Just like the golfers on the links, the players in the meeting + event planning industry can always improve their game with some tips from the pros. That’s why we asked sales + marketing directors from some of Minnesota’s most popular public and private golf courses for their best tips for planning your tournie or non-golf event at a golf or country club venue. With warmer weather just ahead, we thought the time was perfect to get into the swing of things.
Brackett’s Crossing Country Club, Lakeville, MN — Sarah Smith-Larkin, Sales + Marketing
• Plan your tournie early, ideally a year out, especially if you’re planning a fundraising or charity event. This will give you ample time to gather sponsors.
• For non-charity golf events, plan far enough in advance that the venue you want to book is sure to be available.
• Remember that golf tournaments that take place earlier in the season are much better attended than those taking place later in the season.
• For non-golf events at a country club, think outside the box. These venues work well for events other than just weddings. Consider booking your sport banquet, baby shower, grad party or business event in the club’s banquet facilities.
Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, MN — Ruth Lundquist, Senior Director, Sales + Marketing
• When considering several clubs for your event, consider the level of interest in playing at a specific club. For example, Hazeltine is a championship course and has hosted many PGA tournaments. As a result, regular golfers become quite excited about the opportunity to play here.
• For non-golf events, consider the atmosphere of the club before booking. Whether traditional or contemporary, decide the setting you desire to best suit your event. Hazeltine’s brand new clubhouse has a different feel from a traditional club, with lots of natural lighting and contemporary design.
• Look for a venue that offers the kind of food options you desire. At Hazeltine, everything is made in-house from scratch by our award-winning Executive Chef.
Stonebrooke Golf Club, Shakopee, MN — Einar Odland, General Manger/Golf Events + Outings
• Plan as much as you can as early as possible. Of course, ensure the date and time you want is available, but also take care of other tasks, such as providing the club with a list of players’ names prior to tournie day. This way, the event will be much more organized and run much more smoothly.
• For non-golf events, try to be flexible when it comes to your date and time.
• Check out the facilities to be certain the ambience fits your function. For example, Stonebrooke has an open air facility so you’d want to be sure that it matches the type of event you’re planning.
Legend's Golf Club, Prior Lake, MN — Jeff Kennedy, Director of Marketing
• Communication with your venue’s staff is critical. We meet with our client’s months beforehand to work out all the details, such as number and placement of tables and chairs, golf course set up, names of players and foursomes. When expectations of who is responsible for what are established up front, it makes the tournament much more successful.
• For non-golf events, be clear about the details, such as how you’d like the room set up, round tables vs. rectangular, menus, breaks, etc. The staff should be willing to set up however you want and be available to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Rush Creek Golf Club, Maple Grove, MN — Jenny Stendahl, Golf Operations Manager
• Don’t hesitate to ask questions or ask for what you want. At Rush Creek, we’re more than willing to accommodate and satisfy your needs to make your event happen the way you envision it.
• For any event, make sure you enjoy the day. Once the details have been pre-arranged and you’re here, it’s our duty to carry out your plan. Your venue’s goal should be to make sure you walk away feeling like it’s been a successful day.
