Raising Money for Course Improvements

I am trying to raise some money for course improvements. The course is located in a city park, but the city has no money, so we are on our own. We need concrete tee pads, new signs and new baskets. Any ideas on how to raise the money and/or discounts available on baskets, signs etc?

[Atrain]

You're not likely to get any discounts on baskets. You may be able to get a deal on signs if you use a local shop and let them put there name and logo on them. As far as raising money, tournaments are your best bet. You could also get fundraiser discs, but you have to have the money to buy them first. It's going to take a lot of tedious, unpaid, lonely and mostly unappreciated work to get it done, but it's all about the game we love, so we do it anyways.

I would leave the baskets for last, since you already have those. Get done what you can. Don't burn yourself out and plan on things not getting done as fast as you'd like.

[ChainSeeker]

Yes, I have preliminary permission to do the work. I have to submit a formal proposal, but they say that it should be fine, provided we pay for everything.

[Chad Curtis]

Does your city have a Community Foundation or other organization that offers community improvement grants? Some charitable foundations offer small grants (usually less than $5K) for causes that improve the community, park, neighborhood, etc. If you don't find anything local try state wide.

[ChainSeeker]

Great idea, I'll check.

[AK Discer]

I heard from the president of our association that Disc King sports was looking to have a course in every state with their baskets and that you might be able to get a deal on baskets. Otherwise I would check out the CFR program from Innova and same thing with Discraft and Gateway.

[Chad Curtis]

Disc King is a really cool company and the baskets are top notch.

[ChainSeeker]

I looked online for Disc King Sports and didn't find anything. Do you perhaps mean Sun King Discs?

[AK Discer]

Check this link Chain

http://discking1.com/Baskets.html

[Jamie 'gr8rocshot' Ruane]

Here's how we are doing the other nine holes at a now 9 hole course in our area.

http://discgolfer.ning.com/group/debarydiscgolfers/forum/topics/ple...


One way to build some cash is get some stuff...cool stuff...doesn't even have to be Disc stuff.....finding said stuff might be as easy as looking around your closets....In your garage....sorta re-gifting if you know what I mean.

Check with your local eateries...watering holes...disc retailers for gift certificates. First, ask them for big donations...(have a good presentation ready)...or something like the pledges we are getting. If these businesses don't want to donate cash..they usually don't!! ...hit'em for small stuff...for a CTP funDraiser. ; )

Run those CTPs before, between, and/or after your regular league events...Charge a buck a throw...or an incentive of 6 throws for 5......give stuff away to the closest three lies. When we have done that...with just about a dozen or so players...we seem to average about 80 bucks per CTP with a relatively small amount of players.

[Groovy]

GEART STUFF, ROB YOU BETTER LISTEN UP

[Ben Calhoun]

The company might charge you full for a basket, a local store might charge you their cost for them in return for a sign.

[Chuck Kennedy]

If you have permission for a course, it's important to get one installed as quickly as possible. As tough as it may be to raise funds, most of the time getting permission to plant a course can be much tougher. You can do it inexpensively with circular posts as targets and landscape timbers for tee front lines. We've done it twice with success where once a course was in place with posts, money was easier to raise and literally came out of the woodwork as players wanted to see baskets out there. In one case, we did a whole 9-hole course with posts.

The other situation, we had money or donated baskets for 3 holes on the first nine. Those were installed on holes 1-3. Once players got to hole 4 and went, "WTH?", they understood that the baskets were needed. Those who had potential basket sponsors to contact, started lining them up. I don't think it took more than 6 months to get baskets for the first 9. The city was so impressed, they bought the baskets for the back nine as year or two later.