Craigie Hill’s sky-high celebrations

May 27 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

CRAIGIE Hill Golf Club’s Centenary celebrations are taking to the air, writes Gordon Bannerman.

The Perth club has teed-up a spectacular fundraising “Golf Ball Drop” to toast the 100-year milestone.

The event, believed to be a first for a Scottish golf club, will take place at the Hill on Friday, August 5, when hundreds of old golf balls will be released from a chopper high above the 18th fairway.

The Perth and Kinross public, businesses and other golf clubs are being encouraged to buy individually numbered balls, with a range of superb prizes up for grabs.

The individual nearest the pin prize will be £1000, while golf outings to a string of top Scots courses can be won in the business drop. Other golf clubs can win a set of printed pin flags.

Hugh McMaster, a member of the Craigie Hill centenary committee, said: “It is an exciting event on the calendar.

“One of our members, Alan Wilson, had spotted something similar being done as a fundraiser in the USA. It has taken a great deal of work liasing with various agencies but we are delighted that all the paperwork is now in place and we have lift-off.”

The event is being sponsored by A and B Taxis and has attracted support from Alan Bell of Kingsfield, based at Perth Airport.

The balls are being provided by club pro Niall McGill and each will be individually numbered for the big drop.

“It is something different and hopefully it will capture the imagination,” said Hugh, who noted that a local charity will also benefit from the event.

“It is fitting that the area between the second and 18th holes is known to golfers as the helicopter pad!

“We will have an exclusion zone on the day and stewards in place. The logistics have been challenging but we are now on countdown.”

Numbered balls can be bought now from Craigie Hill, Noah’s Ark Golf Centre on the Western Edge, from club members and online by going to www.noahsark.com and following the link to helicopter drop.

The Open draw is £5 a ball and it is £25 for golf clubs and £50 for the business drop.

On June 10 the Hill will host a captains and champions 12-hole challenge followed by a meal.

A Hickory Golf Day challenge is lined-up for June 25 with shotguns starts at 8am and 2pm. There will be a prize for the best dressed team. The fee is £40 per team and bookings are being taken at the pro shop.