Elevate Your Golf Tournament Experience with Exciting Entertainment Options!

Golf Tournament Ideas: Fun On-Course and Off-Course Activities That Raise More

Want to take your golf tournament from a standard round to an event people talk about all year? The difference is almost always the extras — the contests, themed holes, and post-round activities that make the day fun and, for charity events, raise meaningfully more money. As the founder of Colorado Under Par, I’ve seen the right mix of activities turn a quiet outing into a sellout people come back for. Here’s a deep list of ideas to build your event around.

On-course contests and games

These are the backbone of a fun tournament — most are cheap to run, easy to sponsor, and double as fundraisers:

• Closest to the pin — Classic par-3 contest; winner’s drive lands nearest the hole. Easy to sponsor and easy to run.
• Longest drive — Mark the longest drive in the fairway on a designated hole. A perennial favorite.
• Closest to the tree / “worst drive” — A fun, self-deprecating twist that keeps mid-pack players laughing.
• Putting contest — Set up a putting challenge near the clubhouse before or after the round, often with a cash or prize pot.
• Hole-in-one challenge — The big draw, with a car or large cash prize underwritten by hole-in-one insurance so your cost is capped.
• Marshmallow long drive — Players drive a marshmallow instead of a ball; cheap, hilarious, and great for casual/charity events.
• Beat the pro — Players pay to take on a local pro on a par 3; if they win, they get a prize, and the entry fees fund the cause.

Fundraising add-ons that boost the bottom line

For charity tournaments, these turn fun into real dollars:

• Mulligans — Sell extra shots (e.g., $5 each, 2-per-player max). One of the simplest, highest-margin fundraisers there is.
• Putting/string for charity — Sell a length of string players can use in place of a putt; cut off what they use.
• Raffles and prize tables — Donated prizes, sold tickets; minimal cost, strong return.
• “Move up a tee” or skip-a-hazard passes — Sell small in-round advantages.
• Power-up packages — Bundle mulligans, a string, and a raffle ticket into a single add-on at registration.
• 50/50 raffle — Splits the pot between a winner and the cause; almost no overhead.

Themed holes and course experiences

Themed holes give sponsors a memorable activation and players a reason to remember the day:

• Themed/decorated holes — Tie each hole to a sponsor or a fun theme (tropical, casino, decades).
• Beverage or snack holes — A sponsored hole serving a signature drink or treat.
• Photo hole — A branded photo op that doubles as social-media content for your event.
• Music or entertainment on course — A live musician or DJ stationed at a high-traffic hole.

Off-course entertainment

The event shouldn’t end at the 18th. Carry the energy into the post-round:

• Awards ceremony with music — A lively, well-run awards segment that keeps people around (and spending).
• Live or silent auction — Auctioning donated experiences and prizes is one of the highest-earning charity add-ons; silent auctions run all day, live auctions cap the evening.
• Golf simulators — Great for events at venues with sim bays, or as a weather backup and between-rounds entertainment.
• Dinner, drinks, and networking — For corporate and charity events, the social time after is often the real point.

How to choose your mix

Don’t do everything — choose a handful that fit your crowd. Competitive corporate field? Lean into contests and a strong leaderboard. Casual charity scramble? Lean into the fun, low-stakes games and the fundraising add-ons. Whatever you pick, make sure your contests are staffed and signed so players know what’s in play, and keep an eye on pace of play — the best add-ons raise money and energy without slowing the round.

Final thoughts

The tournaments people remember and re-register for are the ones that felt like an event, not just 18 holes. Pick a few on-course contests, layer in fundraising add-ons that fit your cause, give sponsors a themed hole to own, and cap it with a post-round people don’t want to leave — and you’ve built a day worth coming back to.

When you’re ready to run your next one, list your golf tournament free on Colorado Under Par and reach players across the state. For events that want a polished, promoted presence, our Amplify tiers help you fill the field.

Best regards, Andrew Mueller, Founder, Colorado Under Par