Monday, June 30, 2008

Juniata Golf Club; "Philly's Tin-Cup Course"

Over the past year, I have chronicled on this blog the transformation that has taken place at my home course, Juniata Golf Club. Now it seems, the world outside of Philadelphia has taken notice too. The Christian Science Monitor's June 23 edition carried an article, "Philly's tin-cup course," which tells of the rebirth happening at this 78-year-old course that was designed by noted golf architect Ed Ault:

PHILADELPHIA - Augusta National this is not. This is Juniata, where a defaced sign warns you to lock your car and take your valuables. Where the backs of benches advertise security services and union locals. Where the "clubhouse" is actually a cart barn. And this is the new and improved Juniata, as it inches itself out of the path of a possible developer's bulldozer.

Conditions at the 78-year-old Juniata Golf Club, always the poor relation of the six city-owned public courses, had deteriorated in recent years, the victim of scarce funding, vandalism, and neglect. When a 2003 fire destroyed the clubhouse – and the bathrooms – there was no money to rebuild, and many golfers stopped coming. Those who did were increasingly irate at having to pay even $20 greens fees, only to encounter trash and weeds, vandalism, graffiti, and worse. Juniata was losing money, and last year the Fairmount Park Commission, which owned the course, cut off funding altogether.

It suggested to Bob Wheeler, the retired Philadelphia policeman who was club manager, that he put together a nonprofit foundation to run the course. Now, with the new club just a few months into its first season, Mr. Wheeler is credited with leading the resurrection of Juniata. "He took the idea and ran with it," says Barry Bessler, chief of staff of the park commission.

A reclamation effort began in earnest last summer. Today the course is busy, its tournaments and greens-fees business thriving. The women golfers, turned off by porta-potties introduced after the fire, have returned. And the greens, once again, are green. Joe Logan, who covers golf for the Philadelphia Inquirer, recalls visiting Juniata when "there wasn't a blade of grass to stick a tee in." Now, "for what it's trying to be, it's a success story. Juniata is a lunch-bucket golf course and they're proud of it."

Read the entire story here.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

[p]We recommend ordering a size [url=http://www.uggbootssalehots.co.uk]cheap ugg boots sale[/url] smaller from your typical shoe size . Related [url=http://www.cheapuggtobuy.co.uk]cheap ugg boots uk[/url] Articles - discount, ugg, sandra, boots, 5449, Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today! . Bailey key Triplet [url=http://www.cheapuggtobuy.co.uk]cheap ugg[/url] is primarily a must-have inclusion for your ugg bailey button triplet series . It also gives better bargaining [url=http://www.cheapuggtobuy.co.uk]cheap ugg boots sale[/url] opportunity . They can either wear [url=http://www.cheapuggtobuy.co.uk]ugg boots sale[/url] without socks; just wear them without any stocking . Men's Uggs are seen on stars from Ronnie Wood, guitarist with the Rolling Stones, to Leonardo DiCaprio and [url=http://www.uggbootssalehots.co.uk]ugg boots sale online[/url] Justin Timberlake . org [url=http://www.cheapuggsbootsinuksale.co.uk]ugg boots uk sale[/url] right today . We utilize them to stroll [url=http://www.uggbootssalehots.co.uk]ugg boots sale[/url] plus dance.[/p]

Anonymous said...

[p]This is how all of the insurers which are dedicated to sacrificed billfold offerings [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]polo ralph lauren outlet[/url] have for you the performance you'll want to padlock your personal financial records affordable supply which secure feeling that you're not necessarily exposed to personal identity thieves . The internet has made people very lazy and no one wants to use the conventional [url=http://www.ppoloralphlauren.co.uk]ralph lauren polo shirts[/url] methods of shopping any more . Since Ralph Lauren's first brand, Polo, was launched in 1967, the company has expanded to include [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]ralph lauren outlet[/url] a variety of luxury brands . These shirts are extremely friendly when it comes to sports activities as the material they are made from is knit that gives you a [url=http://www.ppoloralphlauren.co.uk]cheap ralph lauren polo[/url] relieving feel . The Hoodie Ralph Lauren is an actual [url=http://www.ppoloralphlauren.co.uk]discount ralph lauren polo shirts[/url] advantageous account of clothing and it is hopefully afraid off its bad boy reputation . The Ralph Lauren design team takes pride in [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]ralph lauren outlet uk[/url] in their outfits . They are welcomed [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]cheap ralph lauren polo shirts
[/url] for golf or just dressing up for a party . Due to the fashionable characteristic of the polo shirt, with many big brand companies renowned for their production of Polo Shirts such as Ralph Lauren and Lacoste, people will not be scared to wear their polo shirts in public, even if it has company advertising on it, which is always a bonus for the company as mentioned [url=http://www.ppoloralphlauren.co.uk]polo ralph lauren outlet online
[/url] previously that being able to get the company's name out is vital to a Company's expansion.[/p]

Anonymous said...

Ιf yоu woulԁ like to grow уouг experiеnce just keeρ visiting thіs website and be uрdated with
the mοst rеcent infогmatіon postеd heгe.



Alѕo ѵisit mу webpage :: saltandprepper.info