The Butler County Children's Advocacy Center and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 39 will be hosting the 9th annual Pro-Law-Am Golf Tournament Wednesday at Cambrian Ridge and playing spots are still available.

Adding more excitement this year, at 12:30 p.m.,Wednesday, a helicopter will drop 1,000 golf balls on a hole on the driving range for a chance to win $1,000.

Entry fee is $10 per ball and only 1,000 will be sold. The winner will be determined by which ball goes in the hole or, if no ball lands in the hold, by which ball is the closest to the hole. If multiple balls land in the hole, the money will be split evenly.

Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden has arranged for the Dale County Sheriff's Department helicopter to be brought in for the event.

Alabama Probation and Parole Officer Mark Harold, who is also the president of the local FOP lodge, said the drama of watching the balls drop should be almost as exciting as finding out who wins.

&#8220I think it's going to be a spectacular thing to watch and it's going to be added drama to see who wins,” Harold said.

Although Harold said watching the ball drop should be exciting, actually playing in the tournament and raising money for a good cause is the focus of the exciting event.

&#8220It's the top fundraiser for the FOP Lodge and Safe Harbor,” Harold said. &#8220It's also a great opportunity to let people know of our lodge and gives people a chance to meet and know their law enforcement.”

In dealing with Safe Harbor, Harold said the event is critical in helping out area children.

&#8220Safe Harbor does some amazing things and this tournament helps raise awareness of the difficulties children have in our area.”

CenturyTel, which has been the main corporate sponsor for the event for years, is back on board this year.

&#8220Without CenturyTel's corporate sponsorship, the tournament wouldn't be possible to be as large as it is,” Harold said.

Along with CenturyTel, Harold said many local business help sponsor the event and every bit helps.

With the sponsors and a course like Cambrian Ridge, Harold said the tournament has been and should continue to be a success.

&#8220It's unbeatable,” Harold said of hosting the tournament at Cambrian Ridge. &#8220We get to use their popularity and it gives people an opportunity to play at a Robert Trent Jones golf course.”

The entry fee for the tournament is $100 per person, or $60 for law enforcement.

The format of the tournament will be a handicapped four-man scramble.

Players can make their own team or be assigned to one.

Registration begins Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., and tee-off is at 1 p.m.

The entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, range balls, use of the practice green, refreshments, prizes, dinner and an award ceremony.

For more information, please contact Safe Harbor 334-382-8584, Cambrian Ridge at 334-382-9787 or any local law enforcement agency.