ELGIN COUPLE'S MEMORABLE
PRIZE TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA

Alastair McDonald was in his car when the call came through. As he was driving, he asked one of his friends to take it. “Alastair, they say you’ve won a trip to South Africa to watch the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.”
“Right,” said Alastair. “Nice wind up guys”.
At his home in Elgin, his wife Debbie was busy with some DIY work when their daughter answered the phone. “Mom, they’re saying daddy’s won a prize.”
“Sure,” thought Debbie, dismissing it as yet another telesales ploy. In fact, it proved quite hard to convince the McDonalds that they had indeed won an all-expenses-paid trip to South Africa to watch one of the world’s premier golf tournaments on one of the game’s most spectacular lay-outs.
“They had to tell us three times we’d won before I actually believed it,” said Alastair. The prize was the result of a trip by Alastair and a few friends to watch the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in October.
With his ticket purchase Alastair was given an entry form for the competition, which he duly filled in and forgot about.
On the Sunday evening after the final round, tournament champion Padraig Harrington drew Alastair’s name as the winner of the prize for the trip to South Africa in December.
Under the trees on the banks of the Crocodile River on a cool December evening, the McDonalds recounted their memorable first trip to South Africa. “It’s been absolutely fantastic. We never realised the beauty of South Africa and now that we’ve seen it we’ll definitely be back. Everybody is so friendly. We have been very well looked after and it’s been more than we ever expected,” said Alastair, who works as the manager of a private members' club in Elgin.
The couple stayed at the magnificent Malelane Sun during their visit and were treated to game drives into the neighbouring Kruger National Park, one of the world’s famous game reserves. They attended all the official functions, the highlight of which was a personal invitation by tournament host Johann Rupert for a game drive followed by sundowners on the banks of the Crocodile River.
“That was particularly amazing,” said Debbie. “There was a herd of about 50 elephants that came down to drink.” “Now that we’ve seen the place we’d love to come back and explore some more,” added Alastair. They’d also love to bring their three daughters with them, who remained in Elgin for this trip.
“They stayed with our friends, Mr and Mrs Watson, who were not jealous at all,” said Alastair with a wry smile.
+Debbie and Alastair McDonald are pictured above at Leopard Creek, South Africa.