The 3-Second Rule
When someone lands on your event page, they're scanning for answers:
- What is this event?
- When and where is it?
- How do I sign up?
- Does this look legit?
If they can't answer those questions in a few seconds, they leave. Your design needs to make the important stuff obvious — immediately.
What Players and Sponsors Notice First
The hero image. This sets the tone. A great course photo says "premium event." A blurry cell phone pic says "afterthought."
The event name and date. These should be the largest, most prominent text on the page.
The registration button. If someone has to scroll to find "Register Now," you're losing signups.
The cause or purpose. Especially for charity events — why does this tournament matter?
Common Design Mistakes
Stock photos that scream "stock photo." Generic golfer silhouettes and obviously staged handshakes don't build trust. Use real photos from past events, or high-quality course imagery.
Wall of text. Nobody reads paragraphs on an event page. Use short sentences, bullet points, and clear sections.
Buried registration button. The CTA should be visible without scrolling. Put it in the hero section, and repeat it throughout the page.
Too many fonts and colors. Stick to 2 fonts and 2–3 colors. Consistency looks professional.
Missing mobile optimization. More than half your visitors are on phones. If your page doesn't work on mobile, you're losing registrations.
Layout Styles: When to Use Each
Full-screen hero
A large background image with text overlay. Works best when you have a stunning course photo or professional event imagery. Great for high-end charity galas and corporate events.
Editorial/Magazine
Text-forward with supporting images. Good for events with a strong story or cause that needs explanation. Works well for charity tournaments where the mission matters.
Video background
A looping video (drone footage, past event highlights) creates energy and movement. Best for larger events with professional video assets. Keep the file size reasonable for mobile.
Split screen
Image on one side, text and CTA on the other. Clean and modern. Works for most event types and is easy to execute well.
Minimal/Text-focused
Simple, clean, information-first. Good for club events or recurring tournaments where the audience already knows what to expect.
How Video Backgrounds Increase Engagement
Video captures attention in a way static images can't. A 10-second loop of players teeing off, the course from above, or last year's awards dinner creates energy and makes the event feel real.
Tips for video backgrounds:
- Keep it short (5–15 seconds, looping)
- No audio (auto-play sound is annoying)
- Compress for fast loading
- Have a fallback image for slow connections
- Make sure text is readable over the video
Mobile Optimization: Non-Negotiable
Check your page on a phone before you publish. Specifically:
- Is the registration button easy to tap? Small buttons are frustrating on mobile.
- Does text fit on screen? Headlines that look great on desktop might wrap awkwardly on mobile.
- Do images load quickly? Large files kill mobile performance.
- Can you complete registration on mobile? Test the entire flow, not just the landing page.
Essential Page Sections
A complete event page typically includes:
- Hero — Event name, date, location, and primary CTA
- About — What the event is and why it matters (2–3 sentences)
- Details — Format, schedule, what's included
- Pricing — Registration packages and costs
- Sponsors — Logos and recognition
- FAQ — Common questions answered
- Contact — How to reach the organizer
You don't need all of these for every event, but the hero, details, and pricing are essential.
Final Thought
Your event page is your best salesperson. It works 24/7, never takes a break, and talks to every potential player and sponsor. Invest the time to make it clear, professional, and easy to navigate — it pays off in registrations.
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