OAKMONT — Been there. Done that. Doing it again.

The father-son combination of Tom and Nick Menchyk and Jim and David Huemme volunteered their services to work the men's U.S. Open Golf Championship in 2007.

This year, the women's tour pulls into Oakmont Country Club July 5-to-11 and the duos couldn't pass up the opportunity.

"The appeal is it's an international event," said Tom, 60, of Meridian. "It's an opportunity, a small part to contribute to its success is very satisfying."

Menchyk, a retired elementary teacher and computer teacher in the Butler School District, got involved thanks to his son, Nick, a Clemson University student who was serving his first internship at Oakmont in the summer of 2006.

Nick, who was an undergraduate at Clemson working for his degree in turf grass management, was asked back in 2007 and served a second internship and his father was able to volunteer.

"He was excited about that," said Nick about his father. "Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, he knows about Oakmont."

"In 2007, we worked in transportation," said Tom, "and one job I did was drive Phil Mickelson's mother. She told me some great stories, like why Phil was left-handed.

"I'm very anxious to come back. The women's Open is not the same scale, though, but it's still exciting," he added.

Menchyk also helped with transportation at the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.

But the chance to work with his son was too good to pass up.

All volunteers attended a two-hour informational meeting at Plum High School two weeks ago and also must go online for a 30-minute session.

This time around, the Menchyks will be on leaderboard duties.

"Being on the course will be a lot more fun. We're on the second hole," Tom noted.

Nick, 25, now in graduate school at Clemson for plant and environmental science and in two years will earn his Ph.D, knows the lay of the land well at Oakmont and does not anticipate too many changes at the course.

"I think they've put in a few new tees for the women," said Nick. "I came home for Thanksgiving and went over to visit. I'm sure it will be the same type of setup. It's not as long since it'll play a little shorter."

"It's a chance to peek behind the curtain and see everything that goes into it," said Tom.

Huemme, 64, of Center Township, also a retired teacher from Butler Area, will be making his third appearance at a U.S. Open, having also worked last year's Open at Bethpage, N.Y.

"My son and I enjoyed the experience," said Huemme.

"In 2007, we were rookies. We signed up in merchandise. They give you four choices. In New York, we worked in bag tagging. The golfers checked in their things when they were on the course.

"(Bethpage) was another challenging course. The weather was really terrible, but everyone was really friendly," Huemme added.

This year, however, the Huemmes are marshals, working the par-3, No. 8 hole.

"It should be a challenge," said Huemme. "It involves basically crowd control and keeping them behind the area and keep them quiet when they have to be."

"This was the first time we applied to do marshaling," said David, 34, of Penn Township, who teaches elementary music in the Burrell School District.

"The men, having a larger draw, will have more people coming from across the country. We were able to get it this year," he added.

The Huemmes became involved with volunteering at the U.S. Open when their friend, Don Dombart, told them about it.

"He had done a few of these in the past," said David.

Getting picked to volunteer is a matter of going on the USGA website to find out opportunities and they will be in contact with you to see what events in the future might interest you.

"As a volunteer, you pay $150 for the men's Open and ($125 for the women's Open," said Jim. "That gives you your uniform, gear and access onto the course.

"It's a real good opportunity. I'm already considering the 2014. the men's and women's Opens are on the same course (Congressional in Bethesda, Md.)," Jim added. The chance to experience this with his father is the highlight of working the golf events.

"We golf about two to three times a week and we play together," said David. "One of the things I like. We enjoy spending time together and enjoying each other's company."

With the course nearby, that takes on added significance, but there's more to the eye than what you see on television.

"It's a chance to peek behind the curtain and see everything that goes into it," said Tom.