Last Updated on February 24, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
As a former golf professional and membership director, I’ve seen a lot of different golf tournament themes. Some of these themes are a great way to get people excited about an event and ready to have a good time. Other themes are just kind of a disaster and leave people rolling their eyes. If you want the best tournament themes for your next charity golf tournament, member guest, or club event, here are a few that I have seen work quite well. Remember that even with a unique theme, make sure the avid golfer still gets to enjoy their round!
13 Golf Tournament Themes To Try For A Successful Tournament
Make sure to pair each of these golf tournament themes with a great golf format. The tournament theme will add to the fun if you do a scramble, best ball, or stroke play event. For a complete list of the best golf tournament themes for ladies golf tournament and events, check out my full list here.
Masters Theme Tournament
It is a perfect event to host early in the golf season that can line up with the Masters tournament. Who wouldn’t want to be given a green jacket after a great round of play? I’ve seen this done really well when the food and beverage team gets involved and mimics the famous Champions Dinner. Pimento cheese sandwiches on the course and excellent golf course conditions are golf events people will talk about for years.
Night At The Casino
The great thing about the night at the occasion tournament is that you can turn the entire day into a lot of fun, gambling, and betting. I’ve seen this done where all players get a certain amount of “play money” at check-in, and they can use that throughout the day to see who the big winner is at the end. Golf tournament prizes can go to those who played great golf and the players who won the money.
Wine Country Open
Suppose you can get local vineyards or wine distributors involved in your charity tournament or member guest event. In that case, you can offer tastings and education as players make their way around the course. Pair it with a dinner that matches perfectly with the wines tested on the course. Golfers will know they picked the right place to enjoy a golf tournament.
Nautical Theme
Make this as high-end or as fun as you want. If you live in a coastal area and want to create a memorable experience, the flag sticks can become nautical flags for the day. Setting up special prizes on holes with water hazards is fun as well. However, the most important part of the nautical-themed tournament is a seafood dinner to finish it off.
Craft Beer Festival
Golfers are known to love their beer, so a craft beer festival is an excellent way to combine both of these loves. Craft beer tasting on the course will appeal to all skill levels. Contact local breweries to get them involved.
Around The World in 18 Holes
Each hole will represent a different country. You can change the flags and have different types of music and food and drink samples on each hole. Dinner should be set up in stations that correspond to the different countries. This is a perfect way to make everyone at the event feel like they are home!
Ryder Cup Experience
The Ryder Cup experience is a really great option for small country club events. You’ll have a hard time using this for charity golf tournaments or outings with large people. However, if you want a really fun theme for a smaller group, split up into teams and get a competitive but friendly atmosphere going. When signing up for this event, you may have to pull names out of a hat to see who is on what team; people get pretty particular about who they want to play for.
Holiday Theme
Forget just a Christmas tournament or a Fourth of July event; combine all of these golf tournament theme ideas and host a holiday theme event. You can pick different holidays for each hole, and don’t forget a birthday hole. There are plenty of fun games you can add in, and hole sponsors can get involved with picking a holiday they want to stand behind.
Bourbon and Cigars Classic
The bourbon and cigars classic is a really popular one at our country club. My husband and dad play in this one, and they enjoy it quite a bit. The real appeal here is the cigar you get before your tee time and then a great dinner afterward. It’s held when the weather is nice, and everyone can sit outside and enjoy their bourbon and cigars.
Sports Legend Classic
If your club has a lot of sports fans, a sports legend classic could be a fun golf event theme. Each hole will be dedicated to a different sports professional. Offer prizes for the teams who can figure out the mystery professional on each hole. Add some fun games on the course for those who want to try and kick a field goal or hit a home run. However, if a sports theme isn’t a good idea for your crowd, try the Olympic Games as your next golf tournament.
The Great Gatsby Gala
Although this one may seem a little heavy on the concept of the themed tournament, you can make the Gatsby Gala a high-end event that will bring you back to a simpler time in golf history. Encourage golfers to dress the part, play some jazz music, and set up a speakeasy bar. The dinner should be elegant. This is an event that you’ll roll out the red carpet for, and it works for both men’s and women’s events. Time period events can be fun, if the 20’s doesn’t work for you, go with the 70’s or 80’s.
Fiesta Tournament
I’ve never been a big fan of the pirate themes or safari events; they don’t feel all that real. However, when you bring in some tacos, margaritas, and friendly competition, it’s very easy to get golfers engaged. The Fiesta Invitational can feature colorful decorations, a mariachi band, and a lot of fun from tee to green. If you know the group has some golfers who like to party, your first theme will earn bonus points.
Beach Party
The beach party is one of the more fun themes I’ve seen. You can have everyone dress the part with their summer clothing. In addition, play some fun games with the sand traps, offering special prizes. The post-golf event can have things like a photo booth, a silent auction, and a proper summer BBQ.
Do Golf Tournaments Need A Theme?
A great golf tournament does not need a theme. However, if you have a field filled with avid golfers, the theme idea may be something you want to move away from.
Golfers want to make sure that even in addition to the fun tournament theme, they are able to enjoy the golf course. When the theme gets in the way of the play, it will impact the level of enjoyment that players have. For charity golf events, this could impact your fundraising efforts in the future.
Some of the most memorable events are created with excellent golf course conditions and the perfect prize at the end of the day.
Final Thoughts
As a former professional golfer, I can tell you that themed tournaments can either be a big hit or a perfect opportunity to show off a country club or organization. However, there are times when these themed tournaments get a little over the top. Make sure you consider the people participating in the next event and what they would really enjoy. You’ll come up with a lot of fun ideas, but always protect the idea that it’s still a golf tournament. That said, the event’s star will always be the golf course!
