First Senior Men’s Lincoln Highway golf tournament May 22-23 in Rochelle, Dixon

For almost a century, the Men’s Lincoln Highway golf tournament has been a staple of the summer in these parts.

A new tradition, this one for players 55 and older, is being started this spring.

The inaugural Senior Men’s Lincoln Highway golf tournament will be played May 22-23. The first 18-hole round will be played at Fairways Golf Course in Rochelle, followed by another 18 at Timber Creek in Dixon.

It is the brainchild of Timber Creek member Rick Kessen.

“About 10 years ago I came up with the idea,” Kessen said. “I brought it up at a Lincoln Highway meeting and got shut down. Now that the guys are a little older and realize we can’t keep up with these kids, there’s a lot more guys that are in favor of going ahead with this.

“During the winter I was off work, so I had a lot of time to get the brain spinning a little bit. I decided to start this up so we can all have some fun and try to promote golf a little bit. It’s a little camaraderie with the old fellas, getting back together again. Hopefully this will go on forever, and keep going just like the regular Lincoln Highway.”

All 11 teams that compete in the Men’s Lincoln Highway also will do so in the senior version: Fairways, Timber Creek, Deer Valley (Deer Grove), Emerald Hill (Sterling), Rock River (Rock Falls), Shady Oaks (Amboy), Sunset (Mount Morris), Kishwaukee (DeKalb), PrairieView (Byron), Indian Oaks (Shabbona) and Lost Nation (Dixon).

A 9 a.m. shotgun start is planned for both days. Format will be best-against-bogey, with some double-bogey holes likely mixed in. Each team will consist of eight golfers.

The entry fee is $500. As courses finalize their lineups in the coming weeks, they are to send them to Timber Creek at @TimberCreekDixon or by phoning (815) 288-4653. Find Senior Men’s Lincoln Highway on Facebook for updates.

This year’s 99th annual Men’s Lincoln Highway golf tournament is slated for July 17-18 at Rock River Golf & Pool.