The Kentucky Derby Festival is still trying to give someone a million bucks. Yes, you read that right...
The Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Hole-In-One Golf contest opens up Thursday at 10 am. The contest runs from Thursday, April 19th until Sunday, April 29th, at the Seneca Golf Course Driving range.
The contest was formerly held at the Louisville Water Tower, but has been moved this year due to flooding issues in past years.
There will be 10 days of preliminary qualifying rounds and then a Semifinal round at the Driving Range on Sunday, April 29th. The finals will be held on Tuesday, May 1, at Hole #8 of the golf course.
The rules are simple. During the 10 preliminary qualifying rounds, the 10 best shots (closet to the hole, hole in one) will advance to the Semifinals. The shot is taken from the short distance of 153 yards (135 for women). From there, participants will compete in the Semifinal with an chance to go the finals. At the finals, you have your opportunity to win a million dollars with a hole-in-one. If no hole-in-one is made, $5,000 will be awarded to the player who comes closest to the hole.
On Ladies Day- Wednesday, April 25th- the four women who hit closet to hole will go directly to the finals.
New to event this year is Kids Day. On Saturday, April 28th, two qualifiers under the age of 18 will advance to the Semifinals as part of the Kid's day promotion.
Nobody has ever won the million dollar prize. The closet coming in 1993, when Jim Ewing's shot landed 23 inches from the cup in the Finals. Now, it's your chance to change that.
The contest has run successfully since 1988. Former participants include Coach Denny Crum, Former mayors, Former governors, and yours truly.
The Michelob Ultra refreshment tent will be open daily at the venue; Seneca Golf Course will be offering daily food & drink specials. Each ball will cost $1, and all proceeds will go directly to the Kentucky Derby Festival. The contest is open to all ages, both amateur and professional.
