How to Pick the Ideal Golf Course for Your Event

Choosing the right golf course can elevate your tournament experience to a higher level. When the course and the event you are running are a perfect match, you’ll have a recipe for an unforgettable day on the links.

So, how do you sort through the options to zoom in on the few that could be contenders? We have some simple tips below. As you’ll soon see, it’s easy enough to narrow down the field so you can focus only on the courses that would make sense for the event you want to put on.

In addition to finding the right course, you also want to have the right tools on your side as a tournament organizer. For that, Partaake is here to help. We offer a custom-built software platform specifically designed to make your life easier when running a golf event. Explore our site to learn more about what we can do for you!

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A Note on Public vs. Private Courses

Before we dive into this process, it’s important to note that you can consider both public and private courses for your golf event. Many organizers don’t know this, but private courses will often book tournaments on one specific day of the week in order to drive revenue for the facility.

Each private club is different, and some don’t accept outside tournaments, but many do. As you go through the process below, be open to both types of courses and you might be surprised at the possibilities you uncover.

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Start with Geography

You should already have a pretty good idea of the general geographic location that makes sense for your tournament. If you’ll be targeting participants who generally live in one area, hosting the event at a course 100 miles away doesn’t make a lot of sense.

To start narrowing down your course list, use Google Maps to establish a “perimeter” that you want to stay within. Zoom in on roughly the area that you’d like to stay within and then search “golf courses” on Google Maps. You’ll immediately have a visual layout of all the courses that could work for your needs. It might help to enter the names of all possible courses into a spreadsheet so you can continue with your selection process in an organized manner.

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Pricing is the Next Filter

Some golf courses will simply be outside of the budget you have available for this event. You’ll want to filter out those facilities now so you don’t waste time pursuing them further only to find out that you can’t afford to reserve the course.

As a starting point, you can look at the regular weekend rates for each course to get a lay of the land. Courses with higher prices for regular play are naturally going to have higher rates for events.

You might be able to find tournament pricing information on a few websites, but more often, you’ll need to reach out directly. We’d recommend doing this by email to save time. Write a short email explaining your situation and then send that same message out to all of the courses on your list. As the replies about pricing roll in, you can add the info to your spreadsheet and eliminate those that cost too much.

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Consider Amenities and Services

By the time you have narrowed down the list by both geography and price, you are probably getting to something a little more manageable. Now, you’ll want to turn your attention to the amenities and services that the course offers. Some of this information may have been provided along with the pricing details, or you might have to reach back out (again by email) with follow-up questions.

What you are looking for here will depend on the event experience you want to provide. Do you plan on having a big banquet after the round? Do you want all of your players to have access to a driving range before the tournament? Whatever it is you have in mind for the day of the event, you need to make sure that the course you choose will be able to accommodate it.

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Ask About Availability and Book a Date

You may find yourself at a point where there are a few - or even more - courses that check all of the boxes for your tournament. To finish off the job, connect with all of the courses that you would be happy to use and ask about availability for tournament dates. If possible, propose two or three dates so it is more likely that the courses you contact will at least have one available. Once you get your replies and have a date available at a course you love, the paperwork can be signed and you can make a deposit to complete the booking.

Picking a golf course might seem intimidating at first, but use our guidance above and you’ll be on track in no time at all. This is an exciting time in the planning of your tournament - once you have a course secured, the event will start to feel real and you can put the other pieces in place to make it a memorable outing for all involved.