ORISKANY FALLS – For round two of my three-part summer golf series, several courses were in the discussion, and we (my foursome) settled on Barker Brook Golf Club in Oriskany Falls.

It's a course I toured and reviewed with Bob McNitt 11 years ago, and honestly, I remembered little about the 18-hole layout.

My only recollection of the course was how poorly I played it. The conditions and playability of Barker Brook were forgotten long ago, but after this latest outing, I can only say, "wow, that was much better than I remembered."

Early this week, my partner in week one of our tour, Mike McCormack, had to beg out of the golf outing for a family commitment – and those who know Mike are well aware he rarely passes up any opportunity to play golf.

It took three other good buddies – Rick Ferris, Mark McLaughlin, and Jim Johnson – to fill Mike's shoes as the four of us rode over in Mark's truck. Mark, a member at seemingly every course I know, had the most familiarity with the course, but as our rounds showed, familiarity does not equate to stellar golf.