The Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club and the Rotary Club of the Comox Valley recently combined forces to host what is sure to be a signature event in the Valley – the inaugural Golf Ball Drop Fundraiser.
A total of 2,000 numbered golf balls were sold for $10 each at venues across the Comox Valley over the summer. Last-minute buyers hoping to purchase a ticket were out of luck, as all 2,000 corresponding numbered tickets were “sold out” before the day of the drop.
On Sept. 10 at Crown Isle Golf Resort, the 2,000 numbered golf balls were dropped over the practice putting green by the Courtenay Fire Department’s Ladder Truck under the watchful eye of Deputy Chief Kurt MacDonald. The pull of the rope was done by retiring Fire Chief Don Bardonnex with his wife, who were driven to the event in Greg Sawchuck’s 1928 Hupmobile. Everyone who came out to watch kept close eyes on where the balls landed, as the four closest balls to the hole were winners of $5,000 in cash prizes.
The four ‘Closest to Pin’ prize winners were:
1st prize - Greg Plaxton – $3,000
2nd prize – Carol Kayes – $1,000
3rd prize – Gary Shaw – $500
4th prize – Heather Mercier – $500
An additional 10 balls next nearest to the hole won gift prizes totalling $1,710 from local services and merchants.
For a list of the subsidiary prize winners, go to bit.ly/2XSqNq3
Congratulations to all of the Golf Ball Drop winners who were “closest to the hole”!
A huge “thank you” to the many businesses who generously donated advertising, printing costs, and prizes to this joint fundraiser.
The Comox Valley Golf Ball Drop was a collaborative fundraising event that will benefit local Rotary and Monarch Lion initiatives that focus on enriching the lives of many in our community.
“We are sure this is going to be an event that people look forward to every year,” said Steve Blacklock, director of fundraising for the Rotary Club of the Comox Valley. “Next year, people are going to be looking to get their golf ball tickets early for this event.”
“Both the Monarch Lions and the Rotary Club of the Comox Valley share the mandate of working to better the lives of local citizens and providing necessary services to those in need,” said Chris Little, past president of the Monarch Lions. “All the proceeds from the fundraiser are to be shared equally and will remain in our community.”
You can view a video of the Golf Ball Drop event on both the Rotary Club of the Comox Valley’s Facebook page, and the Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club Facebook page.