1. Have Your Event Right After The Tournament:  It’s best to hold your dinner or luncheon event right after your game as you risk the possibility of people not returning right after the program. It will make things more informal and people prefer not to leave and come back or wait around for long periods.
  2. Have Chilled Medium-Sized Hand Towels with Cucumbers: Available at either at the 9th Hole or at 18th, you’ll find this ‘cold treat’ will really reenergize your guests and make them ‘feel like a winner’.  The smell of the cucumber reenergizes and the coldness of the towel will refresh them.  This works especially if your guests didn’t have enough ample time to shower and change or didn’t pack a change of clothes.
  3. Make Your Awards Event Brief: After a long day in the sun, the last thing you want is for your guests to sit down to a ‘company meeting’. Make your event roll with fresh juices or smoothies available as soon as they get off the cart. Have fresh fruit skewers or cheese skewers available before they hit the main ballroom.  Guests want to mingle as they have just been with four people most of the day so provide a light atmosphere to do so; a jazz trio or “swing” band, cocktail bar, heavier hors d’oeuvres before the dinner commences will set the mood.
  4. Send Your Message Throughout: Have a small table set up at each hole with a business component. Sending a factoid, blurb or piece of the bigger picture as they go throughout the course, about why they are ther, can be a real hit. They’ll have something to laugh at, or discuss throughout the game. One of the goals is to build camaraderie so when a foursome calls for two clients and two execs, what better way to “drive” some business home?
  5. Recognize each Foursome: Have a small box at one of the holes with cards you will design. Ask your guests what should their foursome be known as! Or better yet. .  ask them what the other foursomes should be known as. Have a prize or award for each group!
  6. Keep it Real:  All too often, some attendee’s get real serious about their game – and everyone knows it. Keep it light! Award these people with a fun prize. Show videos of the ‘not-so-great’ golfer’s! They know they aren’t the greatest, and it will only add humor to the video portion at the end of the evening.  Hire a comic or have your leader or an executive address some funny stories about the company and the day you had.
  7. Seating:  After a long day of fun, people want to either stick with their foursome or split away from them. When organizing seating arrangements, make sure you have tables of 8 or 10. Have the foursomes sit in every second place so as they sit next to someone they haven’t been with during the day. If you already have a good idea of who is a good vs. who is a bad golfer, seat them together so they can discuss the game. Take advantage of a seating arrangement as you have a captive audience and all could benefit. If time doesn’t allow for seating and a more impromptu setting is appropriate, theme each table (see #12) and let your MC have fun with it!
  1. Gag Gifts:  Most balls used. . most balls lost. . .  best dressed. . . slowest  group. . . fastest group . . .
  2. Everyone Should Be A Winner:  Make sure as you wrap up the evening with your MC acknowledging everyone who has joined in the day by saying his or her name. If your budget doesn’t allow for pricey gifts, you can purchase inexpensive gifts and medium priced gifts from some great retailers. Keep in mind that over the top gifts send out the wrong message to both customers and employees. Some people will feel awkward receiving an elaborate gift.  Make sure prizes are awarded so that everyone can win something.
  3. Send the Message Home:  Leave your guests with a small gift in their cars as a token of joining the program for the day. It can be something funny with a note, a video/dvd of your outing or asking them for a meeting or looking forward to seeing them “swing into the office” on Monday. Have your interns stand again outside behind the rope and red carpet asking for autographs from your guests as they leave. 

Need more ideas or have questions?  Contact us!
 
 
 
The Professional Planner Group (PPG) is a full-service, certified, conference, meeting and event planning management company which specializes in delivering the most creative and cost-effective programs at the highest quality available.

PPG partners with hoteliers and vendors across the world for companies seeking to plan and execute a meeting or event. Ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small non-profit organizations, PPG provides assistance to an internal staff, logistics for part of a program, or plans, manages, and executes an entire meeting or event from start to finish. Contact: Todd Schwartz, CMP, for more information on how to "unleash your meeting's potential".

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