Golf ball drop

Golf ball drop

Raffles

Golf Ball Drop

Another unique way to run a raffle event is a ‘Golf Ball Drop’. This involves participants buying a numbered golf ball.

The golf balls are then dropped from a helicopter or cherry picker over a golf pin or target. The ball closest to the pin is the winner. The golf pin or target can be located in the middle of an oval or other similar locations where the event can be run safely.

It is easy to sell tickets because it is novel and fun while still drawing on the fundamentals of why raffles are so successful.

Unless you are a golf club or within very close proximity to a golf club it may need to be held as a stand alone event or after or before a club event.

It’s such a unique event and if promoted well, you may find the local media will pick up the story.

This concept isn’t just limited to golf balls, your club could drop fuzzy toys, tennis balls or anything your club chooses!

Why Golf Ball Drop?
Golf Ball Drop is a great fundraiser to use when you are looking to create a great deal of interest from the community (and potentially even the media) and when you are looking for a fun, engaging, creative way to run a raffle.
This fundraiser can work for all sports clubs (not just golf) and in both city and country clubs.

When should I hold this fundraiser?
Golf Ball Drop is an outdoor fundraiser and shouldn’t be held during extreme heat or cold weather. It can be held at anytime during the season and could run after or before an annual event such as a fete or registration day or you could build a large event having the golf ball drop as the feature attraction.
Targeted at club members and surrounding public, this event will be quite a spectacle and therefore timing the execution of the event well is very important!

Key Activities
These are the tasks you will need to consider assign to volunteers at our club:

Before the day:

• Decide the date of the Golf Ball Drop and whether it will be in conjunction with any other events.
• Advertise the raffle and make sure it is on all advertising for the day if it is in conjunction with another event.
• Source affordable golf balls.
• Sell raffle tickets/golf balls.
• Organise your helicopter or cherry picker and golf green.
• Communicate the timing well.

On The Day

• Set up the drop area to ensure safety for all those attending.
• Ensure helicopter or cherry picker is right to go.
• Run event
• Present the winner with the prize

After the day

• Publicly thank everyone involved
• Announce the amount of money raised and the winner

Who can help?
It is important to engage your members to help in the running of your fundraiser.
For your Golf Ball Drop you could approach them to help:

• Promote and sell the tickets
• Secure prizes
• Source golf balls and a helicopter/cherry picker
• Help logistically on the day

You could also approach current club sponsors for prizes.

Recruiting your people
It is important to create a culture of volunteering at your club to help not only with fundraising but also across the day to day running of your club. For more on how to create this at your club, click here.

Using technology to making it easier
You may like to consider using technology to reduce the workload on your volunteers and increase your fundraising dollars. For an event like a Golf Ball Drop, you may like to sell tickets using a platform like TryBooking.

TryBooking lets you sell tickets, take payments and donations for events online.

This takes care of a great deal of the work that is usually left to volunteers and automates the ticket selling process.

You can set up and customise your own event page and a unique URL in minutes. This lets you easily share the event online and engage members and supporters. Your club may also like to use social media, email newsletters and your club website to promote the event.

Financial Considerations
Potential profit this event can generate can be anywhere from $200 to $10000. Revenue raised relates directly to ticket prices and sales. The revenue can vary depending on two things, the sale price and number of golf balls. Priced at anywhere from $2 per golf ball to $45 and the number of balls only limited by the amount you choose to sell (and can fit in the helicopter). The cash prize will determine the regulations for gambling licensing.

The upfront investment for this event will revolve around the use of a helicopter or cherry picker, golf green, golf balls, ticketing, licensing, and insurance. It may be worth calling for a donation of a helicopter hire from the club community, you just never know who your community knows!

It is important to create a budget for the event and identify how much cash you will need before the day. For a Golf Ball Drop there may be substantial costs to lock in your helicopter or cherry picker and golf balls. You will also need to factor in prizes (if not already donated).

Promotion
Promote your Golf Ball Drop using traditional club resources such as the club website, newsletter and social media pages. If the raffle is part of a larger event, ensure it is also on all of the event’s advertising. Also don’t forget to call on your members to spread the word and make contact with the local media to see if they would like to cover the event.

Communication considerations
As Golf Ball Drop is essentially a raffle, the winner doesn’t necessarily have to be there on the day. This opens up options for selling tickets via social media and to a wider audience than just your members and supporters. This way people anywhere in the world can buy a raffle ticket which allows for funds to be raised from sources external to the club.
Use social media to sell tickets and live stream the event on the day!

What can go wrong? (Risk Management)
Financial Risks
There are obvious financial risks if enough tickets aren’t sold and the prizes and setup costs more than is made.
Weather
The weather can make the day difficult to run should their be extreme heat or extreme rain. Alternative arrangements should be discussed and decided on prior to the day should they be necessary.
Crowd Safety
The health and wellbeing of your crowd should be a focus at all times. It is important that your club takes time to consider all possible risks and how to minimise these, particularly in the “drop zone” where the golf balls will be dropped from a great height.

Licenses and Permits
It is important for clubs to take the responsibility and check their state or territory’s gambling regulations to make sure their Nearest the Pin fundraiser is a legal event.

Additional Factors to consider
The Helicopter/Cherry Picker and drop
This event involves a helicopter or cherry picker and lots of golf balls falling from the sky. All safety precautions need to be made to keep participants safe. It is also important to have experienced and qualified professionals on board.

Additional Revenue Opportunities
A Golf Ball Drop is an event that can be run before or after other events or as a stand alone event. This is of course unless you are a golf club, in which case it can be held during an event at your club!

Disclaimer
This procedure should be treated as a guide only. Your club should seek advice specific to the needs of your club and event. Seek further details from authorities and service providers; especially in regards to insurance, licences, permits, spectator and participant safety.