Golf: Cesarek to play in final Lincoln Highway

It seems as if life in the Midwest is coming to a conclusion for Lou Cesarek.

He plans to golf for years to come, but not in DeKalb at Kishwaukee Country Club, where he has been a member since 1982. The 66-year-old Sterling native and Newman graduate has some unfinished business before moving to Louisville, Kentucky later this year.

High on that list is finishing up some work on the interior of his home. Even higher on that list is to play in one final Lincoln Highway tournament.

“I’d like to say it’s just another one,” said Cesarek, who is a three-time medalist in the tournament. “They’re all pretty special. I’d have to say winning those three times was great, but they’re not better than a team championship.

“I’m really looking forward to this one coming up, though I’m not sure if you asked each one of the players they wouldn’t give you the same answer.”

Cesarek will play for the host Kishwaukee Country Club on Saturday and Sunday, in the 93rd annual installment of the event.

Golf has been a major aspect of his life, both growing up and briefly professionally. He had a brief professional stint as a player from 1965 to 1969, before regaining his amateur status a year later.

He has worked at various courses and as a golf rep, most recently Mizuno, before retiring almost 2 years ago. The timing of his retirement couldn’t be better, and after about 30 Lincoln’s as a member of Kishwaukee, it’s only fitting that he goes out on his home course.

The move later in the year, positions Cesarek and his wife closer to their daughter, Nikki, who lives in the Louisville area. A winter home in Florida is also on the horizon.

“[Since retiring] every day is Saturday,” Cesarek said. “But with the terrible weather we’ve been having this year, all the rain, that means I’m only playing about 2 days a week.”

He envisioned playing at least 5 days each week this summer. Despite the blazing heat and sauna-like humidity on Friday, Cesarek, wearing a bright green polo, went out on the Kishwaukee course to check on the conditions.

He reported back with news of wet, slow greens, and a premonition of low scores this weekend.

“This course plays short and tight,” he said. “Some guys are built for this type of course, and it should be a competitive tournament. Every one of the players will be competitive.”

While Cesarek is on his way out, having handed over the reins to a lot of the behind-the-scenes work to Timber Creek’s Bob Venier 2 years ago, an aspect of the tournament’s distant past is returning.

Not since 1942 has a club had two teams participating. Host Kishwaukee will have two teams this year, I and II, something that the club worked hard to push through recently. A narrow vote in favor from the other participating teams granted it permission.

Cesarek knows that not everyone is happy about it, as other clubs are stuck leaving players off the team after intense qualifiers.

“Some don’t like it, sure,” Cesarek said. “But it is the second time it’s happened. It’s been done before. We’re trying to set an example for more participation.”

Kishwaukee had 15 players compete for six spots during its qualifier, and Cesarek poured over newspaper clippings and web pages to see if another team has ever had two teams before he proposed the idea.

Host Dixon Country Club in 1942 fielded two teams, and Cesarek has since put that information up in the Kishwaukee club house.

“Personally, I think it’s great,” Cesarek said. “If the home team has enough players and enough interest, I’m all for it. If the host club down the road doesn’t have the numbers to do so, then they don’t have to have two teams. It’s nothing lost.”