How to Organize a Golf Tournament

Place a sign-up sheet in the lockeroom for golfers to sign up. Explain the type of tournament will be and who is eligible. A typical tournament will see four flights--A, B, C and D--and that makes the competition fair. Golfers in the "A" flight will usually shoot 80 or less; "B" golfers shoot between 81 and 85; "C" golfers shoot between 86 and 90 and "D" flight golfers shoot 90 and above.

Decide whether the tournament will be medal play, match play or handicap play. A medal play tournament is simply the golfer's score for the two or three rounds played. Match play features one golfer against another in a hole-by-hole format. A match play tournament usually involves 64 golfers and six rounds to determine a champion. A handicap tournament involves the handicap index that each player has been given by the United States Golf Association. If a golfer has a handicap of 10, he gets to subtract 10 strokes from his final score.

Promote what the prizes will be for the tournament. Even in amateur tournaments, there are still prizes. They usually involve golf equipment, but it can also include prizes like televisions, vacations and even cash. The winner will also get a trophy. The organizer of the tournament has to secure the prizes.

Make sure that every golfer knows his tee-off time and his playing partners. Nothing can ruin a tournament more than a participant who has not been given the correct information about starting times and his partners.

Arrange for a dinner or celebration after an important club championship. Players like to talk about how they did and celebrate with friends. A dinner is an appropriate place to announce the winner and present prizes.