Some interesting things are happening as we are beginning this golf season. Chris Novak reported that he was playing the first hole at Dutch Hollow, and hit a downwind draw to the left that was headed out of bounds. Novak and his group looked high and low but could not find his ball so they assumed it went OB. But the group leaving the first green said there was a ball next to the greenside bunker, and the ball proved to be Novak's. That has to be a record drive for this area, a poke of more than 440 yards from the white tees. Novak chipped up and came close for double eagle, then dropped the eagle putt. If anyone knows of any longer drives, please let me know.

Andy Eckhardt made eagle at the second hole at Dutch last Sunday as he holed a 5-iron into the wind from about 140 yards. “The ball took one hop and went into the hole” Eckhardt said.

As mentioned last week, a “handicap index” is used to indicate a measurement of a player's potential ability on a course of standard difficulty, or in other words, with a slope rating of 113. If you play another course, you can take your handicap index and adjust the number of strokes you get by looking at that course's handicap table. For example, if your index is 16.2 at your home course and you went to play a course with a slope rating of 140, you would be entitled to 20 strokes, a substantial increase over the 16 you normally get. This is why keeping a valid, updated handicap where all your scores are reported is so important. It levels the playing field wherever you go, and you can compete on an even basis with any golfer of any ability.

As we head into June, tournaments are everywhere. You have the chance to play in team or individual events as often as you wish. It is a great way to have some fun and work on your game at the same time.

June is also U.S. Open month. This year's National Championship will be held at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Tiger Woods played a couple practice rounds there earlier this year, and proclaimed that Oakmont is at least four shots harder than Winged Foot was for last years' Open.

If that is truly the case, it should be another great week for what is arguably the toughest tournament in golf. If you think back to last year, maybe you remember the trials and tribulations of Phil Mickelson, Colin Montgomerie, and Jim Furyk as their chances at victory evaporated on the 18th hole. Or maybe you remember that great up and down by Geoff Ogilvie on the18th for the win.

It used to be that a “best ball” was the popular term for what is otherwise called a “better ball” competition. With modern times come new inventions, and so it was with the advent of the captain and crew or scramble format. These latter terms are now what has become known as “best ball,” because you take the best ball of the team and everyone plays his shot from there, and then you take the best ball and play again from there. The old best ball or better ball competition is where you score with the better ball of two players or the best ball of three or four or any combination thereof.

The end of the club you hold in your hand was known as “the grip” but is rapidly becoming known as the handle. A starting time or tee time was the time you were assigned to play. Now you can ask for a reservation to play golf. Small changes, same things, different words.

See you on the links!