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.

In 2003, the course was owned by the Keshlers, who sold it a year later to the Intartaglias family (I'll made no attempt at pronouncing his last name), and it was Mike Intartaglia, the course president, who not only got us out promptly, but also allowed us a few minutes, post round, to discuss the golf course.