Fellowship of Christian Athletes fundraiser offers $1.7 million in prizes for anyone who makes hole-in-one

BARRY, Ill. — Want to win $15,000 in groceries? A 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle? A 2021 Jeep Laredo or a 2021 Honda Pilot? Four season tickets in the Champions Club for the St. Louis Cardinals next season? A $250,000 home?

Or maybe something simple like a million dollars?

Anybody can win any of these prizes with one swing of the golf club.

The Million Dollar Golf Shot fundraiser for the Western Illinois chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes kicks off this weekend with preliminary rounds at five golf courses. Another preliminary round will be June 24-25 in Quincy, and the semifinals and finals will be on July 3 at Bow Lake Golf Course in Barry.

Jack Hull, area ambassador for the Western Illinois FCA, says golfers will compete for approximately $1.7 million in prizes and money. He hopes the event raises between $25,000 and $35,000.

“The first time I saw this done was in Freeport for a DARE program up there, and they raised $52,000 in one weekend,” he said.

Golfers can participate in the fundraiser at four courses this weekend:

• Plum Creek Golf Course in Winchester from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
• Bow Lake Golf Course in Barry from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Rolling Greens Golf Course in Mount Sterling from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
• K’s Creek Golf Course in Jacksonville from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Golfers also can participate at the Knights of Columbus Golf Course in Quincy from noon to 8 p.m. on June 24-25.

Golfers can hit five balls for $10 or a bucket of balls (approximately 40) for $50 at any of the five courses. Buckets can’t be shared. The 12 balls hit closest to the edge of a hole 165 yards from the tee box at each of the five courses will advance to the semifinals at 3 p.m. July 3 at Bow Lake.

Sixty golfers will get one shot at Bow Lake’s No. 2 green, which will have 18 holes. Any shot that goes into any of the holes will win a corresponding prize worth between $10,000 and $40,000. 

Each of the 60 golfers will then take another shot on the driving range. The 10 golfers whose ball is closest to the hole will get two more shots. One will be at the No. 3 green. Anyone who makes a hole-in-one will win a Rochester Modular Home, sponsored by Mixer Lumber Company, worth as much as $250,000.

The second shot will be at a different tee box with a chance to win $1 million ($25,000 each year for 40 years). That hole is sponsored by Refreshment Services Pepsi.

“We’re hoping to have an unbelievable crowd,” Hull said. “We want to set it up where there’s a huge gallery of people to watch. We’re going to have a band afterwards at Bow Lake. We’re going to make a party out of it.”

The cost for each prize offered during the fundraiser is covered by an insurance policy bought by each sponsor.

Tickets are available at the participating golf courses, as well as Geared Up Apparel and J. Roberts Jewelry in Pittsfield; Jacksonville Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Town & Country Bank,  Henry’s Service Center in Jacksonville; Mixer Lumber Company in Clayton; and Spring Lake Country Club, R&R Golf, Smith Brothers Powersports, Kunes Automotive, Harvey’s Furniture and Cedar Crest Country Club in Quincy.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an international non-profit Christian sports ministry founded in 1954. The Western Illinois FCA has 24 huddles during which student-athletes can share their feelings and needs while supporting each other. Contact Todd Sweatman at tsweatman@fca.org or 217-370-2008 for more information.