Everyone who plays golf can tell you it’s as much a social event as it is a competitive sport. Golf brings people together to enjoy the great outdoors in a relaxing setting. So, it should come as no surprise that golf is among the most popular choices for corporate outings. Businesses, government agencies, charity organizations, and even churches plan large events all aimed at having fun, building teamwork, or even raising money for worthy causes.
As you plan your corporate golfing event at Burl Oaks, here are some tips to make sure your outing is a huge success enjoyed by all:
1. Plan Your Trip Months in Advance
Large group events require lots of planning, and planning takes time. That’s why we recommend scheduling the date for your company golf outing at least six months in advance. This will give you time to build the framework for your event and fill in the details including catering, meetings, and swag. If you’re planning a corporate event at a remote golf course getaway, you’ll need an even longer period for the planning phase.
Planning several months ahead also gives you time to get a firm commitment from your coworkers, set a hard date, and make any adjustments along the way. Six months will also give our staff plenty of time to prepare for the event, make sure that all amenities are taken care of, and work out the finer details that come together to make your outing a success.
2. Put Together an Event Planning Committee
Any well-planned work event should have a committee in charge of pulling everything together. This helps to ensure everything is well-organized and in line with company protocols and policies. It also helps you to make sure you’ve got the communication side of things under control as well. Add in all of the finer points, and it’s simply too big a job for one or two people – no matter the size of the event.
This principle is especially true for corporate outings that have golf in the mix. After all, planning a golf outing—especially if it’s a tournament or mini weekend league—can be a full-time job for even the most seasoned event planners. To plan the perfect golf outing, it’s essential to learn the art of delegation.
Start by building your committee of colleagues with different skill sets to bring to the table. At your first meeting, begin making a list of everything that needs to be done and then move on to assigning items on that list to different people. Next, recruit individuals who have talents that match your checklist items. Create a timeline that includes regular committee meetings. Use meeting time to keep things moving and make sure everyone is doing their part. If you assign a liaison to communicate with other parties, make sure they reach out to the Burl Oaks Golf Club staff and keep an open line of communication.
3. Meet with Your Burl Oaks Event Coordinator
Speaking of reaching out, one of the first items you add to your checklist should be scheduling a consultation with our friendly event coordinator so we can start working out the details of your event. Our coordinator will be happy to walk you through all of our fantastic offerings and give you a tour of our facilities at Burl Oaks. While you’re here, you can even check out our Member Grill restaurant and meet our talented culinary staff. If you need conference rooms for breakout sessions, we can help with that too.
Here are just some of the things we can cover when we meet with your team about scheduling your corporate event at Burl Oaks Golf Course:
a. Amenities
b. Rooms
c. Equipment
d. Scheduling
e. Catering
f. Pricing
g. And more!
4. Decide on a Theme for Your Event
Golf outings are always more fun when you have a theme. To maximize the fun, pick out a clever theme for your event and then plan table decorations and team-building activities around it. You can create special swag bags, announce a contest, or even bring in a celebrity or special guest that fits your theme. We can help you plan the event around the themes, such as providing special food or a certain cocktail.
Check out these great examples of popular themes for corporate events:
Use playing cards and poker chips in your centerpieces. You can host a charity card tournament and add casino-themed swag to your guests’ swag bags.
There are plenty of ways you can go with this theme, but you’ll definitely want to offer your guests fresh popcorn from a popcorn machine and a more sophisticated take on carnival staples like funnel cake and hot dogs. You could even serve cocktails garnished with cotton candy!
Yellowstone fans of the world unite! One of the great things about throwing a Wild West-themed event is that it’s the perfect opportunity to break out some barbecue, and we’re more than happy to serve you up some tasty meats with all the fixin’s! Encourage everyone to wear their cowboy hats and boots for this great theme, and be sure to hand out a favorite local barbecue sauce as a take-home gift.
5. Work Out the Details
Once you’ve worked things out on the venue side, it’s time to think about some of the finer details of your event. Put together your list of breakout sessions and meetings. Decide on any swag or literature you want to hand out to your corporate colleagues and partners.
You can throw in a silent auction for some fantastic themed swag or golf gear and use this event as an opportunity to raise funds for your company’s favorite local charity. Or take advantage of the opportunity to recognize your employees for their hard work and achievements with an award ceremony. A corporate event is also a great time to roll out a new product!
6. Set a Budget
If your company is footing the bill for your event, then set a budget and stick to it. Your budget should include expenses that your company will incur to put toward the golf outing. Costs can include green fees, cart rentals, contest payouts, catering, and drinks. We can help you with your budget by giving you the details of our pricing and providing you with information about other costs you may need to be aware of.
Schedule a Corporate Golf Outing at Burl Oaks Golf Club
To find out more about how to schedule a golf outing at Burl Oaks Golf Club, contact us today. We offer a wide range of activities for golfers of all ages and skill levels. To sign up, call us at 952-472-7017. You can also send a message on our contact page.