2011 Guide to Golf Sponsorship

If done right, sponsoring golf tournaments can be a very profitable way to promote your business. People who play in golf tournaments these days expect to receive various gifts as part of their participation. Donating giveaways that have been printed with your logo can keep your business in front of the recipients for the entire season or even years to come. The biggest challenge is choosing the promotional products that will help you stand apart from other sponsors and produce the biggest return on your investment. With so many different products to choose from, here is a guide to help you weed through the categories and pick perfect golf promotion.

Tees
Golf tees are cheap. In some ways this makes them an attractive giveaway for sponsors, but it can also make them a waste of money. Every single golfer uses tees but they break easily and can be left at the tee box without a second thought. Most people don't care about losing or breaking tees and can go through a number of them in just a single round. If you are going to use golf tees for your giveaway, I would suggest skipping over the pack of 6 tees that come with a plastic marker, and instead give a higher quantity of tees to each participant so that they last awhile. You could also choose one of the specialty tees, such as the Zero Friction Tees or Brush Tees, which are less common and may encourage the user to take more care with them.

Golf Towels
Golf towels are an extremely popular giveaway because they can be used for a long period of time and capture prime promotional real estate on outside of the golf bag. That being said, almost every golfer already has one and doesn't need to replace it often. If you choose this category for your giveaway, the towel you hand out must be better than the one your recipients are currently using. Have your towel printed with a cool and trendy design that will appeal to the type of participants in your specific tournament or take advantage of the newest fabric technology available and choose one that is super absorbent, fast drying, antimicrobial, etc. These options can certainly add to the cost of your promotion, but If you earn the cherished spot on the outside of participants' golf bags, your logo will be seen not just by the recipient using the towel, but by those they play with and other golfers at each course.

Golf Balls
Golf ball promotions are all about the brand. While each manufacturer touts their own technology, the brand itself is what often makes an impact on the recipients and speaks volumes about your own business. You can spend anywhere from $14-$65 per dozen, depending on the type of ball you choose. Most people will use any ball they receive at some point and the amount of time that ball lasts does not really vary based on the type. The co-branding opportunity golf balls offer is really what matters, so make sure the perception of the specific brand you choose will help strengthen your own.

Gadgets
Everyone is always looking for the next great thing in golf. Each year there are new gadgets invented that offer some way to improve people's game. Whether it's a better way to clean clubs, fix divots, protect from weather or keep the golfer cool, being the first to give participants these products can be a great way to stand out from the other sponsors in each tournament and be remembered by those who receive them. The most important thing to consider when choosing a new gadget for your promotion is the actual value to the golfer. You want to pick a product that is truly useful and will be appreciated for the full life of the product.

Apparel
Polo shirts and wind jackets are sought-after golf promotions because of their longevity and high perceived value. The challenge is that you need to know the size of each participant in advance. If this is an option, then apparel can be a great opportunity to give people a gift they will really appreciate receiving. Just keep in mind that the brand and style of shirt you choose will make a difference in how your giveaway is received and performance pieces are the new winners. The nice thing for this year is that between the increasing cost of cotton and advances made in fabric technology, there are more performance styles available than ever and you should be able to find options that fit any budget.

Gloves
There are many perks to using golf gloves for your giveaway. Just about everyone uses them, they last for a decent amount of time and there is little competition. The biggest reason most sponsors shy away from gloves is the same reason as apparel - you need to know the size of participants prior to the tournament. You also need to know if they are a righty or a left. If you can obtain the necessary information though, logoed golf gloves can really set you apart from other sponsors and earn an excellent return for your promotion.

Gift Packs
Choosing a gift pack for your giveaway offers a great opportunity to please everyone. Often for the same cost as a single item, you can choose a number of less expensive products and appeal to a larger variety of participants. The simple volume of products can instantly increase the perceived value of your giveaway and the value to you is increased by the added visibility, as your logo can be planted in a variety of places instead of just one. Gift packs are also extremely flexible. You can use any combination of products available to tailor yours to the type of participants in any given tournament.


Sponsoring golf tournaments is extremely popular because the investment can yield very high returns. Just keep in mind that many people participate in multiple tournaments each year and will receive giveaways at almost every one. When planning your golf promotion, it is crucial to do everything possible to be sure that yours is the one everybody remembers.