Whether you’re planning a golf tournament to benefit a charity or arranging for a big corporate shindig, those who feel comfortable with a putter know there are tips and tricks to driving a successful tournament. And even if you’re not one of those who enjoys sporting lime green golf pants or you just consider yourself a sometimes Sunday duffer, these tourney tips from Rush Creek’s Golf Operations Manager, Jenny Stendahl, are sure to pull you out of the rough and have your tournament seeing green.
Q. Tell me about Rush Creek and what you do there?
A. The course opened in 1996 when Duncan MacMillan envisioned a golf facility that was open to everyone with a private club feel. I’ve been here since the very beginning and have enjoyed watching the club grow. As Golf Operations Manager, I oversee the golf side of things such as events, cardholder programs, staffing, merchandising and daily operations. We strive to provide high-end service in a down-home, friendly atmosphere. We have an 18-hole championship course as well as a par three course that is mostly used for our junior golf programs. We also have a large event space with rooms overlooking the golf course.
Q. What should a planner look for when deciding where to hold their event?
A. Planners should approach this process from two perspectives—the planner’s and the golfer’s. As a planner, they should strive to make the process easy for themselves by seeking out a course manager who will listen to their vision, who is happy to answer questions, and is available to them from the first phone call to the day of the event. If it’s a charity event, the planner needs to choose a course that will entice golfers and sponsors. They want people to see the course and say, “I really want to play Rush Creek and support this charity.” For a corporate event, they want to choose a club that’s going to give clients a high-end, special experience.
Q. How should a planner prepare before meeting with representatives at the course?
A. The planner should have a general idea on what month or day of the week might work best. They should also have a target goal on participants, an idea of agenda for the day and purpose or goal. For example, are they looking to raise money? Entertain clients? Just for fun?
Q. What are the most important things for a planner to include in their tournament event?
A. Goals range in scope for every tournament, but the main focus should be that people enjoy a good course and good food. Little things like goodie bags, prizes, tee gifts, and drink tickets are nice add-ons if you have the budget, but you can still run a successful event without them.
Q. What are some things to avoid?
A. Overbooking your group. Don’t go higher than capacity because then the day isn’t enjoyable for anyone. Also, don’t include an excessive amount of games or contests because they can slow things down on the course. Also, having too many people in on the decision-making process can make it challenging to plan a tournament. Things will go more smoothly if you keep it down to a core group of 2-3 people. Finally, have confidence in the planner at the club. They’re there to help you run the tournament and make it a stress-free, successful, and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Q. Any other tips?
A. Your host course should be handling all the logistics on the day of the event, allowing you to enjoy the day with your guests. Finally, you should be working with a contact person that can help you easily replicate your event next year.
Jenny Stendahl, Golf Operations Manager, has been at Rush Creek Golf Club for its entire 21 year history. A native of Owatonna, MN, Jenny graduated from the University of Minnesota with a marketing degree from the Carlson School of Management and was a member of the women’s golf team from 1993-1997. Jenny’s husband, Derek, is the General Manager at Rush Creek and they have 2 children, Ryan (age 11) and Abigail (age 9).
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