Golf Digest Planner Announces Charter Business Membership in Association of Fundraising Professionals

Farmington, MI (PRWEB) July 24, 2008 -- The Golf Digest Planner, developed by the J. Ryder Group and Golf Digest, is now a Charter Business Member in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

The Golf Digest Planner is the first comprehensive golf tournament planning Website to assist fundraising tournament organizers of the 1.2 million non-competitive golf events played in the United States each year. The Golf Digest Planner includes a free event website for online registration by players and sponsors.

"AFP Business Members sign their adherence to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and, in so doing, show their dedication to advancing accountable and effective fundraising," said James Ryder, president of the Golf Digest Planner. "We have followed similar ethical standards over the past 10 years helping non-profits have successful golf events so this is the next logical step."

The free Golf Digest Tournament Planner, found at GolfDigestPlanner.com (http://www.GolfDigestPlanner.com) is anchored by a six-minute planning "Wizard" designed to assist in planning every aspect of any golf event - including locating a tournament host course, accepting registration and online payment processing (including PayPal and Google Checkout).

GolfDigestPlanner.com was created after exhaustive research into the tournament organization world. Ryder spent two years conducting focus groups with executive directors of non-profits, corporate planners, PGA of America members and association executives to help design the Wizard's areas of focus and capabilities. Essentially, this site is a free do-it-yourself version of hiring a collaboration of the world's most experienced tournament organizers. Events can take anywhere from 250-400 hours to plan. With this system, initial tournament setup can be done in minutes.

The system also has more than 20 standard e-mail marketing templates for soliciting sponsors and players, confirming registration and communicating with volunteers. These e-mail templates run on "auto pilot," gathering player information including foursome names, sponsor logos, auction items, providing thank you notes, etc. without the organizers' follow up.

The site also saves a planner's information from year to year, so in the event of an organizer turnover, as many events are simply put together by a different volunteer each year, the new organizer has a record of everything done the previous year, including player and sponsor information. The application can also "push" key information to the course professional so they can prepare for the event. This includes registration counts, pairing sheets and the event day agenda.

For more information or to explore the seemingly endless guidance GolfDigestPlanner.com can give any tournament organizer, log on to http:///www.golfdigestplanner.com.

ABOUT J. RYDER GROUP

J. Ryder Group has been actively involved in the golf tournament business since 1998. The firm has managed or provided services to more than 10,000 golf tournaments. J. Ryder Group was the executive director for the Arnold Palmer Turning Point Invitational, which celebrated Arnold Palmer's 50th Anniversary of his U.S. Amateur Championship. The Arnold Palmer Turning Point Invitational raised $6.3 million. "This is the most incredible event I have ever been involved in more than 60 years of golf, and I have been involved in a lot of them over the years," Palmer said. J. Ryder Group developed a highly desirable and first of its kind online hole-in-one prize package ordering and fulfillment system. J. Ryder Group holds contractual relationships for the online hole-in-one prize package program with Ford, Chrysler, Lincoln, Jeep, Mercury, Dodge, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo and Mazda.

Additional web site developed by the J. Ryder Group include and www.GolfEventGuide.com, www.GolfDigestTeeTimes.com.

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents over 30,000 members in 197 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.

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