By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times
On Wednesday, October 2nd, several Mt. Hood Villages businesses and community members participated in the return of “The Bars Wars Golf Tournament.” Bars from Government Camp to Welches competed in the golf tournament that has been a staple in the community for the last decade. While bragging rights and community fellowship are the goals for each team entered into the tournament, this year’s Bar Wars left a lasting impact on the unity of the Mt. Hood Villages, as the event was organized with a goal to raise money for longtime Mt. Hood Villages resident, Krista Spiro, who is currently battling cancer.
After taking a hiatus from the event, Bar Wars returned with fierce and friendly competitiveness involving 32 teams with 128 golfers. This year’s tournament was organized with the help of The Whistle Stop Bar and Grill, Charlie’s Mountain View, Pub 26 and Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. “This year we definitely wanted, as a community, to support our friend and fellow bartender Krista Spiro,” Tekla Schmidt, owner of The Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, said. “She has been a bartender on the mountain for around 20 years, including the bar at the golf course, Mallards, for many years. She had been working the last few years as a manager at The Ratskeller in Government Camp,” Schmidt added.
Tournament participants were able to join the team [bar] of their choice, with many of the businesses having multiple teams represented. The bars represented included The Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, Pub 26, Charlie’s Mountain View, ZigZag Inn, The Skyway Bar & Grill, The Ratskeller, Beer Stube at Skibowl, Warming Hut at Skibowl, Taco Shoppe, Rams Head at Timberline, Mt. Hood Brew Pub, Glacier Haus, Chicali Cantina, Coopers Wine Bar, Mallards at The Resort and Level Brewery. Included in the event were also charitable donations from US Foods and Sysco, who provided food for the golfers and those volunteering at the event. “The industry reps that came and played chose which bars they wanted to represent, but 90% of the players were local employees and customers of the bars they represented,” Schmidt said.
Although sport and raising money for Spiro were the main focuses of the event, contenders were also able to indulge in other activities, drinks, and food throughout the day. “Distributors such as Columbia Distributing, Point Blank, Maletis, Pepsi, US Foods and Sysco donated raffle items, food, drinks and beer while Pfriem, Migration, Level and Pelican breweries also donated beer and raffle items,” Schmidt said. “There were free beer samples, free hot dogs mid-course, a troop of anti-cheerleading hecklers. A taco bar lunch at the award ceremony and silent auction with a 50/50 raffle was held as well,” Schmidt added.
While the engraved Bar Wars trophy had been housed by its previous winner, The Ratskeller, 2024 winner The Whistle Stop Bar & Grill now proudly boasts their iconic victory with the trophy sitting majestically above their fireplace. Participants and businesses enjoyed the day of fellowship and competition, but overall, all involved were winners, helping to raise over $11,000 for Spiro. Organizers of The Bar Wars golf tournament have a plan to sustain this tradition and hope to continue to use it as a benefit for future community members in need.