Over the past 12 editions of the Rotary Club of Abbotsford's popular Million Dollar Hole in One contest, no one has managed to reel in the seven-figure prize.
To be fair, it's an awfully tough feat: various estimates on the odds of making a hole in one on a given swing range from 5,000-1 at the low end of the scale to 45,000-1 on the high end.
But the Rotary Club of Abbotsford would dearly love for this to be the year that one of the three finalists finds the bottom of the cup.
"We're hoping this year somebody takes the million," said event chair Hugh Ellis. "It would be fantastic. We pay the insurance on it – we'd love to see somebody win."
This year's contest begins on Saturday, June 1 and runs through June 8 at Fraserglen Golf Course. The quarter-finals, semifinals and finals all run on Sunday, June 9.
While local golfers haven't landed the top prize yet, there have been plenty of positives to emerge from the fundraising event. The contest has generated approximately $350,000 for various charities over its 12-year run.
This year's primary beneficiary will be Holmberg House, an adult hospice facility currently under construction which will be operated by the Abbotsford Hospice Society. Some funds will also go to Rotary charities.
"We felt they had an immediate need for our support," Ellis said, explaining the choice of Holmberg House.
The Million Dollar Hole in One event is open to golfers of all ages. During the qualifying days, golfers can pay $10 for 12 balls or $20 for 30 balls and take a shot at a pin 95 yards away. New this year, for every $50 purchase of balls, golfers are entered to win a $3,000 ring from Lee's Fine Jewellery.
The top seven closest to the pin each day win a spot in the quarter-final round, plus a prize from a pool worth roughly $25,000 dollars. Five additional quarter-finalists will be randomly drawn each day, and the top 10 finishers from ladies day (Tuesday, June 4) will also participate.
Each of the 106 qualifiers will have three shots at a pin approximately 165 yards away. If their ball finds the hole, top prizes include a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Ford vehicle, and a $10,000 term deposit.
The 10 closest to the pin from the quarters move on to the semis, where they get one chance to hole out for $100,000. The top three move on to the finals, where they get one shot at $1 million.
For more information, visit www.rotarymillion.com.