Helicopter Ball Drop - Need Input ASAP Cancel The title field is required!

1. Dustin Riley

   

   9 posts
   
   1/5/2017 8:01 AM

   Good morning,
   
   
   
   Our Club has been approached host a charity event. Part of the fund raising is a closest to the hole ball drop from a helicopter. Sounds like a 50/50 raffle but using golf balls. It sounds like 200 balls from about 20 ft. However, I'm doubting the height.
   
   
   
   Has anyone seen or gone through a golf ball drop from a helicopter onto a green? Damage? If not on a green, did you utilize a tee or fairway or other target?
   
   
   
   I just learned of this event this morning and the Club would like my 2c ASAP.
   
   
   
   Thanks in Advance
   
   
   
   Dustin

   
   
   
   
2. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   1/5/2017 9:01 AM

   We do one yearly, drop into fairway nearest clubhouse and PG. We cut cup in fwy, place flag and place 4 cones around it so helicopter can more readily spot the area.
   
   I don't think I would allow it on a green, too many possible ball marks.

   
   
   
   
3. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   1/5/2017 11:01 AM

   WE do one per season from a fire truck crane but we cut a hole in the first tee, not a green

   
   
   
   
4. Jeffrey Christensen

   

   0 posts
   
   1/5/2017 12:01 PM

   We have done it before using a target green on the driving range.

   
   
   
   
5. Paul Double

   

   37 posts
   
   1/5/2017 7:01 PM

   Dustin, this is funny...I was approached today by our office manager about the same thing and sounds like we locked in this outing. I was very curious about this ball drop as well. If you give me your email address, I can email some pictures the outing sent us today as to what it looks like or email me at paul.svcc@woh.rr.com and I will send you the pictures. For some reason I cannot get them to load to this message.
   Paul

   
   
   
   
6. Garrett Schultz

   

   0 posts
   
   1/6/2017 7:01 AM

   We also do one annually. We cut a cup with a large flag in the middle of the first fairway closest to the clubhouse, they drop from about 50' with minimal damage. I would be hesitant of doing that on a green however.

   
   
   
   
7. Joseph Felicetti

   

   1 posts
   
   1/6/2017 9:01 AM

   We do a couple every year. The outings love them. We do it on the range on a target green, would never do it on a course green! To see for the first time is kinda cool but after that it gets old. Helicopter pilot does some tricks and gets the outing participants into it then drops the balls. Show over!! No problems, good luck!

   
   
   
   
8. Steven Goike

   

   0 posts
   
   1/6/2017 12:01 PM

   There is a few ways to do this. We've done it by firetruck and by helicopter. We've used target greens out on range along with putting green and we've also used #18 green. The best was #18 green with helicopter because we dropped about 300 balls from about 40-70 feet and I had them drop the balls on the slope of green and all the balls trickled back to the green were the pin was located. There was no damage because they were dropped in the rough. We also used fire truck ladder fully extended on the putting green, which also was fun. Try to keep the area where you are dropping on green dry. I have a 2 tried green and I dumped them on the tier so they rolled down the green to only 1 cup. Was some ball marks but not a big deal. wet it down the next day and roll it and everything was good. The site you chose is important because you have to think about how far the participants will walk to see this. Don't forget to call your local news

   
   
   
   
9. David Stout

   

   0 posts
   
   1/6/2017 2:01 PM

   We did one in late spring of last year using a high reach lift. A practice green near our pro shop made for a good location. I'd say he was up just over 30' based on the height of the clubhouse, we had no issues with ballmarks.