Annual ball drop helps keep First Tee upright

FORT SMITH — Mark Lloyd, a staunch supporter of First Tee of Fort Smith, won $5,000 Saturday (Aug. 11) when a golf ball with his number on it was dumped among hundreds of others from a helicopter and landed closest to a designated tee on the First Tee course.

His investment — $10 per ball he wagered.

“We are thrilled that he was the winner,” said Kris Scott, marketing, public relations and membership director for First Tee of Fort Smith. Lloyd is the director of admissions at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

The event was the 10th annual Ultimate Ball Drop and Kid's Skill Competition, held at the First Tee of Fort Smith’s  facility and course on Geren Road. The yearly affair also includes a competition to determine which young golfers have honed their skills over the summer.

Here’s how the ball drop worked: For a $10 donation, participants received a ticket numbered in correspondence with a golf ball. The numbered golf balls were placed in giant duffle bags and released from a helicopter over a hole at The First Tee course. The first ball in the hole — or the closest to it — netted its purchaser $5,000.

Bill Walters provided the helicopter. Rachel Nelke, 11, won $100 for selling most tickets.

As of Friday (Aug. 10), nearly 1,800 tickets for golf balls had been purchased, said Scott. Organizers were hoping to sell the capacity of 2,500 tickets by the time the helicopter took off on Saturday.

“The Ultimate Ball Drop is our largest fundraiser of the year and the monies raised are what keep our doors open year round,” said Scott.

The Kid's Skills Competition was the culmination of the summer program and consisted of putting, chipping and driving contests for age groups including 3- and 4-year-olds, 5- and 6-year-olds, ages 7-9, ages 10-13 and ages 11-14. First, second and third-place certificates were awarded in each age division.

“This is our end of the summer finale, a way for all of the kids that have come through our program to have a simple day of challenges,” Scott said. Awards were also given for best overall in each age group. To be considered for the overall award, older participants had to submit an essay about one of First Tee’s nine core values: integrity, judgment, honesty, responsibility, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, perseverance and courtesy.

In addition to the ball drop and skills tests, a new flag was raised at First Tee course to honor the men and women who have been deployed with the Fort Smith-based 188th Fighter Wing. Scott sang the National Anthem as the flag was raised.