Bring on Oakmont, bring on the church pews. That was the story going into the 2016 U.S. Open. As if the man-made course with its myriad of narrow fairways, bunkers of all shapes and sizes and lightning greens weren’t enough of a challenge, this year the players had to deal with Mother Nature from the outset. The first round had to be halted because of rain, followed by a re-start, which was followed by another rain delay and ultimately a postponement to the following day. Some players didn’t even have a chance to begin the round. Thus a tournament renowned for its difficulty, in particular this course in Pittsburgh, played mental games on the players, each of them seeking to add a major win to their careers. Many of those who survived the cut had never won a major.

The eyes of the sports world will be on Oakmont Country Club this week, as the best golfers on the planet bring their talents to the 116th playing of the U.S. Open. Industry pundits have given their expert opinions on contenders and the chatter is all about the new “Big Three.” Originally a term used to describe the triumvirate of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, the modern version consists of Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. Regardless of era, fans want to see drama on Sunday that involves superstars battling amongst one another on the game’s biggest stage.

Every golfer dreams of scoring a hole-in-one. No matter whether you play professionally or recreationally, it’s exciting to ace a hole. At this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, 18-year-old Brooke Henderson aced the par-3 13th hole from 152 yards with a 7-iron. It was the fourth of her career. She won the tournament, too, in a playoff against Lydia Ko. It was quite a week for the Canadian phenom, ranked number four in the world at the start of the week. Henderson won a car with hole-in-one – specifically a Kia K900 – which was a prize available for any player who aced that hole. She gave the car to her elder sister, Brittany, who caddies for her.

Golf can be tough, anyone who’s ever picked up a club can tell you that. Heck, even professionals struggle every once in a while. And when things take a turn for the worse on the golf course, sometimes the only medicine for a sickly-struck shot is a “gently” tossed club.

When Muhammad Ali passed, among those who paid tribute to him was Lydia Ko. “Thank you very much for being an inspiration to all! RIP Muhammad Ali.” Anyone who follows golf has to appreciate Ko’s words. She’s a 19-year-old who would have known Ali only by what she has seen on video or read on the Internet. Sadly, she grew up in an era in which the greatest boxer of the ‘60s and ‘70s – and arguably of all time – had already descended into the depths of the disease that would lead to his death at the age of 74. But it takes one great athlete to recognize and appreciate another.

Yesterday, millions of Americans honored the brave men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day originated shortly after the Civil War when the Grand Army of the Republic – the Union Army’s veteran’s organization – established the last Monday of May as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the fallen with flowers. From fighting for independence to liberating the oppressed, America’s history is deeply intertwined with its military exploits. Did you know that golf and the military also have a past? Long before Rory McIlroy cruised to his maiden U.S. Open title at Congressional Country Club, the Bethesda, MD club was home to some other major firsts. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) – the predecessor to today’s CIA and Special Forces – leased the club as a training ground for spies and commandos. Marksmanship training on the driving range put a whole new spin on picking your target while practicing throwing hand grenades into bunkers certainly defined the explosion shot.

Have you ever gone to a range or the practice area at a golf club and noticed how many people are working on their driving? Despite the fact drivers may be needed only 14 times on a standard 18-hole course, they have a particular fascination with golfers, particularly hackers or those who play only a few times a year. There is something fantastic about standing on a mat or on the grass and blasting away to see how far a ball can be driven. If it goes straight and true and beyond 200 yards, it's a great feeling of pride. If it’s sliced or hooked, it’s the surest way to, well, drive you crazy.

On October 11, 2000 at the Invensys Classic in Las Vegas, NV team Titleist introduced what would become one of the industry’s most popular golf balls. The fledgling project dubbed Pro V1 (“Pro” for professional, “V” for the veneer layer of Urethane and “1” since it was the first) was put into play by nearly 50 professionals that week including eventual champion Billy Andrade. On the heels of its record-setting success, a second model – the Pro V1x – was introduced three years later in 2003.

Photo cred: http://nichehacks.com/ Here’s an idea to have some fun watching the U.S. Open next month. Get together with a bunch of friends and put some money into a “pool” in which the winner collects the entire share. I’ve been involved in golf pools for several years, usually involving 20 teams, each investing $10 a piece. We each pick four players, but to make it interesting we automatically eliminate the major contenders such as Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. These two will automatically be considered favorites to win, along with Jason Day. The winning team is the one with the lowest score.