How Can a Nonprofit Run a Golf Fundraiser Without Renting a Course?
A nonprofit can run a golf fundraiser at Golf Center of Arlington, 1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd, without renting a course. Toptracer bays score Closest to the Pin, Long Drive and Points Game tournaments automatically, 36 holes of mini golf add a second bracket, and a 24-seat private room handles check-in, raffles and awards. No four-hour scramble required.
The traditional charity golf tournament has a math problem. A course rental commits you to foursomes, tee times, carts, a shotgun start and a four-hour round that only real golfers will sign up for. Golf Center of Arlington replaces that with a driving-range tournament: Toptracer cameras score each shot on the bay screen, the leaderboard runs itself, a mini golf bracket pulls in kids and non-golfers, and the private room turns into your check-in desk and raffle stage. Guests play for an hour or two, spend at the bar, and go home. This page lays out the formats, the day-of flow and the planning steps. For the wider picture, see our guide to corporate and group events at Golf Center of Arlington and the fundraisers and charity events page.
Why hold a golf fundraiser at a driving range instead of a course?
Course tournaments are limited by the course. You can only sell as many spots as there are tee times, every player needs clubs and a handicap-level comfort with the game, and rain moves the whole event. A range tournament has none of those constraints. Golf Center of Arlington has 18 covered, heated bays with Toptracer on every one, plus 28 natural-grass hitting areas, all open to the outdoor range. Play continues rain or shine, and the range is lit at night, so an evening event after work is normal.
Course scramble
- Course rental plus carts and staffing
- Foursomes and tee times cap the field
- Four-plus hours; golfers only
- Rain date usually required
- Sponsors' signage spread over miles of fairway
Range tournament at Golf Center of Arlington
- Book bays, mini golf and the room; no course rental
- Players rotate through bays, so the field is not capped by foursomes
- One to three hours; beginners score alongside golfers
- Covered, heated bays hold the date in bad weather
- Everyone is within a few steps of your sponsors, raffle and bar
The other difference is who shows up. A public driving range draws families, after-work groups and first-timers every day, so a fundraiser here can invite the entire school, congregation or company, not just the golf committee.
Which tournament formats work on Toptracer?
Toptracer is the camera-based ball-tracking system used on PGA Tour broadcasts. Each covered bay has a touchscreen that shows carry distance, ball speed, launch angle and accuracy for every shot, and the built-in games convert those numbers into a contest. That gives a fundraiser committee five ready-made formats with no scorekeepers.
| Format | How it is scored | Fundraiser use |
|---|---|---|
| Closest to the Pin | Measured distance to a chosen target green; lowest wins | Main event for mixed fields; sell rounds or re-entries |
| Long Drive | Longest measured carry on screen | Headline contest with a sponsored prize |
| Points Game | Points per shot based on accuracy to targets, totaled over a set shot count | Team bracket: four players per bay, combined score |
| Virtual Golf | Play holes at Pebble Beach, St Andrews, Torrey Pines and other courses on screen | Premium bracket for donors who want a course experience |
| Toptracer30 | 30-shot skills assessment with a single score | Individual qualifier that seeds the finals |
A format that works well for a first-year event: every entrant hits a fixed number of balls in Closest to the Pin, the top scores advance to a Long Drive final, and Points Game runs as a team side bracket. Staff switch games at any bay in seconds, and a global leaderboard means the day's results are visible on screen without your volunteers tallying cards. If your committee is new to the technology, start with what Toptracer is and how it works.
How does a mini golf tournament fit into a fundraiser?
Golf Center of Arlington has 36 holes of outdoor mini golf across two 18-hole courses, set on a landscaped nature course with bridges and rock formations. Clubs, colorful balls and scorecards are provided, and most groups take about 60 to 90 minutes to play both courses. That makes mini golf the easiest way to sell a fundraiser to families and to people who would never sign up for a golf tournament.
Two structures are common. The first is a separate mini golf bracket with its own entry, scored by scorecard and turned in at the private room. The second is a combined ticket: every guest plays a mini golf round and then rotates onto the bays for a Toptracer contest. The second keeps the whole crowd on site longer, which matters for raffle sales and bar revenue. Details on the course and current pricing are on the mini golf page.
The mini golf course is in the middle of a remodel. All holes are open and playable; the seven waterfalls are temporarily switched off while work finishes. Ask the events team about the current status for your date.
Send your date, expected field size and whether you want bays, mini golf or both. The events team will build the plan and quote it.
Book an EventWhat does the private event room do on fundraiser day?
Check-in, raffle, awards
The indoor private event room seats 24 with flexible seating and layouts. For a fundraiser it does three jobs: registration and name tags at the door, the silent auction or raffle table during play, and the awards and thank-you remarks at the end. Because it is steps from the bays, volunteers can staff the table and still watch the leaderboard.
It also solves the sponsor problem. Table-top sponsor displays, banners and a slideshow all live in one room that every guest passes through at least twice. Ask about signage at the sponsored bays, too; the bays are where guests spend most of their time. The room can be booked with a Toptracer or mini golf package or on its own; see all event options and packages.
Where does the fundraising revenue come from?
Because Golf Center of Arlington does not publish set event package prices, your committee builds the budget from a quote based on headcount, play time and which spaces you book. Most nonprofit organizers then layer these revenue lines on top.
Entry fees
Price the bay tournament and the mini golf bracket separately, or sell one combined ticket that covers both.
Sponsors
Title sponsor, Long Drive sponsor, Closest to the Pin sponsor. Ask about signage at sponsored bays and the private room.
Raffle and auction
Run it from the private event room, where every guest checks in and returns for awards.
Re-entries
Closest to the Pin and Long Drive lend themselves to selling a second attempt after the first round.
Food and drink: outside food is allowed, so a sponsor-donated catering spread is fine. Coolers and outside beverages are not allowed; guests buy drinks at the bar, which carries 50+ beers including local craft, wine, canned cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks. See the outside food policy before you print the flyer.
How do you plan a golf fundraiser at Golf Center of Arlington?
- Choose a date and window. The range is open seven days, Monday–Saturday 8 AM–11 PM and Sunday 8 AM–10 PM, rain or shine, with night lighting. A weekday evening or a weekend afternoon are both workable.
- Set the field size. Groups of 15 or more should reserve. Tell the events team how many bays, mini golf rounds and room hours you want; they will confirm what fits and quote it.
- Pick the formats. Decide the main Toptracer contest, the final, and whether mini golf is a bracket or a warm-up. Staff will load the games at each bay.
- Get the quote in writing. Call 817-469-9005 or email play@golfcenterofarlington.com. Package prices are quoted per event, not published.
- Recruit sponsors and promote. Use the address, 1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006, and lead with "no golf experience needed."
- Run the day. Check-in and raffle in the room, play on the bays and mini golf, awards back in the room. Clubs: bring your own if you have them, or ask about options when you arrive.
Committee checklist for the final two weeks:
- Headcount and bay count confirmed with the events team
- Formats and prize list finalized; sponsors matched to Long Drive and Closest to the Pin
- Room agenda set: check-in start, raffle close time, awards time
- Food plan settled; all beverages purchased from the bar
- Volunteers assigned to registration, raffle table and leaderboard announcements
- Directions shared with guests; parking is on site
Who runs fundraisers here?
School booster clubs, church groups, youth sports leagues, community organizations and company giving committees all use the same three spaces. Golf Center of Arlington is family-owned, has served Arlington since 1986, and is listed as a Top 50 U.S. Golf Range. It sits about two miles north of the Arlington Entertainment District, minutes from AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, and is an easy drive from Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and Grand Prairie, so a regional donor base can reach it without a long trip. Routes are on the directions page.
If the same committee also plans a staff outing, the corporate team-building page covers the bay games in more depth, and smaller celebrations use the private party options. For the current in-season festivals that draw a crowd of their own, see special events.
Questions before you commit a date? The events team answers by phone and email.
Contact UsFacility details as published on golfcenterofarlington.com; event packages are quoted per group and subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
Do participants need to know how to golf?
No. Toptracer contests such as Closest to the Pin and Points Game score accuracy, not experience, and the Power Tee in each covered bay sets the ball up automatically. First-timers regularly post competitive scores. Guests who would rather not swing at all can enter the mini golf bracket on the 36-hole outdoor course, where clubs, balls and scorecards are provided. That mix is why a range fundraiser can invite an entire school or congregation.
How many players can a range fundraiser handle?
There is no fixed cap because players rotate through the 18 covered Toptracer bays rather than filling foursomes, and mini golf runs at the same time on two 18-hole courses. Groups of 15 or more should reserve, and the events team will tell you how many bays and hours your expected field needs. Share a realistic headcount early; the bay count and play window are what set the quote.
What if it rains on the day of the fundraiser?
Bay play continues. All 18 hitting bays at Golf Center of Arlington are covered and heated, and Toptracer tracks the ball out onto the open range in any weather. Registration, the raffle and awards stay dry in the indoor private event room. Mini golf is outdoors, so if it is part of your plan, staff will help move that bracket onto the bays or shift its start time.
Can sponsors put up signage at the event?
Ask the events team when you book. The private event room is the natural home for banners, table displays and a slideshow, since every guest passes through it for check-in and awards. Sponsor recognition at the bays, where guests spend most of the event, is worth asking about as well; the team will explain what is possible for your date and setup.
How much does a fundraiser at Golf Center of Arlington cost?
Golf Center of Arlington does not publish event package prices. Each fundraiser is quoted on headcount, the length of Toptracer play (hourly or half-day), whether mini golf is included, and whether you book the private event room. Call 817-469-9005 or email play@golfcenterofarlington.com with your date, expected field and preferred formats to get a written quote. Custom packages are available for any group size with staff assistance.
Can we bring food for the players and volunteers?
Yes. Outside food is allowed, so catered trays, pizza or a sponsor-provided meal are all fine. Coolers and outside beverages are not allowed; all drinks are purchased at the bar, which stocks 50+ beers, wine, canned cocktails and non-alcoholic options, with light snacks available. Tell the events team your food plan so the room or bay area is set up for it.
Plan your event at Golf Center of Arlington
Toptracer games, mini golf, a private event room and a 50+ beer bar. Call 817-469-9005 or book online.
Golf Center of Arlington · 1301 NE Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006 · 817-469-9005 · Open Mon–Sat 8 AM–11 PM, Sun 8 AM–10 PM