May 06, 2024

Mike Tait of SMT Events

37 minutes

Our guest this episode of The Chicago Golf Report podcast is the founder of SMT Events, Mike Tait. Whether golfers are shooting at thousands of dollars of cash, playing blackjack on the tee or firing his trademark Golf Cannon, Mike Tait has helped golf events raise over $24 million for charities since 2009.

After a highly successful career as a PGA professional and a golf club manufacturer, Mike Tait has made it his mission to turn the charity golf outing business upside down. With some of the most innovative, entertaining and profitable games and services to help golf outings, he’s quite simply the most experienced, most successful golf fundraiser in the North America.

In this interview we discuss:

How he has helped raise $24 million for charity through golf outings.

The personal tragedy that inspired him to focus on golf event fundraising.

Why golf is the biggest charitable impact sport in the United States, bigger than baseball, football, and basketball combined.

The most common challenge for charity golf outings.

Whether golf outing managers should focus on getting sponsorships or donations.

The tool all charity golf outings should use to make it easy for people to participate.

Why real-time electronic scoring and music in golf carts can hurt donations during an event.

Mike’s least-favorite part of a golf outing.

His favorite memory from a charity golf outing that he’ll never forget.

...more