Barnyard Nine hosts Bob Mezera Remembrance Day
By Ted Pennekamp
The Tuesday Scramble at the Barnyard Nine of Prairie du Chien on June 23 was a memorable one because the event was Bob Mezera Remembrance Day, and many of Bob’s relatives and friends played in the tournament.
Longtime Tuesday Scramble participant, Leonard Zabel, said the scramble has been held each Tuesday during the golf season for the past 20-25 years.
During that span, the Barnyard Nine members and scramble participants have planted trees or placed markers in the garden, near the back door or on the course for longtime avid golfers who played in the event regularly and who have passed on.
Bob Mezera passed away in April, and a 16-inch by 16-inch marker has been placed in his honor at the 100-yard mark of hole number 7, the island hole.
Leonard recalled that Bob would hit a lay-up shot to about 100 yards, and then tell the younger golfers in his group to go for the green.
On Tuesday, everyone in the scramble shot for Bob’s 100-yard marker. The closest to the marker got $75. There were several other prizes awarded at the event.
Leonard said there were about 45 golfers who played in Bob Mezera Remembrance Day. There were many friends and relatives, including siblings and many grandchildren.
In addition to the markers for players who have passed away, Leonard said everyone hits a golf ball over the railroad track on hole number 2 in remembrance.
Remembrance Days for Ted Penfield and Rick Petsche will also be held this season, said Leonard.
Leonard also noted that Bob Mezera often putted one-handed. During Bob’s Remembrance Day, Bob’s son, Jeff Mezera, along with one of Bob’s grandsons, each made a one-handed shot from about 25 yards.
“What are the odds of that?” asked Leonard. “They said Bob must have been looking down from Heaven.”
The team of Leonard Zabel, Ron Vick, Greg Fisher and Steve Mingus won the scramble. The team of Al Peterson, Doug Vanderbelt, Leroy Macke and Doug Vesperman was second. The team of Gary Tichner, Andy Christerperson, Tim Avon and Harold Guernsey was third.
Quote for the Day — “Well, I shot three over today, one over a house, one over the pool, and one over a patio,” George Brett.