We call this game…Roll to the Hole!
Roll to the Hole is a game that is fun, easy and provides a way to raise money on a hole that traditionally is not a money making hole – meaning a long par 4 or 5. The mission of the game is for the foursome to improve the location of their first shot. The players to act as a team, meaning they pay one fee as a team. After paying the fee, one player representing the team rolls one dice, the number shown (1 thru 6) determines where on the course the foursome take their first shot (drive). See rules below.
Roll to the Hole Advantages:
- Provides an additional sponsorship sale opportunity.
- Raises money on a hole that typically is not a fundraising hole.
- Helps with pace of play.
- Excellent photo opportunity hole.
What is needed for the Roll to the Hole game:
- A pair of dice. (Really just one is needed for the game. But having two will be an advantage as you will read. And, dice are sold in pairs.
- We recommend using this specific set of dice. They are made of heavy rubber and therefore roll better, hold up to repeated use, are easy to wipe clean, store easily, and are available on Amazon. Search for Champion Sports 6 Inch Foam Dice
- A volunteer at the tee box with an outgoing personality as joking with the players is valuable to the success of the game.
- A bank of cash to take payment and make change.
- A marker or sign to be placed 50 yards from the hole.(Excellent opportunity for a sponsor. The sponsorship can also include a tee box sign explaining the game.)
- A towel to wipe clean the dice, if the grass is wet especially early in the day.
Rules – How Roll to the Hole is played:
- Each foursome who purchase the game, pay the fee that is, will roll to improve the position for their first shot on that specific hole. The ideal hole is a long, difficult, time consuming to play par 4 or 5.
- As a team, if the dice comes up:
- 1 – the team takes their first shot from 50 yards out from the green. This is where the sign mentioned above is placed.
- 2 – the team takes their first shot from 100 yards out.*
- 3 – the team takes their first shot from 150 yards out.*
- 4 – the team takes their first shot from 200 yards out.*
- 5 – the team takes their first shot from the red tee box, also known as the Ladies tees.
- 6 – the team stays and hits from the tee box being played on all other holes for the tournament. This is known as a “crap out”!
- * – Most courses have markers on the course providing this distance to assist the player.
- BRIBES! This is where the fun begins, and where the personality of the volunteer running the game comes into play!
- Let’s say the roll comes up 4 or 5 or 6. The volunteer then plays it up! “Awe, that’s too bad. So many groups have been rolling a lower number. But, to help you get a shorter distance for your first shot, we accept bribes. Pay me a bribe and I’ll let you roll again to try to get a lower number!” (And you let the team pay as many bribes as they want!)
$ Rate to Play – As with any games at fundraising event, it’s about gaining participation.
- I recommend $20 per team/foursome. Experience has shown one player will offer to take care of this fee for the team. But it’s fine if the players divide it up between them.
- Bribes. This is where the fun begins. Any bribe of $5 or more is acceptable in order to get to roll again. Usually, when one player has covered the original fee ($20 in this example), one of the other players will step up to cover the bribe. And what I’ve seen is if the second roll again results in another high number, another of the players will offer to cover another bribe. All with the goal of getting as close as possible to the hole for their first shot.
How much can be raised from Roll to the Hole?
This is one of the most asked questions. Here’s the arithmetic:
- 25 foursomes paying $20 raises $500.
- Bribes averages between an additional $100 and $200.
- For the sake of an example, let’s say the game raises $600, plus an additional sponsor opportunity!
- And the cost of the game….less than $30! Keeping in mind that cost goes away in future years as you already have the dice!!
Contact me if you’d like to learn more about an additional fundraising opportunity within this game using additional signage in the fairway and by adding a hand toss to the players’ Mulligan package.
Have fun and good luck!
