News from The McMillan Hotels

Golfing Eightsome Reel in £164,000 Lottery Win

It was their greatest ever stroke of luck - a group of golfers from Tayport in Fife have scooped more than £164,000 after placing their once-a-year bet on the Lottery.

The eight strong group, all members of the Scotscraig club, hit the jackpot during their weekend break at the 56-bedroom Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet, Galloway, whose course is reserved exclusively for guests.

“We’ve been going away together annually to play golf for 12 years and that’s the only time we ever play the Lottery,” said delighted Ronnie Redpath, a retired bank manager who is now a landscape gardener.

“We chose the Cally Palace because it’s a tremendous hotel with a great atmosphere in which to play golf.”

When group member Billy Docherty checked the team’s ticket in his hotel room at midnight on Saturday he discovered they had five winning numbers but only told his friends at breakfast the following morning. They then realised they also had the bonus ball number.

“When we went back to the Spar shop in Gatehouse where we bought the ticket, we thought we might win a couple of thousand pounds but were astonished to learn that the actual amount was £164,208!” Ronnie commented.

The group - who also include a joiner, bricklayer and painter - then returned to their golf, playing a third round of the Cally’s parkland course.

“Let’s say that, having just won more than £164,000, we didn’t bother looking for any ball that went off the fairway!” Ronnie said.

Robert McWhir, Manager of the Cally Palace whose first tee is just 20 yards from its front door, added:

“We’re thrilled that the hotel brought the Tayport eightsome such good fortune. Achieving a hole in one is marvellous - winning such a large amount of money with their one bet of the year is even better.“

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