The golf is the reason people show up — but the entertainment is often what they remember and talk about afterward. Music, a great speaker, a little something for the family: these are what turn a golf outing into an event, one people look forward to year after year. As the founder of Colorado Under Par, I’ve seen the right entertainment take a perfectly good tournament and make it the one everyone’s already asking about for next year. Here’s how to add it well.
Entertainment does real work at a tournament. It breaks up the day, fills the moments around the golf (registration, the turn, the post-round), and creates the social, celebratory atmosphere where networking and fun actually happen. It also lets your event express its personality — a laid-back charity scramble and a polished corporate outing call for very different vibes, and your entertainment is how you set that tone. For events trying to grow, a memorable atmosphere is one of the best reasons players come back and bring others.
Music is one of the easiest ways to add energy. A local band or DJ during registration, lunch, or the post-round celebration instantly lifts the atmosphere from “waiting around” to “good time.” Match the style to your event — an acoustic set for a casual fundraiser, a livelier band for a festive corporate party. If your budget allows, a well-known local act can even become a draw that helps fill your field. Even simple curated background music beats silence at registration and the awards.
A guest can give your event a moment people remember. A local golf pro, a sports personality, or a motivational speaker can share stories or inspiration — and this lands best at the post-round awards or dinner, when everyone’s gathered and attentive. For charity events especially, a speaker connected to the cause can be genuinely moving and reinforce why everyone’s there. A special guest also gives sponsors and your promotion something extra to rally around.
If your event is family-friendly, plan for the people who aren’t playing. A kids’ zone — mini-golf, face painting, lawn games, arts and crafts — keeps younger attendees happy while parents are on the course, and makes your tournament something a whole family can attend. Even for adult events, activities for spectators and non-golfing guests (a putting green, yard games near the clubhouse) make the day welcoming to everyone, not just the foursomes.
Classic contests — longest drive, closest-to-the-pin, hole-in-one, beat-the-pro, putting challenges — are their own form of entertainment, and they double as fundraisers when you sell entries or mulligans for the cause. Because there are so many ways to run these, we’ve pulled them into a dedicated resource: see our 50 golf tournament ideas for the full list of contests, games, and fundraising add-ons to build into your event.
The best tournaments entertain people, not just host them. Add music to set the mood, bring in a guest who gives the day a moment, make room for families and non-golfers, and layer in the on-course contests that keep the competition fun. Get the atmosphere right and your event becomes the kind of day people circle on the calendar — long before they think about their scorecard.
When you’re ready to run your next one, you can 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 your event stand out.
Best regards, Andrew Mueller, Founder, Colorado Under Par
Get your event in front of the right audience and start building momentum in minutes.
Want to amplify your event and reach more participants? Choose one of our promotional upgrade packages below.
