{"id":44,"date":"2010-09-16T20:19:45","date_gmt":"2010-09-16T20:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janinajacobs.com\/?p=44"},"modified":"2010-09-16T21:31:12","modified_gmt":"2010-09-16T21:31:12","slug":"navigating-charity-golf-outings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/golf\/44\/navigating-charity-golf-outings","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Charity Golf Outings"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

The sun is shining at this year's event. A happy team plays in the 2010 Ted Lindsay outing: Greg Yatooma, Kyriakos aka 'Key Largo', David Kennedy, the Ted Lindsay trophy, Janina's parrot (on Ted's shoulder)Ted Lindsay, Janina, Rick Frazier<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re invited!!!!!\u00a0 Please join us for the (fill in the blank) Gala Classic Golf Outing to be played at (fill in the blank) to benefit (fill in the blank).\u00a0 Gold, Silver, and Bronze Sponsorships are available for $10,000, $5,000, and $2000, and foursomes are only $1000.\u00a0 Hurry so you don\u2019t miss out!\u201d<\/p>\n

How many of these do you receive in a golf season?\u00a0 And how do you decipher which ones are the best?<\/p>\n

With cash in hand, you could play in an outing somewhere public or private every day of the week, in morning and afternoon shotguns. \u00a0\u00a0It might be fun but it could also get expensive and disappointing if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re about to receive.<\/p>\n

Many of the higher end outings charge more than $1000 per foursome \u2013 try $5000 or more for chumming with the highest profile professional sports stars \u2013 but does that mean you will have a great time?\u00a0\u00a0 Not necessarily.\u00a0 Some of those glittering stars fizzle out quickly and are not that much fun to play with – nor are most of them good players.\u00a0 Check out the \u2018Boys Behaving Badly\u2019 chapter in former Charlie\u2019s Angel and celebrity golfer Cheryl Ladd\u2019s book, \u201cToken Chick\u201d.\u00a0 We have all had similar nightmares.<\/p>\n

Exactly how DO you read between the lines of a charity outing invitation so that you can make the most out of your \u2018donation\u2019?<\/p>\n

First, check out the number of years the event has survived:\u00a0 the 20th<\/sup> Annual anything should have all of the kinks out and will operate pretty smoothly.\u00a0\u00a0Events that have been around for over 5 years are usually run by a committee infused with new blood every year and innovative ideas will abound.\u00a0 But don\u2019t shy away from \u2018Golf Classics\u2019 that are First Annuals or in their 2nd<\/sup> or 3rd<\/sup> years \u2013 the committees always try harder to make the outings memorable.\u00a0 There may be some glitches but often the folks running the tournament will bend over backwards to make sure you are happy, assuring you’ll come back.\u00a0\u00a0 One of the better golf outings in the Detroit area centers around hockey great, ‘Terrible’ Ted Lindsay and his Foundation’s mission to find a cure for autism.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

It was a cold, rainy, September day but hockey legend Ted Lindsay and Janina share a laugh at the 2009 Ted Lindsay Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament to benefit autism research. <\/p><\/div>\n

In its 10th year, Tee Off for Autism attracts major local businesses and sports fans who get to play with members of the Detroit Red Wings as well as some of Detroit’s other professional sports\u00a0teams and media celebrities.<\/p>\n

Second, see who the outing benefits.\u00a0 Some jaded folks will wisecrack about a \u2018disease of the week\u2019 but it is no laughing matter for those who truly wish to eradicate cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cerebral palsy, autism, and arthritis or who have soft spots in their hearts for children with learning disabilities or those who are deprived in other ways.\u00a0 I have served on all of these types of committees and can assure you that we who volunteer do so knowing there are no perks to speak of, and that most of the money collected does indeed go to the charity.\u00a0 You can always ask for the expense reports from previous years.\u00a0\u00a0 And FYI, the committee members pay or donate too.<\/p>\n

Third, look at the location.\u00a0 Better outings are held at private or upscale public courses.\u00a0 Perhaps there is a private club you have always wanted to play but don\u2019t know how to get invited?\u00a0 For example, in September, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) conducts its annual golf outing at Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield to fund programs that will enrich the lives of over 30,000 kids in metro Detroit.\u00a0\u00a0 Plum Hollow has a storied past and is a legendary, well conditioned, classic club.\u00a0 Pro-Ams at major tournaments in Michigan are always first class.\u00a0 The Buick Open, Ford Senior Players, Futures Tour, and the Detroit Newspapers PGA events were all at quality venues – when they extisted.\u00a0 Of course you\u2019ll pay more but you may find it worth the price to experience great courses in this manner.\u00a0 And, if you look at what you\u2019ll pay anyway at a regular public course for a no frills outing, you\u2019d be hard pressed to find an entry fee under $65 or $75, for which you receive\u2026not very much.\u00a0\u00a0 But that\u2019s OK too if camaraderie with your compadres is all you seek.<\/p>\n

Fourth, search out the bennies.\u00a0 One clue is easily seen in the invitation itself:\u00a0 is it a flyer or is it printed on stationery or hard stock?\u00a0 Is everything spelled correctly?\u00a0 Fly by night outings or those that benefit some obscure cause (like the host\u2019s pocketbook) will not allocate too much moolah for glitzy invitations, prizes, or awards.\u00a0 When multiple sponsors are listed on the invite, you can bet their wares will be there in the form of prizes or goodie bag gifts.\u00a0 If an RSVP card asks for your shirt, jacket, or shoe size, or all of the aforementioned, it is a good sign you are in for some treats.\u00a0 If you see a liquor sponsor, be prepared for on course or apr\u00e8s-round spirits, gratis\u2026\u2026..my fave is the Margarita stand\u2026or is it the Hummers?\u00a0 These days, entry forms can be found online, thus saving the organization printing costs.<\/p>\n

Fifth, does the invitation list the course games, prizes, and awards? If so, then you can assume the prizes will be top notch.\u00a0 Do they mention separate prizes for men\u2019s and women\u2019s longest drive and closest to the pin?\u00a0 Yes?\u00a0 Well now, you have a committee that is on the ball and trying to be equitable.\u00a0\u00a0 Are there exciting extras like a \u2018Putt for Cash\u2019 or a \u2018Million Dollar Hole in One Shootout\u2019?\u00a0 One charity event I played in had a putting contest: for every 8 foot putt holed out you received a ticket for a drawing at the awards dinner.\u00a0 The prize?\u00a0 A very visible and very large AFLACK Duck.\u00a0\u00a0 And to think he barely fit in the back seat of my car\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Sixth, do the words \u2018cash bar\u2019 appear anywhere on the invitation?\u00a0 If not, you can assume the cocktails are included with the price of admission.\u00a0 However keep this in mind:\u00a0 open bars demand a premium chunk of change from the Expense side of the ledger and less money will go to the charity.\u00a0 Quite often you’ll be given drink tickets as a control on how much booze will be doled out.\u00a0 I never use all of mine so even if you drink a lot, there are always players who have extra tickets.\u00a0 Many outings are getting out of the alcohol business as local municipalities beef up on drunk driving patrols.\u00a0 No one wants to be responsible should the unthinkable happen.\u00a0 Please, never drive home from any outing if you have been drinking.\u00a0 Get some coffee, chat with friends and rehash the round…….just do not drive.\u00a0 Better yet, assign a designated driver or find someone from the committee who can get you a ride home.<\/p>\n

Seventh, is the outing a breakfast\/lunch deal or a lunch\/cocktails\/dinner ordeal?\u00a0 Or is it something like the WJR\/Arvin Meritor March of Dimes celebrity event at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan that offers breakfast, grilled Angus burgers and dogs on the course (more than once), cocktails, dinner, and dessert, with great prizes, gifts, and goodie bags?\u00a0 Obviously, the early day will cost less than the afternoon affair, but who really wants to get up at 4am to beat the traffic for a 7:30 shotgun start?\u00a0 You do?<\/em> OK, you dew sweepers\u2026..hop to it.<\/p>\n

Eighth, consider the purpose of your presence or participation at an outing.\u00a0 Are you a sponsor, a donor, or are you hosting some business clients?\u00a0 Do you hope to gain some business, new clients, or new friends from the experience?\u00a0 If you are, you may want to check out an outing once before you invite folks the next time.\u00a0 I once was at an event where the food ran out, the prizes had to be picked up at a later date, and expired gift certificates were given out.\u00a0 This is not the kind of outing you want clients to remember you by.<\/p>\n

Ninth, if you are invited as a guest to a golf outing, do not pay one whit of attention to numbers first through eighth.\u00a0 Just go, have a good time, behave yourself, buy raffle tickets, and overtip the bag kids,\u00a0bartenders and wait staff.\u00a0\u00a0 But don’t overimbibe lest you find yourself on the hook for that $10,000 piece of auction artwork or memorabilia you unknowingly bid on and\u00a0 cannot identify…..even two weeks later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Love ’em or hate ’em, charity golf outings can be fun……or they can be all-day drudgery. Make sure you don’t experience the latter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":98,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","category-lifestyle"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2010\/05\/IMG00072-20091006-1528.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":379,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44\/revisions\/379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}