THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR THE PROS

PHOTO BY JANET L. MATHEWS / THE COLUMBIAN

Tee it up at the Evergreen Habitat for Humanity “Fore x Fore” at The Cedars golf course. Rip a drive down the center of the fairway at the Lourdes Legacy Golf Tournament at Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland. Do your best Tiger Woods imitation at the Three Club Challenge for Cancer Care Resources at Camas Meadows Golf Course.

Not enough? In the summer months, odds are good that on almost any given day you could find a money-raising tournament at a Clark County golf course. That wasn’t possible a few years ago.

Troy Couch, tournament director at Camas Meadows, said the number of golf tournaments in Southwest Washington has risen dramatically in the past five years as charities have latched onto the events as important fund raisers. “Charities realize that they can make a significant amount of revenue through finding sponsorships,” Couch said.

Counter trend

The rise in tournament play runs counter to the overall trend in golf, where nationally, rounds through May dropped 3 percent from a year ago, according to Golf Datatech, an industry research firm. The recession that followed 9/11, rounds that take increasingly longer to finish and the sheer frustration of the game have conspired to keep the number of golfers fairly stagnant the past five years. Tournaments, however, have prospered because they are generally less serious than a normal golf outing, the formats encourage the participation of casual players and the enticement of gifts and prizes proves to be alluring.

PHOTO BY STEVEN LANE / THE COLUMBIAN

At Innovative Services NW’s annual event held in June, golfers received free groceries, cigars, margaritas and a shot at $1 million.

“We have no problem selling out our tournament,” said Dawn Johnston, development manager of the nonprofit agency that helps children and families. Johnston said this year’s outing raised $48,000, more than double the $22,000 collected at the inaugural event nine years ago. One of the biggest reasons for the recent boost was landing Pacific Lifestyle Homes and Safeway as key sponsors. The support of the two companies goes beyond finances, as it lends stability and credibility to the effort. With so many new tournaments, Johnston said that has increased competition in the search for sponsorships and donations.

Boon for courses

PHOTO BY STEVEN LANE / THE COLUMBIAN

The boon is also critical to golf courses. Darrin Nash, head golf pro at Lewis Rivern Golf Course in Woodland, said the 130 tournaments the course hosts means guaranteed business that spills over from greens fees to higher sales in food, catering and at the pro shop.

Couch said each year Camas Meadows averages about 100 tournaments that typically cost between $7,000 and $20,000. He said tournaments come primarily in two forms – charity events and corporate outings.

The corporate gatherings are a form of customer appreciation and a chance to do business at a slower pace, Couch said. The hosts will spend more money than a charity because the goal is to lavish customers or employees.

For charities, Couch said he wants the group to raise at least as much money as the event costs. So, if it’s a $10,000 tournament, he said the player’s fee can generally cover that cost. The challenge to the charity then is to get enough sponsorships and donations to at least match that figure.

Bart Phillips, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, said he uses his organization’s golf tournament as a chance to blend fund raising with saying thanks to members. Pulling that off takes an immense amount of planning that at times can wear on your enthusiasm. Just weeks away from the event though helps Phillips get rejuvenated. “Right now I’m a huge fan,” Phillips said of the tournament.