive

Ready for a little golfing silliness?

The Marshmallow Drive is exactly what it sounds like. Players swap their golf ball for a marshmallow and see how far they can hit it with a golf club.

Set up a designated area where players can take part, with a small entry fee for each attempt. You can award a prize for the longest marshmallow drive — and probably get plenty of laughs along the way.

It’s a fun change from the usual tournament challenges and works particularly well as a lighthearted fundraising activity.

Fundraising tip: Charge a small fee per player or per attempt. You could also have a sponsor provide the prize and donate the marshmallows.

Planning tip: Check with the golf course first and choose a safe, open area for the challenge. Make sure players know where they can hit and where everyone else should stand.

7. Golf Ball Drop

This one is part golf game, part raffle and it can be a great fundraiser for your tournament.

Number a set of golf balls and sell tickets for the chance to win. At the designated time, the numbered golf balls are dropped from a height onto a target area, such as a putting green.

The golf ball that lands closest to the target wins the prize.

It’s easy for spectators to understand and can create a fun moment during your event. You can also sell tickets in advance, giving you an opportunity to raise money before tournament day.

Fundraising tip: Ask a local business to donate the prize and keep the ticket price affordable. Selling multiple tickets to each participant can quickly increase your fundraising total.

Planning tip: Check with the venue before planning a golf ball drop. You’ll need a suitable location and a safe way to release the balls.

8. 50/50 Golf Raffle

A 50/50 raffle is a simple way to raise money without adding another game to the golf course.

Players purchase raffle tickets, and one winning ticket is drawn during the tournament or at the closing ceremony. The winner receives a percentage of the money raised, while the remaining amount goes toward your fundraising goal.

It’s easy to understand and requires very little setup.

Fundraising tip: Promote the raffle early and remind players about it during the day. The more tickets you sell, the bigger the potential prize — and the more you raise for your cause.

Planning tip: Check the rules that apply to raffles in your location before adding a 50/50 raffle to your event. Requirements can vary depending on where your tournament is held.

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9. Golf Ball Raffle

Golf balls and a raffle make a pretty natural pairing!

For this game, fill a container with numbered golf balls and sell tickets or numbered entries to players. At the end of the tournament, draw a winning number and award the prize to the player with the matching golf ball or ticket.

You can make the display part of the fun by using a basket, golf bag or clear container filled with golf balls.

Fundraising tip: Ask a golf shop, club or local business to donate the prize. That keeps your costs low while allowing the ticket sales to contribute directly to your fundraising total.

Planning tip: Keep the rules simple and make the display visible during registration or the reception. A good-looking setup can help attract attention and encourage more players to enter.

10. Mystery Hole Challenge

Want to keep players guessing?

Choose one hole on the course and keep the special challenge a secret until players arrive. Reveal the challenge at the tee box with a fun sign.

The mystery challenge could be:

Play the hole with your non-dominant hand
Hit your tee shot with one club and finish the hole with another
Get your approach shot inside a marked circle
Make a putt from a designated distance
Hit the green on a par 3
Complete the hole without using a golf cart

Players pay a small entry fee to take part, with a prize going to anyone who successfully completes the challenge — or to the player with the best result.

Fundraising tip: Keep the entry fee optional and affordable. A sponsored prize can make the challenge even more appealing without eating into your fundraising total.

Planning tip: Pick a challenge that is safe, easy to understand and quick to complete. Reveal it with a clear sign at the tee so players know exactly what they need to do.

11. String Ball Challenge

What if players could buy a little extra distance?

With the String Ball Challenge, players purchase a length of string before the round. If they hit a tricky shot, land in a bunker or end up just short of the green, they can use their string to move their ball closer to the hole.

For example, a player might buy 2 feet, 5 feet or 10 feet of string. They can use it throughout the round, cutting off the amount they use each time.

Once their string is gone, so is their extra help!

Fundraising tip: Offer different lengths of string at different price points. Players who want more “help” can simply buy a longer piece.

Planning tip: Prepare pre-cut lengths of string before the tournament and clearly explain the rules. Decide in advance whether players can use their string anywhere on the course or only for specific situations.

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12. Hit the Green Challenge

How accurate are your players?

For this challenge, players pay a small entry fee for the chance to hit a designated green from the tee or fairway. You can choose a par 3 or another suitable hole where hitting the green is a realistic but challenging target.

Players who hit the green successfully can be entered into a prize draw, or you can award the prize to the player whose ball finishes closest to the pin.

It’s simple, easy to understand and gives players another reason to focus on their shot.

Fundraising tip: Add a small entry fee to the challenge and ask a local business to sponsor the prize. You could also offer a bonus prize for a hole-in-one if you have a sponsor willing to provide one.

Planning tip: Clearly mark the target area and explain exactly what counts as a successful hit before players tee off.

13. Poker Run Golf Game

Add a little luck to the golf with a Poker Run.

Players purchase an entry for the game and collect playing cards at designated holes during the round. At the end of the tournament, each player has a poker hand made up of the cards they collected.

The player with the best poker hand wins the prize.

You can make the game as simple or competitive as you like. For example, players could receive one card at each of five designated holes, or pay an additional fee for an extra card.

Fundraising tip: Charge an entry fee for the Poker Run and consider offering players the option to purchase an extra card. A donated prize can help keep the fundraising return high.

Planning tip: Prepare sealed envelopes or clearly marked cards for each designated hole. Keep the cards hidden until the end so nobody knows what hand they are building.

14. Golf Trivia Challenge

Not every tournament challenge needs a golf club!

Set up a short golf trivia quiz and invite players to pay a small entry fee to take part. Questions could cover famous golfers, golf history, major championships, rules, fun facts or even the golf course hosting your event.

You can run the trivia during lunch, at the reception or as part of the post-tournament celebrations.

Fundraising tip: Keep the entry fee affordable and ask a local golf business to donate the prize. You could also offer a small prize for the player with the highest score and a fun consolation prize for the lowest score.

Planning tip: Keep the quiz short — around 10 to 15 questions is plenty. Mix easy questions with a few that make players think!

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15. Raffle Basket Challenge

A well-put-together raffle basket can be a great way to raise extra money at your golf tournament.

Create one or more themed baskets and fill them with donated items. Think golf accessories, restaurant vouchers, spa treats, local experiences, wine and food hampers or gift cards.

Players purchase raffle tickets and place them in the draw for the basket they’d like to win. At the end of the tournament, draw one winning ticket for each basket.

Fundraising tip: Ask local businesses to donate products, services or gift cards. The more of the basket that is donated, the more of your ticket sales can go directly toward your fundraising goal.

Planning tip: Give each basket a clear theme and display it somewhere players will see it throughout the day. A great-looking basket can do a lot of the selling for you!

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How Many Golf Tournament Games Should You Include?

With 15 ideas to choose from, you might be tempted to use them all.

I wouldn’t.

A few well-chosen games are usually better than trying to squeeze too many activities into one tournament. You want players to have fun without making the day feel complicated or overwhelming.

For a smaller tournament, 3 to 5 games can be plenty. For a larger event, you might add a few more and spread them throughout the day.

Think about your players, the course layout and how much time you have. Mix a couple of quick on-course challenges with one or two activities that can happen before or after the round.

And don’t forget your fundraising goal. Choose games that are easy to explain, simple to manage and appealing enough that players will actually want to participate.

The goal is to raise more money while making the tournament more fun — not more work.

Simple Ways to Raise More With Your Golf Games

You don’t need to charge a lot for every game to make a difference.

A few small fundraising opportunities can quickly add up over the course of a tournament.

Here are a few simple ways to increase your fundraising total:

Offer game bundles. Let players buy several challenges together for one price.
Get local sponsors involved. A business can sponsor a hole, prize or individual game.
Use donated prizes. Ask local businesses for gift cards, golf products or experiences.
Promote the games early. Mention them when players register so they know what to expect.
Make participation optional. Players are more likely to join in when they don’t feel pressured.
Keep the games visible. Use signs at registration and on the course to remind players about the challenges.

Most importantly, keep the focus on having fun.

When players enjoy the games, they’re much more likely to join in, cheer each other on and come back for your next tournament.

Ready to Add Some Fun to Your Fundraiser?

The right golf tournament games can raise extra money, get players involved and make your event even more memorable.

Choose a few that fit your tournament, keep them simple and let the fun begin.⛳ 💚

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