At a few minutes after 5:30 p.m., all is quiet and serene on the Santa Maria Country Club’s gorgeous, pristine golf course.
The fleet of electric golf carts has returned to the garage. After a hard day on the hot links, golfers enjoy cold drinks in the bar.
Then, everyone flocks to the veranda. All eyes are on a speck in the sky.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … a plane—or a silver-colored helicopter, to be exact, piloted by Mike English of English Air Services.
The aircraft approaches, descends, and hovers low in plain sight of the spectators. This is the moment all have been waiting for.
On board the helicopter, Jeff Saleen empties a bucketful of numbered golf balls. Yes, he drops them out of the helicopter.
Four of these land in a sizable hole. The persons who “bought” those four particular balls for $25 a clip have just each won $1,000! If one numbered ball had landed in the designated spot, the owner of that number would have taken home $4,000. Is that world-class excitement or what?
This helicopter ball drop is the signature happening of the YMCA’s annual “fun-raising” golf tournament, held this year on Monday, Sept. 27.
The Y’s CEO, Shannon Seifert, promised me, a first-timer at this event, that the ball drop would be a hoot and a half. She was right on.
One-hundred-and-fifty golf tournament tickets sold at $150 each. A ticket brought its buyer a handsome black golf jacket, a day of golf, prizes, lunch, dinner, and one numbered ball. The price of admission automatically entered the golfer in the Ball Drop.
I call this a good deal—particularly since the prime rib dinner, served with garlic mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, ciabatta bread, Costa de Oro wine, and dessert was so fabulous.
Cheering at the ball drop were lots of avid supporters of the YMCA and its programs, which include a day care center, invaluable for working parents.
Among the crowd were Anita Strong and Dan Prickett, who generously sponsored the evening part of the tournament.
Others on hand for this “fun-raiser” were Cameron and Linda Smith and Doug and Teri Lee Coleman, and golfers KCOY weather guy Jim Byrne and baseball star Bryn Smith.
Darren Gee and Mike Sell were two of the tournament participants who walked to the podium to claim a prize.
Jay Turner emceed, while that fast-talking Todd Ventura was a most entertaining auctioneer.
Board members Jeanie Ardantz and Jeff Saleen co-chaired the madcap day.
Discover Santa Maria Valley: Tortoises, snakes, and art
Snakes and sharks more your thing?
The only children’s museum in Santa Barbara County—the Discovery Museum—was the site of the 12th annual Discover Santa Maria Valley fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 19.
A staffer paraded around with a huge snake, while a large tortoise took a supervised stroll through the event space. The resident shark was in its tank.
Fine wines and finger foods and music from a live band were part of the deal, along with the silent, live, and Chinese auctions. Children’s art activist Chris Slaughter emceed.
Each year, a local artist paints a museum-related piece that is auctioned off. Nat Fast, this year’s featured artist, produced a charming watercolor on exhibit at the museum.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you can contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Oct 7-14, 2010.
