It’s great to be back in the friendly confines of the OBSERVER.

As a quick history lesson, I spent several years as a sports reporter here. I had the privilege of covering some incredible athletes and teams from 2010-2013, including memorable trips across the state following the runs of both Pine Valley and Fredonia baseball, Forestville softball and more.

I then spent 2013-2017 as the sports editor of the Chautauqua Star, where I again was honored to chronicle the high school and collegiate careers of the best and brightest our area had to offer.

It was in 2013 that I fell in love with the sport of golf. For years my brother-in-law had been trying to convert me, but I was playing a ton of basketball and fast-pitch softball at the time. You know, “real” sports.

After he finally broke me down and got me to go to the driving range with him, I was instantly hooked. I bought my own set of clubs that night and played my first real golf shortly thereafter. You’ve heard about the golf bug. Well, that thing bit me hard.

I began writing this Golfer’s Diary as a way to share the exploits of a brand new golfer. I passed along helpful advice that I found on YouTube videos or in a number of golf magazines. I wrote about different equipment that I tried – balls, clubs, gloves, tees, etc. I shared my experiences at each of the local courses I would play at.

Now, this weekly article will be here in the OBSERVER and I couldn’t be more excited. Being recognized as “the guy who does the golf columns” allows me to talk golf with people I run into while walking my dogs, running errands or signing in at a pro shop.

I do, however, want to evolve and improve this column from what it has been. Yes, I still want to highlight my own rounds. I know from feedback that people enjoy my (often brutal) honesty. But there’s a whole lot more to the local golf scene than my own rounds. I’d love to highlight tournaments and local leagues. Do you have a child participating in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition? Let me know. Is there a local golfer making a name for themselves at the collegiate level? This space can be dedicated to them.

The bottom line is this: I want this column to appeal to people who love golf as much as I do because I know there’s a lot of us here in Western New York. Your ideas, advice, suggestions and even criticisms can help make the Golfer’s Diary the very best it can be.

Now that the business is out of the way, we can talk some golf.

My cousin Nick and I got up to Cassadaga Country Club twice in the past week. It’s always the first course I play each year because it dries out so quickly. Between the hills and the composition of the soil, as soon as the snow melts, CCC is pretty much a go.

Considering I hadn’t hit a golf ball in eight months, my expectations were low. Yet when my first drive went about 260 yards down the fairway, I was already thinking par. Never get ahead of yourself, folks. That’s when you flub your way to a double-bogey, as I did on No. 1.

The real highlight from the pair of rounds came on Day Two, hole No. 5. If you’re unfamiliar with CCC, this is a ludicrously short par 4 on paper, but it’s also quite uphill, so it plays significantly longer than its printed 244 yards. The drive was nothing special – a safe play up the fairway, about 50 yards out. The second shot looked fantastic, but the hill is so steep that I was shooting at a blind green. When we got up there, my ball was nowhere to be seen – until I looked in the cup. My second career eagle on just my 14th hole of the season. Not too shabby.

When all was said and done, my rounds came out to 43 and 42, respectively. I’d take those mid-season, let alone as the first two of the year.

Cassadaga Country Club has a couple upcoming tournaments that are open to the public. The Camo Open will be June 2 and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Golfers wearing camo. Hunting targets set up in fairways for special prize giveaways. It’s a fun one. Then on June 17 the course will hold its annual Father’s Day Tournament. Teams of fathers, sons, daughters, grandfathers, grandchildren, etc. are encouraged to sign up. Golfers of all ages are welcome to play with Dad.

Until next time, golf is great. Go get some.

Stefan Gestwicki is an OBSERVER contributing writer and golf enthusiast. Comments on this article can be sent to GolfersDiary@gmail.com.