King, Debby - Glow Golf Tournaments

Facility: Laurelwood GC

Location: Eugene, OR

Program Contact: Debby King

Contact Phone/Email: 541-743-3482, kingtnt23@gmail.com

Name of PD Program: Glow Golf Tournaments

Type of PD Program: Social

Details of Program

Background: We are trying to reach college students, as well as families. Our golf course is located just a few blocks from the University of Oregon.

Program Design: I have developed very elaborate Glow Golf events. There are other courses who host night events, but not as elaborate as ours.

• The fairways are lined with glow markers, the 150's and 100 yard markers are glowing, we have flashing glow tee-markers, green blasters, ball charging stations, flashing flagsticks, glowing yardage markers, glowing bunker markers, glowing ice cubes for the coolers of drinks, glowing cup liners, glow balls and glow prizes.
• I charge $25 per player and they play from the Family Tee yardages.
• I take out Facebook ads to promote these events and we always fill up. Sometimes we even have a waiting list.
• There is minimal labor; one staff member to set-up event, one staff member in the pro-shop for check-in and one staff member at the halfway point on the golf course with drinks and mulligans.
• Since this is a "pre-paid" event the check-in goes quite quickly and smoothly.

We used a Yamaha Grant to pay for most of the start-up costs.

Results of Program

The students love Glow Golf! We have noticed an increase in families with kids.

A 9-hole event at $25 per player with a full field of 44 players adds up to $1,110 at night! As we usually make nothing at night, this is a win-win for all involved.

Recommendations

Please don't buy the Dollar Store glow products. Purchase them from Glow Gear or GT Golf Supplies. They are a much brighter product with better lasting quality, plus you will support a rep from the Pacific Northwest. An elaborate Glow Golf event will produces full field and have people waiting for the next one.

Continued glow golf tournaments are easy to host, but the start-up costs are very expensive and we took a loss at our first event. It is important to put on your best show during the first event in order for your golf course to get a good reputation. I estimate the start-up costs to be close to $1500 if done right (per 9-holes).

After recently hosting my first Glow Ball event, I can fully attest that this investment is money well spent. After the initial investment, all that is needed for future events are glow balls, batteries for glow products (approx. every 3 events) and prizes.

Glow Golf can be a little difficult from long distances; playing short yardages is recommended for better enjoyment of the participants and quicker rounds.

You can sell drinks, hot chocolate and extra glow balls as mulligans for additional profit.

The prizes don’t have to be expensive because most people are there for a good time and don't expect anything else with their entry fee.