Madison Area Retiree Golf Association (MARGA)

A MARGA dedication service of a memorial bench in memory of Donald Wendt and Harry Snobarger was held on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the Glenway Golf Course Clubhouse. Donald Wendt and Harry Snobarger were the 1979 co-founders of MARGA (Madison Area Retiree Golf Association). Officiating at the dedication were members of the MARGA Board of Directors, the Golf Program Supervisor from the City of Madison Parks Division (Ray Shane), the Glenway Course Pro (Bill Scheer) and MARGA President (Ed Lippert).

MARGA President Ed Lippert presented the memorial bench and briefly traced the history of MARGA since its founding in 1979. He stated that since 1979, 600 Madison area senior golfers have been MARGA members. Presently, MARGA has 239 golfers who support 6 golf leagues at 3 City of Madison Golf Courses. In addition, MARGA has financially supported Junior Golf Programs when they are offered at City of Madison Golf Courses.

Accepting the bench for Madison was Ray Shane, Golf Program Supervisor for the City of Madison Parks Division. He emphasized the city's appreciation for MARGA's use and support of its golf courses. Th memorial bench will be permanently placed at the tee box of hole number 8, which is where Don Wendt tried (unsuccessfully) for years to get a "hole in one."

Also accepting the bench as a Glenway fixture was Bill Scheer, the Glenway pro, who noted that he had many fond memories of Don Wendt playing Glenway in his "signature yellow cardigan." Bill mentioned that although Don Wendt never got his "hole in one" at the 8th hole, he came very close a number of times and probably held the Glenway record for being closest to the pin on that hole.

Fred Benck, a MARGA golfer for many years and a good friend of Don Wendt shared some of his memories about Don Wendt in the Dedication Ceremony. He related that in the friendship which he and Don developed over their MARGA years, they discovered that they were both World War II veterans who were both involved in the "D-Day" landing on the beaches of Normandy.

Don's son, Keith Wendt accepted the gift of the bench as a family tribute. He stressed the pride which their family felt in Don's years in MARGA service.

TV coverage of the dedication ceremony was provided by channel 27, which aired its broadcast on their extended evening coverage. The Wisconsin State Journal gave pre-coverage with a printed article on page 2 of their June 16th edition of the sports section.

* Leo Sebald, MARGA Publicity Chairman