CATO - The rumor is it never rains at Cato Golf Club. But it's likely you'll get a downpour of bogeys with a chance for a sprinkling of triple bogeys. That was our forecast, anyway.

The nine-hole rustic layout, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, offers plenty of challenges with none of the gimmicks.

“It's got the old-style architecture,” said Frank Rich III, who presides over the course his grandfather, Frank Rich Sr. built in 1931. “It's minimalistic. It's pretty straightforward. There aren't any railroad ties or bulk heads.”

Straight forward, as in you better hit your drives straight or you'll have trouble making forward progress out of the rough. Because the course concept avoids severe doglegs or engulfing water hazards, the difficulties come from the thickness of the rough, the speed of the greens and pin placement.

“It's a challenging course,” Rich said. “Not super long, but it's not a little pitch-and-putt course either. It's regulation. It'll challenge anybody.”

For the golfer who prefers to place blame on the course rather than on his own swing, Cato will be a test, especially when it comes to the putting surfaces. The greens are somewhat fast but are soft enough to hold almost any approach shot. Putt reads are as honest as they come - there are no hidden breaks to deal with. Bottom line: no excuse will hold up, neither here or in a court of law, for your terrible putting stroke.

“The greens are fast, but they are true,” Rich said. “It takes a lot of hard work to keep them in such good condition. They're the best in the area, bar none.”

Though there's no gallery surrounding the fairways and there's no Jim Nantz to commentate your round, there is a stage for your play. Well, not exactly, more of a platform.

The white tees for the par-4, 395-yard fourth hole are on a wooden deck about 5 feet off the ground, suspended from surrounding trees. There's a patch of artificial turf that's just deep enough to tee up your drive. For some, driving out of a chute of trees may seem awkward and intimidating. For others, namely us, hitting from the woods is second nature.

“It's been there for about 20 years,” Rich said of the platform. “We couldn't grow grass in (that area). I saw an article about artificial turf in a magazine and decided it was something I should try.”

The concept was so interesting and unique, Rich wrote an article about the platform tee box for the GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America) magazine. Rich said he's been contacted by course superintendents from all over the country, inquiring about the “artificial” tee.

“From start to finish it was always an interesting concept. It was all about putting it into play,” he said. “Twenty years later it's still feasible. It's served its purpose.”

While Rich's favorite hole is the par-4 sixth (out-of-bounds on the left and pine trees on the right), a favorite of many members is the unconventional seventh hole. It's a 282-yard par-4 that's straight downhill and reachable in one shot if you've got a power drive ... or if your pharmacy of choice is BALCO.

The hole isn't difficult, though. In fact, it's the 18-handicap. Even one of us could feel like Tiger Woods - only for a moment - sending a drive a few yards short of the green.

“I don't like it,” Rich said. “I think it's too easy.”

Sometimes easy is nice, though. Even if it's only for one hole.