Is it a thoughtful gift or just something to get rid of? Is it a leftover from the sponsor’s cellar, or is it a well-considered present? In the world of golf, gifts at tournaments are common. They can be given as tee gifts, prizes, table gifts, or even as promotional items from sponsors.
Good idea – poor implementation
Some gifts can often have a negative impact, such as plastic refillable water bottles, which often end up being thrown away or collecting dust in a corner of the kitchen along with other unused bottles. This situation highlights a common issue: while the idea of giving refillable bottles is initially positive, high-quality options that are leak-proof and can keep drinks hot or cold for an extended period typically cost at least 40 euros for even a small 0.75-liter version. As a result, the price often exceeds the budget for starter gifts, leading people to choose lower-quality or less sustainable alternatives.
“I believe we’ve developed a culture where promotional items are primarily used as advertising for sponsors,” says Joanna Czutkowna, CEO of 5Thread and an expert in the circular economy in sports. According to her, the use of sponsored items, which are frequently mass-produced or outdated, contributes to the generation of significant waste, especially when these items are low-cost. Many of these gifts are not used, particularly if they have a date printed on them; once the event is over, they often become irrelevant and are discarded.”
The event organiser is challenged especially when golf gifts are to meet sustainable standards. The gifts or prizes should be produced sustainably, be long-lasting, and, above all, have a high utility or memorable value.
For example, if you give tees as starter gifts, you should not use the cheapest version with a sponsor print but a high-quality version such as from GreenUp Golf. The same applies to balls: Anyone giving away high-performance balls should choose the variant that is still most likely to be associated with the concept of sustainability. Currently, this is Srixon’s Z-Star series, which uses biomass.
For clothing items, such as caps or T-shirts, Czutkowna advises: “Think about the materials: when it comes to clothing, it is much more responsible to opt for organic cotton, BCI cotton, or recycled fibres instead of virgin polyester.”
Quality before quantity
Items that are marked with a date are generally bad. These gifts are quickly discarded by golfers when they become too old. “Prioritise quality over quantity: people are much more likely to keep, use and appreciate a well-thought-out, high-quality gift than something generic,” says the Brit, who questions the need for physical gifts in general: “Can we replace or supplement them with experiences or digital content instead?” The memory of an event or people is often shaped much more by a positive experience than by a promotional item.
Anyone looking at the old system of starter gifts at golf tournaments quickly realises that it is strongly associated with the concepts of waste and excess. After all, the golfer often walks to the car with a plastic bag full of small sponsor items, usually wrapped once again, only to be met with meaningful and nonsensical items. Thus, the basic purpose of a gift, to awaken positive feelings in the recipient, is wasted.
You can pay attention to this:
Physical golf gifts
- Choose things that every golfer uses frequently and may be reluctant to spend money on.
- High-quality, sustainable tees or balls always work.
- Both men and women use good sun cream. Other cosmetics, such as lipsticks, with a sun factor can also be considered.
- Refillable drinking bottles must be of good quality.
- Large golf towels and good golf umbrellas are always needed.
- Always make sure that sponsor logos are not too large or conspicuous, as the products are then often not used.
- Sustainably produced special club covers appeal to many golfers.
Non-physical gifts:
- At a members’ tournament, vouchers for a fancy drink in the clubhouse (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) are always attractive.
- Vouchers for workshops with several other members on specific technical topics help golfers to improve their game, provide the pro with a quality income and promote social interaction.
- Vouchers for fitness apps, indoor golf or gyms are also well received. Make sure that these are not trial memberships and that the golfer is stuck with a subscription if they forget to cancel within the notice period.
- Offer a special service on the day of the tournament, which you pay for: A shoeshine for your golf shoes, a haircut after the round or perhaps a spa massage will add a touch of fun to the supporting program.
- A golf audiobook.
These are all just suggestions, and yes, some of them involve additional effort and organisation. Therefore, every tournament organiser is sure to find countless variations on these suggestions. Only one thing is important: the tournament participant should recognise that the organiser or sponsor has put some thought into the selection of the gift. This increases the value and leads to a positive memory.
