Charity Golf Network2024-03-29T12:23:37ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLeehttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12227429855?profile=RESIZE_180x180&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://virtual-village.ning.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0r0ncfdp7hxae&feed=yes&xn_auth=noinsurancetag:virtual-village.ning.com,2016-05-25:3411289:Topic:186222016-05-25T17:43:02.256ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
<p>Got my tournament up and running. I'm calling it the Peoria Arizona Chamber of Commerce $10 Million Shootout'. When I came up with that name I had found a webpage for an insurer who specifically offered coverage for 10 golfers to each shoot for a $1M prize. Now I can't find that and no one else that I have talked to knows where to get coverage. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Tim</p>
<p>Got my tournament up and running. I'm calling it the Peoria Arizona Chamber of Commerce $10 Million Shootout'. When I came up with that name I had found a webpage for an insurer who specifically offered coverage for 10 golfers to each shoot for a $1M prize. Now I can't find that and no one else that I have talked to knows where to get coverage. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Tim</p> Unusual Formatstag:virtual-village.ning.com,2013-07-09:3411289:Topic:169632013-07-09T23:36:19.813ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
<p>There are some really unusual new ideas out there for odd charity golf events. My friend, Bob Hammer put a guy out on the driving range in a suit of armor and gave prizes for hitting him. A cheerleading group in Dallas conducted an all-day golf marathon that netted $50,000 the first time out. <a href="http://virtual-village.ning.com/video/great-charity-fundraising-idea-neighborhood-golf-tournament" target="_self">This group</a> set up a golf course in their neighborhood and played with…</p>
<p>There are some really unusual new ideas out there for odd charity golf events. My friend, Bob Hammer put a guy out on the driving range in a suit of armor and gave prizes for hitting him. A cheerleading group in Dallas conducted an all-day golf marathon that netted $50,000 the first time out. <a href="http://virtual-village.ning.com/video/great-charity-fundraising-idea-neighborhood-golf-tournament" target="_self">This group</a> set up a golf course in their neighborhood and played with "Almostgolf" balls that are lighter and safe to use around windows. They have a fun, cheap to play tournament and raised $10K for a local charity every year. Not only that, but it's a great neighborhood party to boot.<br/><br/>Anybody else have any links to or stories about goofy, unusual or creative golf tournament ideas?</p>
<p>Post us about them below.</p>
<p>Tom King</p>
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<p></p> Hole-In-Won, Inc. - Insurertag:virtual-village.ning.com,2012-08-24:3411289:Topic:144312012-08-24T08:25:39.944ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
<p>There are several companies out there who insure hole-in-one and putting contest prizes. Many times local insurance agencies will insure these events. A lot of the folk I've worked with on tournaments have bought insurance from a vendor called "Hole-in-Won.com". <br></br><br></br>I was stunned tonight when I saw a TV news story about this company pop up on the 11 o'clock news. Apparently the State Insurance Committee of Washington conducted a sting with the cooperation of several local charities…</p>
<p>There are several companies out there who insure hole-in-one and putting contest prizes. Many times local insurance agencies will insure these events. A lot of the folk I've worked with on tournaments have bought insurance from a vendor called "Hole-in-Won.com". <br/><br/>I was stunned tonight when I saw a TV news story about this company pop up on the 11 o'clock news. Apparently the State Insurance Committee of Washington conducted a sting with the cooperation of several local charities that netted 5 federal indictments against 54 year-old Kevin Kolenda of Connecticut and his company Hole-in-Won.com. </p>
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<p>Apparently the company sells a lot of insurance, but doesn't pay off when golfers actually do land a hole-in-won. So far, either the charity gets stuck paying off the golfer or, in most cases, the golfer lets the charity slide when they are told about the fraud. <br/><br/>Still it hurts a tournament's reputation when it fails to pay off prizes like that. If you've had dealing with Hole-in-Won, we'd like to know if there were any problems. Or let us know if you've had trouble with other vendors. I don't want to open this up for a bash-the-vendor fest and if we can keep it calm and check out the stories, I don't have any problem posting a warning regarding bad faith vendors.<br/><br/>If we'd done a better job of getting the word out about Hole-in-Won, we wouldn't have had 3 unhappy Washington golfers, not to mention who knows how many in other states.</p>
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<p>Here's a link to the story in The Seattle Times: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2018979743.html">http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2018979743.html</a></p>
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<p></p> Hit Metag:virtual-village.ning.com,2011-06-01:3411289:Topic:45232011-06-01T15:10:50.247ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
Saw a tantalizing picture of a sidebar event. Don't know how it works yet, but if anyone else does, please let us know.<br></br><br></br>The picture showed a guy dressed up in a medieval suit of armor with a big sign around his neck that said "Hit me!". He was standing in a pile of golf balls. I can think of several ways to make money with that, but if anyone out there has ever used it, please let us know how it works.<br></br><br></br>This was at a golf tournament that was on track to make $196,000 clear this…
Saw a tantalizing picture of a sidebar event. Don't know how it works yet, but if anyone else does, please let us know.<br/><br/>The picture showed a guy dressed up in a medieval suit of armor with a big sign around his neck that said "Hit me!". He was standing in a pile of golf balls. I can think of several ways to make money with that, but if anyone out there has ever used it, please let us know how it works.<br/><br/>This was at a golf tournament that was on track to make $196,000 clear this year, so they must be doing something right. Thanks in advance for your help figuring this unique sidebar out. The event was Bob Hammer's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.haveaballgolf.com/">"Have a Ball" Charity Golf Tournament</a> (for testicular cancer). Bob's event benefits twenty something cancer charities and regularly makes six figures. He and I are considering doing a new book on how he does it. It's not entirely by the rules, this one. For one thing he holds it at a municipal golf course, violating all the conventional wisdom about exclusive courses attracting more money. How cool is that?<br/><br/>Tom What can I get donated and what do I have to pay for?tag:virtual-village.ning.com,2011-05-19:3411289:Topic:40222011-05-19T15:24:56.552ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
<p>Dee R. writes.......</p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"> </font></strong> <strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;">Who should I talk to about getting the hole sponsor signs donated to the Golf Tournament?</font></strong><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple"> …</span></font></strong></em></p>
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<p>Dee R. writes.......</p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"> </font></strong> <strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;">Who should I talk to about getting the hole sponsor signs donated to the Golf Tournament?</font></strong><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple"> </span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple"> </span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">Answer:</span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">The hole sponsor pays for the signage. Charge enough so that each hole sponsor's sponsor fee covers the cost of signage. Once you have all you sponsors checks in hand, simply contact a sign provider about making the signs, order them and pay for them out of the sponsor fees. </span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple"> </span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">Nobody will donate the signage for you. It's part of what you charge for a sponsorship. </span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">New tournament organizers often waste considerable time trying to get someone to donate food, the use of a golf course or signage. These are the parts of the tournament you pay for. These guys make their living providing these things so don't expect them to give it to you free. Rarely a golf course will sponsor a tournament and wave the fees. Don't expect it. Paying for these types of things is part of the cost of running the tournaments. </span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">Actually, I wouldn't ask anyone to pay for the hole sponsor signs. You're, in essence, asking someone to pay for someone else's advertising. It's a bit cheeky and makes you look cheap - something you don't want to do with the vendors who supply you with the stuff you need to run the tournament. Sponsors provide the dollars for that and in return they get recognized.</span></font></strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">Anybody else have any thoughts.</span></font></strong></em></p>
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<p><em><strong><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple">Tom</span></font></strong></em></p> What Do You Charge for Sponsorships?tag:virtual-village.ning.com,2011-05-06:3411289:Topic:39222011-05-06T03:13:46.639ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
<p>Walter Bohoniuk asked a question on another thread - "What do you charge for sponsorships and that sort of stuff? Anyone have any recommendations? Be sure you tell us what part of the country the tournament is hosted in. It makes a difference.</p>
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<p>Tom</p>
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<p>Walter Bohoniuk asked a question on another thread - "What do you charge for sponsorships and that sort of stuff? Anyone have any recommendations? Be sure you tell us what part of the country the tournament is hosted in. It makes a difference.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tom</p>
<p> </p> Job positions and descriptions for volunteerstag:virtual-village.ning.com,2011-03-09:3411289:Topic:28242011-03-09T16:05:06.044ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
<p>Hello Tom,</p>
<p>Looking for help for various job descriptions for our event and good detail for our sales and event people to enroll. Volunteers.I know golf well but I want to make sure I am not missing anything but I know we can't think of everything. Playing the game is different from running a golf event as we well know.</p>
<p>Tom or if anyone is out there to help me with my effort it is appreciated.</p>
<p>Walter B.</p>
<p>Hello Tom,</p>
<p>Looking for help for various job descriptions for our event and good detail for our sales and event people to enroll. Volunteers.I know golf well but I want to make sure I am not missing anything but I know we can't think of everything. Playing the game is different from running a golf event as we well know.</p>
<p>Tom or if anyone is out there to help me with my effort it is appreciated.</p>
<p>Walter B.</p> Beverage Cart or Open Coolers on the Coursetag:virtual-village.ning.com,2011-02-17:3411289:Topic:18342011-02-17T19:42:39.014ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
I've used both open coolers and beverage carts and a combination of both (water and sodas in the coolers and alcohol in the carts). What's your experience? Which works better for you or do you have a different idea?
I've used both open coolers and beverage carts and a combination of both (water and sodas in the coolers and alcohol in the carts). What's your experience? Which works better for you or do you have a different idea? What Kind of Things Can You Get for a Silent Auction?tag:virtual-village.ning.com,2011-02-17:3411289:Topic:19272011-02-17T17:55:11.379ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
We're doing a silent auction this year at the tournament. What sorts of things can you get for an auction and where do you go to get them?
We're doing a silent auction this year at the tournament. What sorts of things can you get for an auction and where do you go to get them? Disasters!tag:virtual-village.ning.com,2010-05-26:3411289:Topic:12492010-05-26T21:34:29.000ZSteve Leehttp://virtual-village.ning.com/profile/SteveLee
Ever had a monumental screw up. Tell us a funny story about your tournament so everyone won't feel alone. I'll go first.<br></br><br></br>We had a tournament for a children's home. Things were going well at first. Then one of my board members, an ad agency owner, swiped the beverage cart to go joy riding. She didn't come back. Meanwhile, out on the course, the beverages coolers were becoming emptier and emptier. Meanwhile back at the clubhouse, the TV ad people who sold the sponsorships for us…
Ever had a monumental screw up. Tell us a funny story about your tournament so everyone won't feel alone. I'll go first.<br/><br/>We had a tournament for a children's home. Things were going well at first. Then one of my board members, an ad agency owner, swiped the beverage cart to go joy riding. She didn't come back. Meanwhile, out on the course, the beverages coolers were becoming emptier and emptier. Meanwhile back at the clubhouse, the TV ad people who sold the sponsorships for us decided that what we needed was beer! One called an area brewery and scored a bunch of cases of a popular three letter brewski. Ad salesmen are nothing if not hustlers and within an hour had scored the beer, rented an extra golf cart and filled up the ice barrels with tall cold ones.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, out on the course, a group of parched elderly deacons were fishing vainly, up to their arthritic elbows in ice water, for a nice cold Dr. Pepper. Because the board member was following her husband's foursome around the golf course, the beverage cart crew were stranded with cases of soda and water. I came off the course from replacing volunteer hole sitters and met the frantic beverage cart crew telling me someone had stolen their cart. I gave them mine and off they went to do damage control.<br/><br/>The Baptists were furious and threatened to withdraw their substantial support from the charity. A party of oil tycoons stumbled in off the course after the staff fished their cart from a water hazard swearing to "tell all our friends about this tournament". Fortunately, no one ever mentioned the incident to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. <br/><br/>The cart swiping board member and our board chairman, to add insult to injury, never paid for the sponsorships her ad agency and his restaurant bought from the TV station, which had been selling all our sponsorships for us. Infuriated, the TV station withdrew its support when our board nominated the same board member (the one who swiped the beverage cart) to be the next year's tournament chair. Our take from the tournament nose-dived the next year. <br/><br/>Guess who took the blame? <br/><br/>Not the board member who stole the cart.<br/><br/>Not the board that made her the new tournament chair.<br/><br/>Not the ad guys that took the initiative to turn us into a free-beer tournament.<br/><br/>It was my first lesson in nonprofit politics and the principle of the nonprofit human sacrifice!<br/><br/>Tom<br/>