Economy taking toll on small charity golf events

The Times-Picayune reported on the economies impact on nonprofit golf fundraisers in New Orleans. No one suggests golf, charity golf, still is not a great provider of funds for local charities big and small.

You get your sponsors, hole and otherwise, you tap your sources for golfers, you get your sources to give you prizes big and small -- maybe a car for a hole-in-one on a hole or two -- ditty bags (free gifts to all golfers) that are full and plump with everything from tees to balls to you name it if the bag is big enough, and the next thing you know, you've got money in the tens of thousands.

Except, the economy went south and no one has things to give anymore.
There are many charities in this area that rely on golf tournaments as their main fund-raising tool. In the next two golf columns, I will explore how the 2009 economy is affecting those types of tournaments.

Talking with many individuals, fund-raisers and tournament directors, it's apparent that there is a general break in how these type tournaments are faring. Those with big sponsors and big names attached to them are doing OK. Those of a smaller nature -- churches, schools and charity organizations -- are not doing nearly as well as they have in the past in the metro area or in the state.

Roger Gorman, director of development at Children's Hospital, said "there are two different types of tournaments: those that are done by big companies that benefit charities. Those companies basically supply the list of participants. Those are doing OK. Then there are the others that are done by smaller organizations. Those are the ones that are hurting." Read more here.