Putt for a Purpose is crazy golf with a charity layer built in. The point isn’t to turn your team day into a hard sell for fundraising. It’s to give people a proper shared activity, then tie that time back to a cause your business already cares about. That could mean score-based donations, donated build materials, or both.
There are two main ways to run it. The first is a portable crazy golf setup, usually 4 or 9 holes, where teams rotate round the course and their scores unlock a donation amount. The second is the build version, where each team creates a hole using items like food donations, toiletries, school supplies, cardboard or craft materials, then everyone plays the full course once it’s complete.
A typical session starts with a short briefing. We explain the format, split people into teams and set out how the charity link works, because that part needs to be clear from the start. If you’re using a donation mechanic, we’ll make it transparent. That might be a fixed amount per point, bonus donations for hole wins, or a matched total you’ve agreed in advance.
If you choose the build version, teams get a table of materials and a simple design brief. They create one playable hole, test it, make any quick fixes and then add it to the shared course. This part works well because people naturally divide roles. Some sketch ideas, some build, some test shots, and some keep an eye on whether the hole is actually possible to play.
Once the course is ready, play begins. The atmosphere is competitive enough to keep people engaged, but it never feels like a serious sports event. That’s why it suits mixed groups so well. People can chat while they wait for turns, cheer each other on and still take part even if they’ve never picked up a putter before.
It also works well as an icebreaker. If you’ve got departments that don’t often mix, or guests arriving across a longer conference day, crazy golf gives people an easy reason to stop, stay and talk. On top of that, the drop-in style works far better than many fixed workshop formats when your schedule has lots of moving parts.
This event is broad in its appeal because the physical demand is low. You don’t need golf experience, a certain fitness level or a big outdoor venue. Indoor spaces are often easiest for access and smooth play, although we can run it outside too if the ground and layout suit the course. If accessibility matters for your group, we’ll plan the setup around that rather than treat it as an afterthought.
The charity outcome can be shaped around your business. Food bank donations are common, but they’re not the only route. We’ve seen teams build holes around toiletries, pet supplies and school essentials, depending on the cause being supported. If you’d rather keep the event playful and use scoring to drive a pledged donation instead, that’s just as workable.
NewWave handles the practical side. We bring the putters, balls, scorecards, course sections and hosting team. For build events, we can also provide the materials needed for construction, depending on the version you choose. We’ll talk you through space, timings and team numbers before the day, so you know what fits and what doesn’t. If a full 9-hole setup is too much for your venue, we’ll tell you and suggest a tighter option that still works.