By: JAY W. BENNETT (NewsAndSentinel.com) — The summer is just getting started and while a lot of people already have gone on vacation, some are still making plans.

As for myself and the family, it’s that time of year again to get some quality rest and relaxation in the land of Jon Diebler – Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

Diebler, for those of you who don’t follow the roundball, will be a junior for Ohio State and head coach Thad Matta this season.

The 6-foot-6 sharpshooter was a terror on the prep scene.

He finished his career as a Ram by scoring 3,208 points, which happens to be the most all-time in the history of high school basketball in the Buckeye State.

On his Ohio State profile, Diebler still lists his greatest sports thrill as winning the state championship and recording a 27-0 record during his sophomore year at USHS.

I’m reminded of that quite often when I go to Upper Sandusky and head to 9 Flags Pizza for some grub and to play some putt-putt golf.

They have all kinds of little shrines for both the Buckeyes and for Mr. Diebler.

Not only is the pizza pretty good, but trust me when I say there’s not much Michigan love in that neck of the woods.

One of the best things about visiting my wife’s family during the summer and through the July 4 festivities and beyond is just getting away and clearing the old cluttered mind for a while.

It never hurts to get recharged a little bit because before long it’s going to be full steam ahead with football season and the News and Sentinel Half Marathon lurking ever so closer.

Of course, being on vacation in Ohio also means I get to tangle with a pair of my favorite golf courses in that area – Lincoln Hills Golf Club just outside of Upper Sandusky and Hickory Grove Golf Club in Harpster.

A 9-hole and 18-hole course, respectively, Lincoln Hills is tight and challenging and as long as I can stay out of the rough at Hickory Grove I’m usually in pretty good shape.

Speaking of good shape, I managed to get out and catch the special late last month at the St. Marys Golf Club.

We ended up playing 36 holes one day and it was a lot of fun.

It was a sad final round and a half because my putter of more than 15 years broke after I missed yet another birdie putt.

No, I didn’t throw it and break it if that’s what you’re thinking.

Just a little pressure while the blade was on the ground and it snapped.

Hopefully my summer golf outings will have some degree of luck in them like the better half chipping in from 20-plus yards for a par and then putting from off the green and draining like a 30-footer for birdie.

Fellow sports scribe Kerry Patrick has graciously allowed me to borrow an old putter.

I just hope he’s already used up all of its three-putts.