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Par for the Course

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Don't give up

The economy is hurting charity tournaments, so organizers need to think outside the box to swing things in their favor.

By Eric TracyPublished: May, 2010

(ILLUSTRATION: John Cheresh)
Trickle-down economics was a positive term in the 1980s. It meant that tax benefits enjoyed by big businesses and the wealthy “trickled down” to small business, consumers and charities.
   
That’s not the case today.
   
I know this because my job is consulting non-profit organizations and helping them raise funds with charity golf tournaments.
   
“Tournaments that used to sell out have far fewer players,” said Rick Howard, general manager at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. “But what baffles me is how many tournaments have just canceled their event, giving up before they even start, because they fear the worst.”
   
At one point, the Paralysis Project held four annual charity tournaments,  but “this year we’re not having any,” executive director Catherine Lepone said.
   
“Executive boards are nervous about going on the hook for the expenses of a golf tournament prior to the event,” Lepone said. “It’s hard to underwrite financial outlay without knowing your numbers for sure.”
   
To survive tough economic times, businesses must adjust, adapt, cut back and get more creative. The same goes for tournaments and charities.
   
“One of the biggest problems I see is that tournament committees have not successfully managed the economic change,” said Bruce Corbin, chairman of LA/OC Contribution Committee for the Union Bank Foundation.
   
For 20 years, Corbin’s office doled out millions of foundation dollars. He knows about giving, but he’s also an avid golfer who serves on a number of tournament committees.
   
“Yes, foundation giving is down 25 percent, but that’s no reason for charities to give up,” he said. “At [one of our recent tournaments] we borrowed an old idea from a different arena. We named an honoree, something done often in fund-raising, but rarely at a golf tournament. Now we had the honoree’s clients, family and friends to call on, and they responded to honor him, not necessarily our charity.”
   
There are golfers who still like playing in charity events, if for no other reason than supporting the cause.
   
“I used to play in as many as 10 tournaments a year,” said Gonzo Paigen, an insurance broker in Santa Clarita. “Now I have to be more selective; my business is also down. But I still play in as many events as my wallet can afford.” 
   
Bob Merette, a Glendale businessman, is even more charitable with his less-than-perfect swing.
   
“I’ve played in as many as 20 tournaments a year,” Merette said. “But the number of invitations is drying up, and charities I’ve supported for years just canceled their events.”
   
It sounds like golfers such as Paigen and Merette are not shying away from spending their charity dollars, and event organizers need to tap into that giving spirit to keep their tournaments alive.
   
These are hard times, but sometimes the solution is simple. Sometimes all you have to do is ask.

Eric Tracy is also known as The Mulligan Man. He consults and performs at charity golf tournaments. Reach him at eric@themulliganman.com.

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