How to Organise a Golf Society Day: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before You Start

Organising a golf society day is one of those jobs that sounds harder than it is. The first one takes the most effort. After that, you'll have a template and a routine that makes the whole thing much smoother.

This guide covers everything from choosing the course to handing out prizes at the end. Whether you're organising your first society day or your fiftieth, there should be something useful here.

Step 1: Pick the Course

This is the most important decision. Get it right and everyone has a great day. Get it wrong and you'll hear about it for months.

Things to consider:

• Location. Pick somewhere central for your group. Nobody wants a 90-minute drive each way for a monthly society day
• Price. Work out your budget per head and find courses that fit. Most courses offer society packages that include golf, food, and sometimes a drink
• Quality. Play the course yourself first if you can, or ask other society organisers for recommendations
• Availability. Some courses only take societies on certain days. Midweek is usually easier to book and cheaper
• Food. A meal is a big part of the day. Check what's included and whether they can cater for dietary requirements

Ring the course directly and ask about society packages. They'll usually have a few options at different price points. Don't be afraid to negotiate, especially for midweek bookings or groups of 20 or more.

Step 2: Set the Date

Send out two or three date options and go with whichever gets the most people. Don't try to find a date that works for everyone because it doesn't exist. Aim for 12 to 24 players. That's the sweet spot for most courses and it gives you enough groups for a decent competition.

Give people at least six weeks' notice. More for the big events like the annual dinner or an away weekend.

Step 3: Collect the Money

This is the golden rule of society organising: get the money before the day. Set a deadline for payment, usually one to two weeks before the event, and stick to it.

Late payers and no-shows are the biggest headache for any organiser. If someone hasn't paid by the deadline, they don't play. Harsh, but it protects you from being out of pocket when the course invoices you for the full group.

Most societies use bank transfer. Set up a dedicated bank account if you want to keep things tidy. Some organisers use PayPal or even a shared pot on Monzo.

Step 4: Sort Out the Groups

Putting together the groups (the draw) is a bit of an art form. A few tips:

• Mix abilities. Don't put all the low handicappers in one group. Spread them out so every group has a range
• Split up the regulars. If the same four people always play together, mix it up. Meeting new playing partners is half the point of a society
• Time slots matter. If you know someone needs to leave early, put them in the first group. If someone's always late, put them last
• Three-balls are fine. Don't force a four-ball if you've got an odd number. Three-balls play faster anyway

Send the draw out the night before so people know when they're teeing off and who they're playing with.

Step 5: Choose the Format

Keep it simple, especially for regular monthly events:

• Individual Stableford is the default for most societies. It works for all abilities, it's easy to score, and it doesn't penalise bad holes too harshly
• Texas Scramble is great for bigger events or when you've got guests. Everyone contributes and nobody feels left out
• Better Ball (pairs) adds a team element. Pair a low handicapper with a high handicapper for the best balance
• Greensomes is another pairs format where both players drive, you pick the best ball, then alternate shots. Good fun but can be slow

Add nearest the pin on a par 3 and longest drive on a suitable hole. They're easy to run and everyone loves them.

Step 6: On the Day

Arrive early. Get to the course at least 45 minutes before the first tee time. Here's your checklist:

• Check in with the pro shop. Confirm tee times, buggy bookings, and the food arrangements
• Set up the nearest the pin marker. A tee peg pushed into the ground next to the hole works fine
• Put out the longest drive markers. Pick a flat, visible part of the fairway
• Greet the players. Have the draw printed out (or on your phone) so you can tell people their tee time and group
• Collect any outstanding money. If someone hasn't paid, sort it out before they tee off
• Hand out scorecards. Make sure everyone knows the format and the handicap allowance

Step 7: After the Round

While people are eating, tally up the scores. You can do this on your phone - a simple app or even a notes page works fine. Calculate stableford points using the handicap allowance and work out the winners.

Keep the prize giving short and fun:

• Overall winner gets the main prize
• Runner-up and maybe third place
• Nearest the pin for each par 3 you've included
• Longest drive
• Wooden spoon for the worst score (optional but usually gets the biggest laugh)

Prizes don't need to be expensive. Sleeves of balls, golf gloves, or pro shop vouchers work well. Some societies run a small sweepstake where everyone puts in a fiver and the prizes come from the pot.

Step 8: After the Event

A few things to do once the day is over:

• Send out the results. Share them through your society page on Golf Match UK or wherever your group communicates
• Update the leaderboard. If you run an annual order of merit, add the points
• Get feedback. Ask people what they thought of the course and the day. It helps when you're booking the next one
• Book the next event. Give people the date while the momentum is fresh

Tools That Help

• Golf Match UK for managing your society in one place: RSVPs, payments, results, and attracting new members. No more chasing people across group chats and spreadsheets
• Golf Match UK course finder for finding and comparing society venues with group rates

Common Mistakes

• Not collecting money upfront. You'll end up chasing people or paying out of your own pocket
• Picking courses that are too expensive. Know your group's budget and stick to it
• Making the day too long. Arrival, 18 holes, food, prizes. That's enough. Don't drag it out
• Over-complicating the format. Stableford works. Save the novelty formats for the Christmas event
• Forgetting dietary requirements. Always check when you book the food

The Bottom Line

Organising a society day is mostly about planning ahead and communicating clearly. Get the course right, collect the money early, and keep things simple. The golf and the company will do the rest.

List your society on Golf Match UK and find great courses for your next event on our course finder.