Best golf outing give away?

[rustyputterguy]

what have you liked

I'm looking for some advice. Every year my company hosts a golf outing for the customers of one of our regional offices. We always have some give aways which have ranged from 4-some pictures in a logo'd frame, repair tools with logo'd ball markers, logo'd visors... etc...
We've also given out the years "hot" driver for long drive, etc.

What's the coolest give away you've received at a corporate outing like this?

I'm looking for ideas for both gift bag type items, like the repair tool I mentioned, as well as gifts for games like long drive, closest to the pin and longest putt. Anything we can put a logo on would be prefered!

I was thinking about a customized Cameron putter as one. Would a cameron customized with the company's initials be worth doing?

Any ideas would be appreciated! :)

[Gxgolfer]

I'm looking for some advice. Every year my company hosts a golf outing for the customers of one of our regional offices. We always have some give aways which have ranged from 4-some pictures in a logo'd frame, repair tools with logo'd ball markers, logo'd visors... etc...

We've also given out the years "hot" driver for long drive, etc.

 

What's the coolest give away you've received at a corporate outing like this?

 

I'm looking for ideas for both gift bag type items, like the repair tool I mentioned, as well as gifts for games like long drive, closest to the pin and longest putt. Anything we can put a logo on would be prefered!

 

I was thinking about a customized Cameron putter as one. Would a cameron customized with the company's initials be worth doing?

 

Any ideas would be appreciated! :)

 

 

Your best bet on the custom Cameron would be to get one off the shelf and send it to Kevin Colbert if you want a company logo on it. I would give Kevin at ProImageGolf.com a call, he specializes in Corporate outings and promo giveaways.

[shook23]

Not about the actual prizes, but about the prize structure, this year my company gave away a prize for worst score (for the foursome). It was pro shop credit I believe, but not a gag gift or lessons etc... just another thought for you...

[sheppy335]

I have been at outings that give away things as dorky as motor Oil. Some of the best i have been at gave away, Gas grill(Chrome style very expensive), Remote car starts, titleist irons, Drivers of all makes, DVD's, large screen tv's, Cameron putters, Balls( expensive and cheap), passes to South Point C.C. I almost one the Grill lost by 3 inches, and lost a 983K titleist driver by one stroke. Great outings have great gifts.

[lidomkj]

I have organized a few outings and have attended too many to count. I have found the coolest prizes were either high end golf equipment or non-golf related prizes (tools, sporting event tickets, grills, etc). My brother in law won a wheelbarrow at one and still talks about it to this day. These types of prizes fit in with the golfers who only play a few times a year and the die hard golfer.

 

For the gift bags, my favorite was a sleeve of ProV1's, ball marker, divot repair tool, a couple tees, and a Power Bar for a snack on the course. All of these items can be easily purchased in bulk and personalized. The gift bags were handed out when you checked in. Everyone loved it, especially the people who forgot some of these items or were planning on buying them when they got there.

 

The biggest problem I found is the prize winners are always in the low handicap range or cheaters. In regards to prize structure and what to buy, look at the demographics of who is playing and come up with a prize structure accordingly. I recommend a prize structure based on high, mid, low handicap. This gives everyone an opportunity to win something. I have asked people either their handicap or average score and arranged "flight teams" based on high, mid, and low handicap foursomes. For example, I would take a low handicap foursome and combine them with a mid and high foursome. Every foursome would be paired up with 2 other foursomes. At the end of the round, I would combine the score for each of the "teams" and see who had the lowest total score. There would then be prizes awarded to everyone in that team or 3 foursomes for having the lowest combined score. This way, the mid and low handicap's have a chance of winning something

 

The majority of outings that I have attended, most of the people playing do not have a prayer of winning anything and they know that. I find it embarrassing to see a group of duffers(and everyone knows they are), come in first place by cheating. I like to provide prizes to all the traditional long ball, closest to the pin...but either use the flight scoring mentioned earlier or award the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 10th place, and 15th place teams prizes. Keeps everyone honest and lets everyone know that they have a chance of walking away with a good prize. You just have to make sure you mention it before everyone tees off.

 

Sorry for the long post, but one last thing. In regards to the custom cameron, for one the outings I am holding this year, I had a custom Byron putter made for a putting contest. The picture is posted in the following link http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28406. This is another option for you.

[rustyputterguy]

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it!

[muxi87]

I think the most awesome gift would be something like a custom buckle from 59belts or something. Basically give away a "gift certificate" and just pay for the person's custom buckle. That'd be a much more "special" $220 than a driver or something--it'd be something memorable and unique for the winner.

[Smooth spin scott]

I host a corporate tournament for our company every year and we have done the following:

Ogio Carry on bags - with our logo. Customers loved them! Some of them still talk about how it's their favorite travel bag.
http://www.ogio.com/product/view/55/Layover
http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/images/D/Ogio-Poly-Bag-D5-400.jpg

Footjoy Golf Shoes and the welcome gift was a Footjoy Shoe bag, sleeve of Prov 1s, hat, power bar, bottle of water etc.

We give prizes for 1, 2 , 3 and most honest foursomes. We had a bunch of prizes from ipods, to hockey tickets, clubs, bags, gift certificates etc....this allowed people to pick what they really wanted.

We also did challenge holes, LD, Closest to Pin, closest to bag in fairway etc.

Hope this helped.

[ChipDriver]

What is your budget for each?

I've been to corporate events where prizes have ranged from a can of tennis balls, to Tee Gifts of a set of new irons or new driver, or putter + wedges.

Personally, I think the most enjoyable gifts (to me) are things that I need, but would not buy for myself:

Maui Jim sunglasses
FJ Rainsuit
Shoes or customized shoes
Travel bag (like the poster above)
ClubGlove travel bags

Two recent corporate events I played in gave away for "long drive"/putting contest/closest to the pins gave Ipads and Ipod Touches instead of golf equipment (like another poster I agree - if they hit a long drive, they tend to like what they are playing). But Ipads are "the hot item" today.

Interesting things that don't seem to cost a lot: On one hole - they had a mini-lesson and swing review on video.

One thing I do know - is that the gifts you give this year, will help to fill your field immediately for the next year - but you have to constantly outperform yourself. Good golf, good gifts, and good food - in that order tend to make your event stand out.

Despite whatever your budget may be - the KEY imo is to be current and innovative. You don't have to spend a ton.

Midget sharpies with your corp logo are cheap, and very useful.
Instead of drivers or equpment per se - how about a Bushnell 1500 laser (about $400) or a UPro GPS (about the same) and often times you can get local stores to donate those things.
Corporate logo shirts - but put the logo on the back of the shirt or on the sleeve (where the person doesn't actually have to see it on his left manboob)...and make sure it's a quality shirt.
Hats - if the course you play is nice then have a pro shop cap, with your corporate logo small and on the side.

If you need help with your budget - you might also consider co-hosting the event with the golf course - and put your logos on their logo items....but you have to make sure that the golf course is good.


Bottom line -anything you put your logo on should be a quality and/or well thought out item. So if you're going with a cheap "run of the mill logo-ware item" like tees, middle of the road balls, and golf towel then those things will be seen as shlock - then THAT is the image you are promoting about your organization.

Good luck.

[nolear99]

The company I work for is sponsoring a small charity golf tournament and aside from a lead generating direct-mail marketing approach to place in all the carts we were considering custom ball markers. GFORE has made a very nice ball marker with their logo (seen at www.gfore.com). It is some kind of thin metal with a rubber coating.

Any ideas that deviate from the standard custom poker chip, tees, sleeve of balls?

Thank you,

nolear99

[Greyboy]

Players Towel is a pretty cool idea, affordable, and you could put your logo on it.

http://www.playerstowel.com/

I've never worked with them personally, but I've heard they are very accommodating for custom bulk orders.

I played in a tournament where they gave these away a couple years ago and I still use it.

Good luck

[heybrady]

Don't give out golf items. Give out things that will be used and will last.

A small travel bag is cool. Or a nice laptop/messenger bag like titleist sells. Bags by Ogio, timbuk2, etc.

A nice divot tool and mini sharpie with your logo waiting in the cart is a nice touch too. Stay away from polos or clothing. Every person has different tastes and sizes.

[jrsharp21]

Best ones I got were at a tournament for a college baseball team. We all got new Nike golf shoes and Oakley Half Jackets.

And then our boss bought everyone from our company playing brand new R11 drivers! It was a good day.