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FROM JIM MOOREHEAD:

Hi guys,   I had the most interesting conversation with Keith Kimball yesterday. Keith is 94 and has given up golf at this point and his memory isn't that bad to my estimation. Here are some thoughts be they correct or not....to the best of his recollection.

  When they first started (as we know) it was Bill Burkardt and Al Woodside and someone I didn't know about was a "big guy" from the Palisades. He seemed to think the cost was $15.00 with $4.00 going to prize money. He said they had three boxes and you would go to the course, put your name and handicap on a piece of paper and put it in the appropriate box. When the numbers were off they would borrow from say the "B" box to add to the "C" box to even numbers. He thought each "C" player would choose *his* teams by picking one player at a time until all teams were made up.

  It seems Edgewood didn't have a liquor license so they would all throw a few bucks into a "beer and pop" donation and someone would buy a bunch of pop n beer and put it into a container for everyone to use. Keith said he never remembered anyone getting out of line.

  At the end of the year they would have a banquet somewhere and bring their wives and that is sort of how the Ladies started their Fifty and Over. After a while not only did they have players from Palisades, Edgewood and Oakville but also from Lakeview, Lena, Mount Morris, Lake Carroll, Bucks Barn and more as the time went on...

Since Keith was sort of in the group from the start with Bill and Al, I think some kind of a letter of introduction using these different bits of knowledge could be incorporated into our website somehow....

Thanks guys for your interest...

Fairways and greens,

Jim Moorehead

HOW THE 65 AND OVER LEAGUE GOT STARTED:

SOME BITS AND PIECES OF INFORMATION ON A GROUP OF "OLD FARTS" OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "SUPER SENIORS" 

THE GROUP CALLED "SUPER SENIORS" WAS THE BRAIN CHILD OF A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF PHIL DESPAIN AND WAS STARTED SOMETIME AROUND 2011/2012 (ISH). PHIL WAS A MAINSTAY FOR YEARS IN A GROUP CALLED THE "SENIORS" A GROUP THAT HARBORED 50 YEARS OLDS AND UP. IN HIS DAY, PHIL WAS PRETTY MUCH REFERRED TO AS AN A PLAYER. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT WHEN HE STARTED THE "SUPER SENIORS", HE BEING 65 PLUS WAS FEELING THE PRESSURE OF FATHER TIME EFFECTING HIS GAME AND FELT THAT A GROUP OF GOLFERS CONSISTING OF 65 YEARS PLUS WOULD/SHOULD BE A MORE RELAXED ENVIRONMENT. 

AFTER FATHER TIME HAD MADE MORE CHANGES FOR PHIL, HE PASSED THE REINS ON.I IMAGINE THAT PHIL IS STILL ENJOYING HIS DAILY ROUND OF GOLF!! 

WHILE THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL RULES, IT APPEARS THAT BASED ON THE WAY THINGS ARE HAPPENING TODAY, AGAIN I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT IT WAS HIS DESIRES TO: 

1.) PLAY OFF THE OLD GUYS TEES- RED

2.) ONLY HAVE AN AGE REQUIREMENT OF 65 YEARS OR OLDER

3.) NOT REQUIRE BEING A MEMBER OF A GOLF COURSE

4.) YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A HANDICAP

5.) ENJOY BEING WITH "OLD GUYS", ENJOY GOLF AND B.S. 

6.) NOT HAVE ANYONE TURNED AWAY

WHEN THE 65 AND OVER LEAGUE STARTED, GOLF COURSE WERE PUSHED TO ALLOW GOLF TO ONLY COST $20 TO PLAY (NOW IT IS $25)

A SMALL AMOUNT OF $5 WOULD BE PUT IN THE KITTY FOR PRIZE MONEY. (SIDE NOTE): AS OF 2021 WE WERE STILL PLAYING FOR THAT SAME $20. HE WAS A GOOD SALESMAN!!

AS OF 2022, THE COST TO GOLF WAS INCREASED TO $25 GOING TO THE COURSES AND CONTINUED WITH $5 GOING TO THE PRIZE MONEY. 

IT WAS ALSO PHIL'S DESIRE THAT NO ONE SHOULD WIN MORE THAT TWICE THE PRIZE MONEY ENTRY FEE, OR ABOUT $10 PER PERSON-HELPING TO KEEP AWAY FROM THE PRESSURE TO WIN. KEEPING WITH THE "KISS" PRINCIPLE OF "KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID AND JUST HAVE FUN!!! 

WHILE THIS LIST MAY NOT BE COMPLETE, IT IS ALL THE COMES TO MIND!! 

AL BUSH!!! 

HARLAN "HARLEY" BELL OBITUARY: - HARLEY WAS ON OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDING FATHERS OF OUR 50 AND OVER LEAGUE WITH BILL B, AND OTHERS 

Harlan Bell, 91 of Rock Falls died September 25, 2024 at Avonlea in Sterling.

He was born on August 22, 1933 in Sterling, the son of George W. and Marie (Wentling) Bell and a graduate of Sterling High School. He served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. He married Joy Janice Marney on June 29, 1957 in Rock Falls. She died December 20, 2022. Harlan was employed at Northwestern Steel and Wire where he completed 35 years of service before retiring from the roll shop. He loved working with his hands and was a skilled carpenter. He built over 100 homes spanning almost 50 years. He loved fishing, golfing and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Survivors include his children: Doug (Jane) Bell of Marion, IA and Becky (Martin) Wilkinson of Rock Falls; his brother Dennis Bell of Springfield, MO; six grandchildren: Shaun Taylor, Jenna Rinaldi, Jarad Bell, Kerstyn Wescott, Joy McNamara and Kristopher Wilkinson; nine great grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers: Mason, Gene and Alan Bell; sisters: June Teachout and Joyce Meyer; and great grandson Kristian Taylor.

A gathering of friends and family will take place on Wednesday October 23, 2024 from 9-11 AM at the McDonald Funeral Home & Crematory in Rock Falls. The service will follow at 11 AM with the Reverend Dalmus Meeks officiating.