Simple In-House Contests
Some contests can be as easy as putting up a poster announcing a small prize for the player who has the highest score on the game each week, or is the first to reach some kind of milestone. Examples are a free sandwich coupon to the player with the highest score on Target Toss Pro: Bags, or $300 to the first player to get a 300 game on Silver Strike Bowling. These types of contests do not require a lot of manpower, and run on their own. They generally appeal to the "regulars" in a location, and may not entice new players to participate.
Game Nights
This type of contest is great for attracting play to your machines on slow nights. Put a group of 8 to 16 players together and host a bracketed contest on PowerPutt, or a Closest to the Pin contest on Golden Tee. Be sure to have enough prizes for all participants, so everyone is a winner!
Leagues
Just like pool and darts, the skill-based nature of IT games are perfect for long-term league play. Modify your current league structure to sign up teams that meet on a weekly basis. Set a schedule for travelling leagues to involve your entire route. Ask players to use their Player Cards so you can track final scores with FACTS if necessary. Be sure your rules and prizes are well defined so there are minimal conflicts. Plan a final event to award trophies and have some fun!
Online FACTS Contests
Your online IT games allow you to run contests without you having to be present at the location. Use the free FACTS LIVE software to track game play from your online Golden Tee LIVE and Silver Strike LIVE machines. FACTS offers dozens of game criteria to base your contest, from best score to most birdies or spare pickups. Make sure you consider your goals when choosing the contest type. Do you want to reward your best players, attract new players, maximize games played, or somewhere in between? Once you decide your objectives you can tailor a contest that will achieve those goals. Post messages and leaderboards right on your games throughout your contest to keep players engaged and informed. Have a final party to award prizes and thank your players in person. Host it at the location with the most play, to keep your accounts involved.
Multi-Operator FACTS Contests
Work with other promotion-minded operators and sponsors to offer bigger prizes and bring FACTS contests to a wider audience. IT will help coordinate operator cooperation and data sharing. Work with your state association to run state-wide qualifying through FACTS, ending with an exciting live final event!
Player and Promoter-Run Tournaments
Work with players, locations and promoters to organize mid-sized 2-day open tournaments. Pre-register 72 to 120 players to participate in your event. IT will help you determine eligibility for players with active accounts if necessary. Include an entry fee for participants that is used to partially fund the prize pool. Players can pay to play to cover expenses, such as bringing in more machines to play on during the event. Use Locked Conditions Cards (supplied by IT) during qualifying rounds on Golden Tee LIVE machines, so everyone plays on the same course with the same conditions. Then set up bracketed head-to-head matches for the players who make the cut, to determine the winners.