It’s a very busy golf week, but I’m taking a day in hopes of sneaking in at least nine holes between all of the other things I have to get accomplished before the day is done.

We’ve got four players at Southern Hills for the U.S. Amateur. Max Buckley (79), Chris Scialo (82), Max Cahn (82) and George Zahringer (83) all had a difficult time yesterday and have a lot of climbing to do to make the match play field of 64. You can follow them here.

Nanette Hill was in tie for second place after shooting an even-par 72 in yesterday’s Women’s Met Open Championship at Huntington Country Club. The field also includes most of the top club pros. You can follow them here.

The first round of the Met Open is also being played today at Ridgewood Country Club. Michael Quagliano is making his professional debut there alongside many of the best club pros and top amateurs. You can follow them here.

There are tired swings and sore feet, but most of the field is going strong at the WGA Caddie Scholarship Fund Golf Marathon today at Trump National.

Of the 27 intrepid golfers that started, 22 are still on the course.

“Wanna come see this drive?’ asked Michael Peterson, a sophomore at Manhattan College who is a scholarship recipient, in response to a question about how it was going 51 holes into the day.

He was beginning to run down.

It probably helps to at least be young at heart to stay among the hole leaders.

“You just have to be focused,” said former Winged Foot caddie and scholarship recipient Steven Wesely, who was getting moral support from his father, Al. “I’m having a great time. I’m doing pretty good. I’ve got two birdies, a whole bunch of pars and a whole bunch of triples.”

The day began at 8 a.m., and several of the golfers intent on leaving with bragging rights have split from their original twosomes and are making time. Quite a few of them are well into their fifth round of the day.

“I’m trying to get to 125 holes,” said Jonathan Margolies, the head pro at Sedgewood. “My feet really hurt. Everything else is OK, it’s just my feet, standing for seven or eight hours so far, walking back and forth, all that rubbing, rubbing, rubbing.”

There aren’t many players taking practice swings. And with Titleist providing free Pro V1s, nobody was looking for balls that strayed off line.

Donald Trump donated the course and carts, and the WGA is hoping to raise nearly $60,000 for it’s caddie scholarship fund.

(Photos: Top, Michael Peterson, a Stony Point resident. Bottom, Steven Wesley, a Mamaroneck resident.)

(Update 10 p.m.): They blew the horn at 7:30 p.m. and brought everyone in. Jonathan Margolies got in 139 holes. He played solo a majority of the day. Phil Auerbach and Graham Klehr-Keyes stuck together and played 129 holes.

The event raised $80,000.

Frank Contey, the caddie master at Tuxedo, came in with more than $18,000 in pledges to finish as the leading fundraiser.

There are certain golf courses in the area that have to be played in the fall when the leaves are turning no matter the cost.

Patriot Hills is definitely on the list.

I’m going back when the autumn color is nearing peak, and I’m probably bringing a pullover because those rolling hills are 10 degrees cooler than anyplace else in Rockland County.

The course was designed by Rick Jacobson and opened for play in 2003 on the grounds formerly occupied by Letchworth Village, a facility opened in 1911 to care for the mentally disabled. I doubt anyone is exploring the unoccupied stone buildings on the site after dark.

If you like a challenge, play the blues.

Even on a good day, I’m not going to impress anyone off the tee, but you don’t need a lot of carry here. I lost one ball and it was the result of a horrible shot. You’re going to be launching from elevated tee boxes most of the round, which seems to inspire a little extra confidence and carry.

Don’t be intimidated.

This course was designed with average daily-fee patrons in mind. You shouldn’t be spending a lot of time looking for golf balls since the concave landing areas keep most shots in play.

I will say the rough is no place to mess around.

And while a couple of the greens were showing wear and tear around the edges, that’s normal for a course that gets this kind of traffic and they were very quick for a public facility. It’s going to be a couple of visits before I feel confident reading the greens, though.

You will have to stop and think.

I know a lot of us are on budgets this year, but Patriot Hills does have a weekly $60 special, and twilight comes early. Without hesitation, I would say it’s worth a visit. Heck, it’s even fun driving a cart here. Do not walk. You’re going to love coming down the path on No. 11, pictured above. It’s like going down Lombard Street in San Francisco in a Yugo.

Remember this is an open forum. I encourage you to sign in and leave a comment or two about your experience at Patriot Hills. Next up is Beekman Country Club.

By the numbers

Yardage: Gold 6,502; Blue 6,119; White 5,629; Red 5,101.

Par: 71

Course rating/slope: Gold 71.7/137; Blue 70.1 133; White 67.6/126; Red 68.6/123.

Driving time: From White Plains – 33 minutes. From Nyack – 20 minutes. From Brewster – 63 minutes.

Rates: For non-residents it’s $90 on weekdays and $120 on weekends. Twighlight rates kick in at noon, which saves $20 on the weekday rate. A special rate of $60 is in effect on Tuesdays.

Address: 19 Clubhouse Lane

Phone: 845-947-7085

Website: www.patriothillsgolfclub.com

Louis Rinaldi survived a little drama and won his fourth straight club championship at Trump National Westchester by outlasting Drew Sullivan 1-up.

He also won in 2003.

Rinaldi, 55, birdied the first extra hole in a semifinal match to get to Sunday, then came back from 3-down over the last nine to win. The Ossining resident capped the comeback with a par on the 17th hole that gave him the lead.

Donald Trump and Andrew Guiliani won the other two club championships.

I’ll happily take information regarding other club championships as long as it’s submitted or confirmed by the head professional. The information can be e-mailed to mdougher@lohud.com.

For the rest of my life, I’m going to feel guilty every time I sit down in a golf cart. Thank you very much Phil Meyerson. I got to meet the lively 94-year-old Saturday on his birthday. He still walks 18 holes at Mohansic every week.

Here’s the story link if you didn’t see the paper yesterday.

Johnson Wagner had a pretty good week at the Wyndham Championship and finished in a tie for 32nd place at 8-under. He missed the FedExCup playoffs, though, finishing 151st on the list. Only the top 125 players in the rankings move on to The Barclays, which gets under way on Thursday at Liberty National.

It’s now official, Tiger Woods is going to be playing at The Barclays next week.

As it stands right now, Tom Watson is the only player ranked among the top 125 players in the FexExCup standings not in the field.

Woods has won five times on Tour already this season. (I believe this is the point where I should point out he’s without a major title since he’s clearly held to a higher standard). Woods did not play in any of the FedExCup playoff events last year following major knee surgery.

In case you’re scoring at home, the points do not reset for the Playoffs, as they have in past years. The scale is dramatically increased, however. A win is now worth 2,500 points. During the regular season, tournament winners get 500 points.

That means Steve Stricker is very much alive. (insert your own punch line). He’s second in the FedExCup standings, 946 points behind Woods.

If you’re looking for tickets for The Barclays at Liberty National, there are still plenty available. Go to the tournaments web site for more information.

Chris Merce of Hudson Hills outlasted James Cirocco and Herb Peterson in a playoff to win today’s Journal News/Westchester Golf Association Public Links Championship at The Links at Union Vale.

All three shot 74 to get into the playoff.

Perterson of Mohansic was done on the first playoff hole. Cirocco of Putnam National went four more holes before Merce rolled in a birdie to win.

Here are the results, courtesy of the WGA:

1. x-Chris Merce, Hudson Hills, *34-40-74 +2
2. James Cirocco, Putnam National GC, *36-38-74 +2
3. Herb Peterson, Mohansic GC, *36-38-74 +2
4. Brian McClure, Maple Moor GC, *37-39-76 +4
4. Sean Campbell, Philip Rotella GC, *40-36-76 +4
6. Gabriel Allen, Centennial GC, *36-42-78 +6
7. John Porter, James Baird State Park, *39-40-79 +7
8. Matt Hautau, Sprain Valley GC, *40-40-80 +8
8. Bob Miller, Spook Rock GC, *42-38-80 +8
10. John Paul Newport, Blue Hill GC, *42-39-81 +9
11. Chris Kelly, Centennial GC, *38-44-82 +10
12. Scott Filor, Patriot Hills GC, *44-39-83 +11
12. Vincent Pancaldo, Rockland Valley GC, *43-40-83 +11
12. Drew Greenland, Quill & Tee, *40-43-83 +11
12. Glenn Morris, Griffith E. Harris GC, *40-43-83 +11
12. George Riehm, Sprain Valley GC, *44-39-83 +11
17. Karriem Nuri, Hudson Hills, *43-41-84 +12
18. Dominic Belmonte, Patriot Hills GC, *44-41-85 +13
18. Sean Dineen, Sprain Valley GC, *45-40-85 +13
18. Jordan Perretz, Philip Rotella GC, *42-43-85 +13
18. Jeffrey Sypher, Maple Moor GC, *40-45-85 +13
18. Kevin Stephens, Saxon Woods GC, *41-44-85 +13
23. Jason Morrison, Centennial GC, *45-41-86 +14
24. Stephen Massa, Sprain Valley GC, *37-50-87 +15
25. Graham Klehr-Keyes, MGA 49ers, *46-49-95 +23

Johnson Wagner is back in action this week at the Wyndam Championship in Greensboro, N.C. He’s missed the last two cuts and is currently 156th on the FexEx points list.

Meaghan Francella is off again, but the Solheim Cup is this weekend.

It’s hard to keep up with the LPGA, which has already endured more stops and starts than anyone who’s ever gone over the Tappan Zee Bridge on a Friday during rush hour.

Francella, though, is awesome on Twitter. She gives you a glimpse of a pretty interesting life. Check it out.

We’ve also got four locals who are heading to sun-baked Tulsa, Okla. to prepare for the U.S. Amateur. Max Buckley (Rye), Chris Scialo (New City), Max Cahn (Nyack) and George Zahringer (formerly of Rye) are in the field. Practice rounds are this weekend, and there are two rounds of stroke play. Only the 64 best scores move into match play, which starts on Wednesday.

Mike Miller (Brewster) is only two shots off the lead after two rounds of the AJGA Northeast Open at Richter Park in Danbury, Conn. He followed up yesterday’s 73 with a 68 and is sitting in third with two rounds to play. Jonathan Renza (Cortlandt Manor) is tied for 11th at 146.

There are several reasons why The Barclays left Westchester Country Club two years ago, but the list has to start with the absence of Tiger Woods.

He’s apparently not fond of the course.

The Fed Ex Playoffs kick off at Liberty National, and there is speculation that Woods is going to participate. My former TJN colleague, Sam Weinman, is providing a little insight over at GolfDigest.com in case your debating whether it’s worth the price of admission.

According to the post, tournament director Peter Mele is optimistic about Woods playing.

(Photo: Associated Press)

In case you need an excuse to get out and play golf on Labor Day weekend, here’s a great one …

Several participating courses in the area will be soliciting an extra dollar on top of regular greens fees Sept. 4-7 and then donating those funds to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships for the children and spouses of military men and women disabled or killed while serving the country.

Here’s the web site.

They raised nearly $2 million last year, and have awarded 550 scholarships in the past two years.

Here’s the list of local courses and clubs participating compliments of the Met PGA:

Apawamis, Bedford Golf and Tennis, Blue Hill, Bonnie Briar, Brae Burn, Canyon Club, Centennial, Century, Dunwoodie, Fairview, Fenway, GlenArbor, GolfTec-White Plains, Hudson Hills, Hudson National, Knollwood, Mansion Ridge, Maple Moor, Metropolis, Mohansic, Mt. Kisco, Old Oaks, Rotella, Pound Ridge, Purchase, Putnam National, Quaker Ridge, Ridgeway, Salem, Saxon Woods, Sleepy Hollow, Sprain Lake, St. Andrew’s, Studio Golf, Sunningdale, Tamarack, Tuxedo, Waccabuc, Westchester, Westchester Hills, Whippoorwill, Wykagyl.