With more and more people interested in destination spa getaways, it's only natural that Meetings become centered around these events. We've got some tips on how to manage and budget for successful Spa and Golf Meetings.

One good piece of news is that spa and golf resorts have become overbuilt lately. With many golf resorts adding spas and many resorts adding both spa and golf affiliations, there are bargains to be negotiated with this venue. And if the rate at an on-site golf course or spa is too high, you can look off-site facilities nearby. Here are some cost-saving tips:

Avoid Top Level Golf Courses and Spas
It's not necessary to golf at Pinehurst or Pebble Beach to have a great event. Most of your attendees are average golfers and just like to play.”

Meetings can be flexible anyway so go off season.
With most courses and Spas huge savings result from booking off season: Prices can be one half as much and the facilities are still the same.

Hold a nine-hole tournament instead of 18
Nine hole tournaments take half the time and are less expensive. Since some resorts do not offer nine-hole rates make your bookings contingent upon negotiating a 9 hole rate. Even though a course may say they only do 18-hole tournaments, usually they will bend this rule to get the other part of your group business.

Make a Nile Hole Event Special
Beef up a nine-hole tournement by providing lesson conducted by the course pro. Or have your guests compete in contests like; longest drive, closest to the pin, chipping, and putting, with awards given to the winners.

Just do lunch
“Golfers can get by with a sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a bag of chips,” says Sablone of Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute Inc. Save the coleslaw, granola bar, brownie, and the fancy box it all comes in, because it's too much food — and it's not necessary. Sablone buys his own brown paper bags and requests that the resort put the lunches in them. “I don't want to spend the extra $2 on this elaborate box that basically gets thrown out.”

Have a cookout at one of the holes
It doesn't have to be fancy — just hot dogs and hamburgers, which the players can grab and go. It may end up being cheaper than having the resort put together a boxed lunch.

Cut out the booze
Choose to pick up the cost of beer, wine, and soft drinks, and let individuals pay for hard liquor if they want it. Or, put bottles of beer, wine, water, or soft drinks on the cart before the tournaments starts. If an individual consumes more than the pre-determined per-person amount, he or she has to pay for it.

Keep gifts simple
Consider using trophies, which are cheaper than golf equipment, clubs, and bags. Or cut back on certain contests — such as the longest-drive competition, which is difficult for anyone other than the best players to win — and you won't need to give out prizes for those.

Find out what kinds of prizes your attendees would value, Berkley advises. Books or CDs may be more appreciated by some attendees, while others may find more value in a gift certificate redeemable at the pro shop. “Imagine if you asked people what size shirts their children wear so you can print personalized T-shirts with their names on them.” It wouldn't cost much, she says, and the gift would have great value for some attendees.

Beef up your sponsorship program
Obtaining sponsorships for everything from the beverage cart to the closest-to-the-pin contest is a good way to enhance relationships with vendors and, of course, to help defray the costs of the tournament.