Thursday, December 31, 2009

No Longer Tiger's Tournament

News has come out today that AT&T is the latest corporate sponsor to drop Tiger Woods because of his well documented off-course personal problems. AT&T will remain as the sponsor of the AT&T National on the PGA Tour, which will be played the next two years--2010 and 2011--at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square. That tournament, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, had been previously billed as being "hosted by Tiger Woods." Along with the news that AT&T is dropping its sponsorship of Woods, the PGA Tour announced that since the golfer was taking an "indefinite leave" from professional golf, Woods would not be serving as host the AT&T National in 2010. As of today, Tiger Woods' image is still prominent on the tournament's Website. As I wrote earlier, the tournament is still proceeding as it originally intended before the Tiger Woods mess began on Thanksgiving.

My 2009 Season in Review

As we count down the final hours of the first decade of the new millennium, it's time for me to look back at my 2009 golfing season. This past year, I played nearly 25 rounds, which included 5.67 practice rounds and one round that was washed out after three holes. I played on 17 different courses, including three for the first time: Mainland, Green Pond and Heritage Creek, although the Heritage was only three holes because of a huge downpour.

The Ninth Hole at Mainland

I played 447 total holes for the year. My stroke average was 95.4 per 18 holes, excluding the practice and incomplete rounds. I managed to make par or better on 64 of the 351 regulation holes for which I posted a score. That is just under 20 percent. The main reason for the low percentage I believe was because of my poor putting throughout the year. The most pars I recorded in a single round was six, which I did twice: June 19 at Mainland and Oct. 4 at Juniata. I did have four birdies this year: the Eighth Hole at Juniata on May 24, the Eighth Hole at Twining Valley on July 12, the Third Hole at Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aug. 15 and the Fourteenth Hole at Juniata on Oct. 4.

The Third Hole at Green Pond

My low round of the year was an 86 on Oct. 25 at Juniata, which also happened to be my last round of the year. I also shot an 87 (Oct. 4), and 88 (July 24) at Juniata, an 89 (Aug. 15) at FDR and a 90 (June 19) at Mainland. My high round of the year was a 104, which I shot three times: June 3 at Paxon Hollow, July 3 at Green Pond and Sept. 6 at The Rookery. Overall, I only failed to break 100 four times in the 19.5 rounds I posted. Last year, I only failed to break 100 once.

The Tenth Hole at Jeffersonville

I also managed to hit the Driving Range seven times this season, mostly in the early part of the Spring. I'm not sure how much that helped, although I do feel that is where I might have first developed my elbow soreness that hindered me through most of the season. But hopefully, I another eight weeks or so, I'll be back out on the practice tee getting ready for the 2010 season.
Photos by The Muni Golfer

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Santa Checked His List And....

When I checked under the Christmas tree yesterday I found that Santa Claus had left me a box of Titleist NXT Tour golf balls. Actually, it was my in-laws who gave me the golf balls, but Santa must have whispered it to them since they were on my list the Jolly Old Elf. Thanks Santa! I can't wait until the spring gets here to use them.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Dear Santa...

I've made my list and hopefully Santa has checked it twice. Hopefully tonight that Jolly Old Elf will leave a few of my golf-related Christmas list items under my tree. This year I asked Santa for a gift card to Dicks Sporting Goods or Golf Galaxy, some Titleist NXT golf balls and some Clif Bars for my golf bag. Although my golf game was more naughty than nice this past year, I think Santa might leave a couple of these items. As the Chipmunks sing: "We can hardly stand the wait, please Christmas don't be late!"

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Holiday Greetings from The Muni Golfer

As we end the first decade on the 21st Century, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy and Safe Holiday Season. I also want to thank you for visiting this blog and following my adventures throughout the year! May you get everything on your holiday wish list and may 2010 be a year of fairways and greens, birdies and pars, and lower handicaps for all!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Tiger Tales

Unless you have been hiding in a cave in Afghanistan with Osama bin Laden, you know by now the off-course problems of Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. Those problems, which I will not chronicle here, have led Tiger to take an "indefinite" leave from the PGA Tour. It is yet to be determined what impact his leave will have on the Tour, but one local place could be affected if Tiger doesn't return by the July 4th holiday. Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square is scheduled to host the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, June 28-July 4.

The tournament, which is referred to as "Tiger's tournament," announced that it was moving from its normal home at Congressional Country Club outside Washington, D.C. to Aronimink for 2010 and 2011. One of the draws to hosting the tournament is the presumption that Tiger will play. That assumption is now up in the air. Former Inquirer golf writer Joe Logan wrote recently on his Web site My Golf Philly that the tournament organizers are proceding as normal. It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance the tournament gets if Woods has not returned to playing when the event is held. Read Logan's entire story here.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The End is Here...the Season's End

Sadly, yesterday's big snowstorm made me realize that the end of my 2009 golfing season has arrived. Although I have not been able to play since October, like many golfers, I kept hoping that there was one more round to play before the calendar flips over to 2010. But between a couple of colds, family commitments, the holidays and now the weather, I realize I've filled out my last scorecard for this year. Before the end of the year, I'll reflect back on how this season went and post my thoughts, as well as my statistics.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Missing Links

It's been three weeks since I last made to the golf course for a round. A lingering cold, along with some bad weather, has managed to keep me from teeing it up. I was hoping to play at least nine holes this past Thursday during a mid-week getaway to the Poconos, but the course where we stayed has already been shut down for the season. I thought today might have been a possibility, but my cold has returned and the weather was too damp and misty to risk making my cold worse. Maybe Sunday will bring better weather. I think we'll still have enough good weather to play a few more rounds before winter really hits the East Coast, so I need to take advantage of the opportunities while I still can.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Playing Like a Fox at Juniata

Juniata Golf Club
Philadelphia, Pa
Yards: 2805/2185 - 4990
Par: 34/31 - 65
Rating: 63.2, Slope: 106
Score: 43/43 = 86
Date: October 25, 2009

A break from the rain last Sunday allowed me to get in a round at Juniata Golf Club. It was a beautiful fall day, with sunny skies and temps in the low 60s. For so late in the season the course is in terrific shape. I made one change to my bag since my last round at Island Green two weeks earlier, replacing my Tommy Armour 845 Stripe Driver with a TaylorMade 360XD. Because of a small outing I had to begin my round on the back nine. At the 10th Tee, I paired up with Sam, an older Asian gentleman whom I have played with in the past at Juniata. Sam is a friendly sort and I have enjoyed my past experiences playing with him, so I felt good about my pairing.

Juniata Golf Club Scorecard

I played steady on my first nine. Nothing spectacular, but I was going along nicely. I was the ball solidly, except for my driver. I was playing mostly bogey golf through the first seven holes, but I lost my driver on my eight hole (the Par 4 Seventeenth) and was forced to take a drop on the other side of the Tookany/Frankford Creek. This led to a triple-bogey seven and after three-putting the Eighteenth Green (my ninth hole) after getting out of the wet sand in the bunker to the left of the green, I had a 43 on the easier of the two nines.

The Fourth Hole, a 390-yard Par 4

I went to the First Hole to play my back nine and felt if I could continue to play steady, I could post a decent score. I parred the First Hole (my tenth) and continued playing bogey golf through the next four holes. I still wasn't hitting the driver the way I would have liked and that finally caught up with me at the Sixth Hole (my fifteenth). After hitting a low short duck hook that forced me to chip out, I chunked my third shot, but still managed to get on the green with my fourht shot. A three-putt left me with a seven. I went to the next tee detremined NOT to let that hole carry over to the next few holes and spoil my round. This was accomplished when I striped my hybrid down the middle of the Seventh Fairway. Although I bogeyed the hole, I made a nice par at the Eighth (my seventeenth). I decided to hit three wood off the tee at my last hole and made a bogey five for another 43 and a total of 86 for my round.

The Fifth Hole, a 370-yard Par 4

Although I didn't hit my driver particularly well--I'm probably going back to my TaylorMade Tour Burner--I was pretty happy in the way I played overall. I had par putts on 12 of the 18 holes during my round, and even though I only made three pars, you can't ask for much more than that. As I had hoped after playing some really bad golf in Delaware during Labor Day, I have found some consistency during the fall. There is still plenty of golf to be played before the season is over and I hope to continue to build upon this steadiness and carry it forward into 2010.

Juniata's resident red fox

One little side note on my round Sunday. On the Eleventh Fairway, a red fox that has taken residence on the course made an appearance before running back into the woods. This is the second time this year, on two different courses in two different locations, that I have spotted a red fox while playing. The other time was July 3rd at Green Pond in Bethlehem, Pa.

The fox makes his escape into the woods
Photos by The Muni Golfer

Saturday, October 24, 2009

At Least It Isn't Snow

The past two weeks have seen the Delaware Valley bombarded with rain showers which has made golfing difficult. Last weekend it was a nor'easter that brought rain and very cold temperatures bother Saturday and Sunday. Today, I was scheduled to play a round at Horsham Valley Golf Club in Ambler, Pa. The temperature was more like last summer, reaching a high of 72 degrees, but off-and-on rain since Friday night caused a cancellation of today's round. The weather forecast calls for clear skies tomorrow and I'm hoping to hit the links at either Juniata Golf Club or John F. Byrne Golf Club.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Fall on the Island

Island Green Country Club
Philadelphia, Pa
Yards: 3200/3055 - 6255
Par: 36/36 - 72
Rating: 69.5, Slope: 120
Score: 47/49 = 96
Date: October 11, 2009

Last Sunday I decided to skip watching the Philadelphia Eagles and take advantage of the beautiful fall weather with a round at Island Green Country Club. Built on the site of the old Budd Company plant off red Lion Road in Northeast Philly, Island Green opened in 2001 as Philadelphia's newest public golf course. The course is fairly wide open, and has always been in very good condition when I've played there in the past. This visit marked the first time I had teed it up on the course in about four years. The conditions were very good, although I thought it was a bit pricey--$60 to walk at 1 p.m. on a Sunday in October. The sun was shining and temps were in the low 60s when I teed off and there was steady breeze blowing from the west. I was surprised, considering the Eagles were playing after a bye week, how many people were on the course.

Island Green Scorecard

Hoping to carry over my good play from the previous week at Juniata, I started out well at Island Green, parring the first three holes, including the 485-yard Par 5 Second Hole. I ran into some trouble at the 585-yard Par 5 Fourth Hole, which plays slightly downhill as the fairway narrows to a thin strip of green. I sliced my tee shot into the heavy rough on the right and finally had to take a drop. I reached the green in five, then three-putted for an eight. I ran into trouble again at the Seventh Hole, which was playing into the wind and has a pond on the right side. I overhooked my drive left, then trying to play a punch shot up the fairway, I hit one of the few trees on the left of the fairway, which left me with a longer third shot. I took a seven on the hole and finished the front nine in a respectable 47. I was not too disappointed with my play--except for the Fourth and Seventh Holes--and took satisfaction in the fact that I had par putts on six of the nine holes.

The opening tee shot at Island Green

The back nine at Island Green begins with a 495-yard Par 5 that doglegs right about 100 yards from the green and was playing with the wind. I hit a good drive and layed up, but hit a terrible wedge shot from 100 yards to just short of the green. I chipped on and made par. The Eleventh Hole is where the course dervives its name. A short, 305-yard Par 4, the green is an actual island. The hole plays downhill from the tee, s you want to hit your tee shot about 190-200 yards off the tee and you will have a short pitch shot to the green. I had about 120 yards to the green, but thinned my approach from a slightly downhill lie and hit it in the water and made a six. I played steady on the back, although the wind was more of a factor, and I played just enough loose shots to shoot a 49 for a total of 96. I only had three par putts on the back which was disappointing, but I finished off my round with a good bogey six at the 490-yard Par 5 Eighteenth Hole, which was playing dead into the wind.

The long Par 5 Fourth Hole

Overall, I broke 100, which is something I have achieved only one other time at Island Green. I was happy with my score and the way I played. I generally kept the ball in play off the tee and hit my irons well. My short game was consistent and, while I missed a few short putts, I putted well enough to score. This round helped me build on the confidence of my last round and I look forward to it continuing through the fall.

The Eleventh Hole is the signature hole

As for Island Green, it is a course I would highly recommend, although I would suggest waiting for the twilight rate to kick in. The course is well maintained, but play was a bit slow. They could stand to have a few marshals on the course to make sure play keeps moving. Although the course is fairly wide open, it does have its share of challenging holes. Many holes have bunkers and water can come into play if you are not careful. Island Green also has a wonderful restaurant and bar. My wife and I ate dinner there last May and you can read about it here. Try Island Green, I 'm sure you will enjoy it.

Some Additional Photos of Island Green:

The downill Par 3 Eighth Hole

The approach to the Fourteenth Green

The Seventeenth Hole

The Island Green Driving Range
Photos by The Muni Golfer

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Fall Begins at Juniata Golf Club

Juniata Golf Club
Philadelphia, Pa
Yards: 2805/2185 - 4990
Par: 34/31 - 65
Rating: 63.2, Slope: 106
Score: 49/38 = 87
Date: October 4, 2009

With the calendar now reading October, it is time for fall golf, when the the temps are cooler and the leaves begin to litter the fairways and greens. I am hoping to use the fall to find the consistency that my game has lacked through most of the summer. Yesterday, I went looking to begin that consistency on familiar ground: Juniata Golf Club. With the weather sunny and warmer, and the Eagles on their NFL bye week, the course was a little more crowded than I expected. I had to wait nearly 20 minutes to get off the first tee, but the wait was definitely worth it when I hit my opening tee shot onto the front fight of the green. Although I three-putted the First Hole, I walked off feeling good about my start. That feeling only got better when my 7-wood split the fairway at the Second Hole, chipped on and two-putted for par. Another par at the Fourth Hole and I could feel my confidence building. Through six holes I was playing a little better than bogey golf. At the Seventh Hole, I hit my only bad stretch of the day. After hitting two balls out-of-bounds, then three-putting for a nine, I made a double bogey at the Eighth Hole and made a seven at the Ninth. Not the way I wanted to finish the front nine, but I knew the 49 on my scorecard could have--should have--been better.

Juniata Golf Club Scorecard

I started the back nine pretty much the way finished the front. I hit a solid tee shot at the Tenth Hole right of the green and chipped on, but a three-putt led to another double bogey five. I made a good five at the Eleventh Hole after a short tee shot, but made another double bogey five at the Par 3 Twelfth Hole. Staying positive and focused, my fortunes began to change at the Par 3 Thirteenth. I hit an iron onto the front right of the green and two-putted for a par. At the Fourteenth Hole, with the tees forward, I teed it up on the right side of the tee box and smashed a nice draw with my new TaylorMade Raylor 4-Hybrid that finished just in front of the green, where I chipped to two feet and made my fourth birdie of the season. At the Fifthteenth Hole, I drove a 7-iron right of the green, chipped on and two-putted for a bogey four. A wayward tee shot at the Sixteenth led to a double bogey six, but I found the fairway at the Seventeenth Hole and made a 15-foot par putt. My 5-iron at the closing hole to eight feet left of the pin and a two-putt par left me with a back nine 38 and an 87 for my round.

The Seventeenth Hole, an uphill Par 4

I walked off feeling very good about the way I played; keeping the ball in play off the tee, getting the ball around the green and making just enough putts to post a decent score. I hope to carry this momentum forward during future round this fall. Then I can build on this foundation in 2010.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Book Review: The Scorecard Always Lies

I recently finished reading The Scorecard Always Lies, A Year Behind the Scenes on the PGA Tour. Written by Chris Lewis, who covers golf for Sports Illustrated, the book follows the players and events that shaped the 2006 PGA Tour season. From Phil Mickelson's triumph at The Masters to his collapse at the U.S. Open, the death of Tiger Wood's father Earl, Tiger's victories at the British Open and PGA Championship, John Daly's ongoing troubles both on and off the course, the emergence of long-hitting J.B. Holmes, and the European's crushing defeat of the U.S. at the Ryder Cup in Ireland, the year is vividly captured the compelling behind-the-scenes access of someone who regularly covers the tournaments and the people who play play them. The book is good read, entertaining read, although you will occasionally notice a few factual errors. Still, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a golf fan.

Monday, September 28, 2009

A Mountain High at Sawmill Golf Course

Sawmill Golf Course
Easton, Pa.
Yards: 2869/2411 - 5280
Par: 35/35 = 70
Rating: 64.2, Slope: 105
Score: 45/46 = 91
Date: September 26, 2009

While visiting family in the Lehigh Valley this past Saturday, I had the opportunity to again play a round of golf at Sawmill Golf Course in Easton. I had previously played Sawmill in 2007 and enjoyed the experience. Sawmill was built on an old farm over 35 years by Dick Field, who still owns the course today. Sawmill does not take tee times and although it has carts for golfers who want to use them, walking is welcomed and encouraged. The course is a medium length track that plays just over 5,000 yards; but what Sawmill lacks in length it makes up for in its unique layout. Most of the holes are straight away, with not a sand trap to be found. But since Sawmill is located in the Lehigh Valley, many of the holes play either severely uphill or downhill. Some holes do feature blind tee shots with fairways that slope left to right.

Sawmill Golf Course Scorecard

The front nine at Sawmill looks pretty tame, and it is, except for maybe the Par 3 7th Hole, which plays out of a chute of trees, slightly downhill to a large green that slopes hard from left to right. If you miss to the right, it runs down into the 8th fairway and there are a few small trees to contend with on your pitch shot.

The First Hole (above), The tight tee shot at the Seventh (below)

I played well on the first nine, shooting 45 with two pars. I was hitting the ball well off the tee and was giving myself opportunities. Witness the fact that I had par putts on five of the first nine holes. Even better, my putting was more consistent than it has been recently.

Sawmill's panoramic view (above), the Ninth Hole (below)

The back nine at Sawmill is where the golf gets really interesting. After straightway, short Par 4s at 10 and 11, the 12th Hole is a 112-yard Par 3 that drops about 150 feet from the tee to the green, which has a road running in front and a creek behind. Then comes the the unusual 13th, a 372-yard Par 5. Yes, a Par 5! A short tee shot is required to an elevated, narrow fairway framed by two overheard powerline towers on the left and telephone poles and an out-of-bounds creek on the right. You'll have about 185- to 200+ yards for a second shot, with a small spring running across the front of the green, so a lay-up short is advised. Hole 14 is a 236-yard Par 4, that plays straight uphill the last 100 yards or so. Driving this green would be almost impossible since the green sits at least 50 yards above the fairway! Hole 15 in a 321-yard Par 4 that continues the journey onward and upward, playing straight uphill to a two-tiered green. But, as they say, whatever goes up, must come down and Holes 16 and 17 both play sharply downhill, with the 16th playing out of a chute off the tee and the fairway being well-guarded by trees all the way down the left side. The round finishes at Hole 18 with with a short, flat, 135-yard Par 3, whose only difficulty is its undulating green.

The Twelfth Hole is 112 yards downhill

My back nine score of 46 wasn't bad considering I made 7s at the 13th and 15th holes when I hit my approach shot and my tee shot out-of-bounds on the two holes respectively. Other than those two holes, I kept the ball in play off the tee and was generally around the green with my approach shots. My chipping was subpar this day, but my putting again bailed me out on the back nine. I had par putts on four of the nine holes.

The tee shot at the Thirteenth Hole, a 372-yard Par 5!

The best part of Sawmill Golf Course was its price. $25 to walk on the weekends and includes as much golf as you can play, whether its 18, 27 or 36 holes. The staff was friendly and they had a nice snack bar where you can relax and relive your round. If you're ever in the Lehigh Valley and looking for an inexpensive, but fun round of golf, I highly recommend Sawmill Golf Course.

More photos of Sawmill:

The Fourteenth Hole is 236 yards, but plays uphill

The narrow, demanding tee shot at the Sixteenth Hole
Photos by The Muni Golfer

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The People's Choice: Baywood Greens

Golfworld magazine has issued its 2010 "Reader's Choice Ranking" in the Sept. 28th edition. Among them is the "Top 50 Public Courses." Coming in at a surprising 18th is Baywood Greens in Long Neck, Del., which has been called the "Augusta of the Northeast." I say suprisingly because Baywood Greens topped other public courses on the list such as Bulle Rock and Bethpage Black which have hosted majors as the U.S. Men's Open and the LPGA Championship. Located just a couple miles west of Rehoboth Beach, Del., I have had the opportunity to play Baywood Greens twice. While an expensive course to play, it is well worth the experience as the course is beautifully landscaped everywhere you look. The fairways are green and lush and the greens are fast and true. Other nearby courses that made the top 50 included Blue Herron Pines (34) and Scotland Run (44), both located in South Jersey.
Baywood Greens Scorecard

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Return to the Range

Fishers Glen Driving Range
4717 Fishers Lane
Philadelphia, Pa
215/533-9466

Since I have been on-and-off with my Driver this year, I cut cut its length down to 44.5-inches in an effort to get more control and accuracy off the tee. Unfortunately, I was only able to hit Driver three times last Saturday at Walnut Lane, so tonight I headed over to Fishers Glen Driving Range to hit a small bucket of balls. I wasn't really looking for an organized practice session, just a chance to hit balls with the Driver. I took up my customary position on the lower level of the range and alternated between two Drivers tonight: my TaylorMade Tour Burner and an old Tommy Armour 845 Stripe, which has a smaller 350cc head and a Bi-Matrix shaft. I did try to work a little on rhythm and ball position. I found that when I played the ball more my front foot instead of just inside my left heel, I hit it much better. I might try keeping the Tommy Armour Driver in my bag for my next round, which will hopefully be this weekend. I finished up my brief practice by hitting 10 balls with my TaylorMade 300 Series 7-Wood, which I shortened by 3/4-inches. I hit five off the tee and five off the turf.

Photo by The Muni Golfer

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Continued Woes at Walnut Lane

Walnut Lane Golf Club
Philadelphia
, Pal

Yards: 2173/2098 – 4271
Par: 31/31 = 62
Rating: 59, Slope: 91
Score: 50/48 = 98
Date: September 19, 2009

Hoping to get my game turned around after some awful golf at the Delaware Shore, I ventured back to my familiar surroundings at Juniata Golf Club. However, because of a golf outing, I was forced to go play at Walnut Lane Golf Club in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. Designed by legendary architect Alex Findlay, the course opened in 1940 and is set among the Wissahickon Valley Park, which is part of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Although it is short at just over 4200 yards and only a par 62, Walnut Lane overs a good test with elevation changes, tight driving holes and long difficult Par 3s. I felt this would be a good change to really test my new TaylorMade Tour Burner irons.

Walnut Lane Scorecard

I was paired up with Charles and Tyrell on the First Tee, and Gregory later joined us on the Second Hole. My problems began from the start. On the first four holes, I pushed my tee shots straight right, although I was always in a position to stay in the hole. My short game wasn't too bad and I chipped pretty well. I worked on my swing and finally started to draw the ball at the Sixth Hole. My biggest problem, as it has been all season, was with my putting. Two-putting was a triumph. It got so bad on the back nine that I actually began putting cross-handed in an effort to find anything that resembled a good putting stroke. It seemed to help a bit and after a few holes, I went back to conventional and putted a bit better. Still, a 50-48 for the two nines was very disappointing.

The Fourth Hole, a 218-yard downhill Par 3

The blind tee shot at the Par 4 Seventh Hole

Walnut Lane was in pretty good shape. It, like Juniata, has gone on its own when Billy Casper Golf did not take over its management as part of their deal with the Fairmount Park Commission, which still owns the course. One of the big problems that Walnut Lane has long suffered is many golfers only play the first seven holes, which are on the clubhouse side of Walnut Lane, the Philadelphia street from which the course derives its name. Because of this, the other 11 holes can sometimes suffer vandalism by people riding motorbikes or ATVs through the Wissahickon Valley Park. Many trails pass on the very edge of the course, and it is not usual to be on a green and have several mountain bikers come speeding past. We witnessed such vandalism yesterday as tires prints ran in circles across the Twelfth and Thirteenth Greens.

The tight tee shot at the Ninth Hole

Damage on the Twelfth Green

As for my irons, I am very happy with them so far. They hit the ball with a very crisp feel, almost like a blade iron. The distance is loooong and the feel is soft and easy to control around the greens. Although you don't need to hit Driver often at Walnut Lane, I hit it three times yesterday and found the fairway each time. Last week, I cut an inch off my Driver shaft, making its length 44.5-inches, as opposed to the 45.5 that I purchased it as. I was hoping that the shorter shaft would help with control and accuracy and it seemed to make quite the difference yesterday. I am hoping that it will also help eliminate the slice that has crept into my drives from time-to-time this year.

More photos of Walnut Lane:

The 186-yard Par 3 Second Hole

The approach to the Third Hole

The Eleventh Hole, a narrow, uphill Par 3

Two large bunkers guard the short Thirteenth Hole

The Sixteenth Hole, a 152-yard Par 3
Photos by The Muni Golfer