Ross is Still the Boss at Jeffersonville

Jeffersonville Golf Club
Jeffersonville, Pa.
Yards: 3012/3138 - 6150
Par: 35/35 - 70
Rating: 69.4, Slope: 124
Score: 50/48 = 98
Date: June 26, 2009

It is always a treat to play a course that was designed by a legendary golf architect. On Friday, I played a round at Jeffersonville Golf Club, which is located just northwest of Norristown in Montgomery County. Jeffersonville is a Par 70 municipal track that was designed in 1931 by renowned golf architect Donald Ross, whose other legendary designs include such notable courses as Aronimink, Pinehurst #2, Oakland Hills, Oak Hill, Interlachen, Inverness and Seminole. The course was purchased by West Norriton Township in 1972 and they spent $2.3 million in 2002 restoring to as close to Ross' original layout as possible. It is a classic example of how a course can be challenging without a lot of gimmicks. There are a lot of holes that dogleg left or right, have double doglegs, play uphill or downhill, bunkers that line fairways and guard greens, as well as devilish greens that have false fronts or slope off on the front, back or sides.

Jeffersonville Golf Club Scorecard

Jeffersonville has decent length, measuring 6150 yards from the white tees and just over 6400 from the tips. The opening hole is a 434-yard Par 4 that plays across a small valley to an uphill fairway that doglegs left. The second hole, which plays downhill at 333 yards isn't any easier, with the green sitting on a plateau that has a creek crossing the front and right and out-of-bounds left and behind. There are two Par 5s: the 557-yard 6th hole, which doglegs right and features an almost blind second shot, and the 516-yard 18th Hole which doglegs left off the tee and then right back towards the green. One of the unique things at Jeffersonville is the pinsheet that is given out with scorecards in the proshop. With each green broken into thirds numbered 1, 2 and 3, it tells in what portion of the green the hole is located on that day. During our round, the pins were in #3.

Jeffersonville Golf Club Pinsheet

Usually, to play a course designed by such a legend, you would expect to pay $75 or more. But Jeffersonville's rates are truly in the spirit of municipal golf. To walk costs $26/35 during weekdays/weekends and to ride costs $42/51. The conditions of the course were excellent for a public facility. In fact, Jeffersonville is so respected, it is playing host to the Philadelphia Publinks Championship on June 29.

The 2nd Green is surrounded by a creek and OB

As for my round, my goal was to better the 100 I had shot at Jeffersonville two years ago. I felt pretty confident coming off last week's 90 at Mainland Golf Course. Although I was forced to hit Driver a few more times at Jeffersonville than Mainland, I still used my 3-Wood and 2-Hybrid off the tee a great deal. Unfortunately, I was back to fading or slicing the ball off the tee again. This put me some difficult spots to try and go at the green on my approach shots. My short game was either good or bad, depending on the hole. I did have success from the bunkers, which I found more than my share of, and my putting was again fairly consistent. I was disappointed to have five 7s on my card, although two of them came on the Par 5--I made an 8 on both last time. I did take some confidence away from the fact that I hit the ball solid, had a putts for par on the last five holes, and did break 100.

The blind approach shot at the Par 5 6th Hole

I would strongly recommend putting Jeffersonville on your must play list. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience golf as envisioned by one of the great golf architects, and at a price that can't be beat!

The Par 5 18th Hole doglegs left off the tee

Additional photos of Jeffersonville Golf Club:

The 3rd Hole, a short Par 4 which plays uphill

The Par 3 4th Hole

The straightaway 5th Hole

The 8th Hole, a downhill Par 3 with a creek in front

The approach to the 10th Green

The long 13th Hole doglegs left

with a creek in front of an elevated green

The long uphill Par 3 15th Hole

The Par 4 16th Hole

The approach to the 18th Green

Photos by The Muni Golfer

All Hail Muni Golf!!

A great story about the joys of playing muni golf has been posted on golfdigest.com. "A Man of the Munys Celebrates the Soul of American Golf" by Steve Rushin, which will be published in the August issue of the magazine, even gives an example of Golf Digest Editor-in Chief Jerry Tarde playing on a muni golf course while growing up in Philadelphia:

"Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde often played at a Philadelphia muny with an elderly gentleman who put Elmer's Glue on his grips and then shook coffee grounds over them to increase the tackiness. (In every sense of that word.) When Tarde passed him in the parking lot after one round, the guy was on his knees, spray-painting his own Cadillac."

Of course, Tarde grew up in Juniata and the Philadelphia muni that Tarde was playing was our beloved Juniata Golf Club!

The 1st Hole, a downhill Par 3, at Juniata Golf Club

A sidebar piece also ranks the best muni course in each of the 50 states. In Pennsylvania, that honor was bestowed upon Cranberry Highlands Golf Course, which is owned by Cranberry Township in Northwestern Pennsylvania. But I would argue that it is hard to beat Jeffersonville Golf Club, which is owned by West Norriton Township in Montgomery County. Jeffersonville was originally designed by the legendary golf architect Donald Ross, whose others works include Pinehurst #2, Oakland Hills, Oak Hill, Interlachen, Inverness and Seminole. I think it is hard to find another muni course designed by such a world renowned architect. Lucky for me, I will have the privilege of playing Jeffersonville tomorrow.

The Green Road Home

I just finished reading The Green Road Home: Adventures and Misadventures as a Caddie on the PGA Tour by Michael Bamberger. Today, Bamberger is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, but in 1985, at the age of 24, he had left a budding journalism career to experience the vagabond life of a PGA Tour caddie. Bamberger is probably best known for being the reporter who questioned a drop Michelle Wie took in the third round of the 2005 Samsung World Championship--her first tournament as a professional--which led to her disqualification. He is also the creator of the e-club, which looked like a small fairway wood head mounted on a putter for use in chipping around the greens. But in The Green Road Home, Bamberger gives an interesting view of Tour life from the often anonymous men who tote those large staff weeks week after week.

With his savings of $5,000, Bamberger, who also served as golf writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer from 1986-1995, gave himself six months to try to make it as a Tour caddie. He began his caddie career by writing to three golfers asking if he could caddie for them. One of them, Randy Erskine, responded and Bamberger's adventure began. Over the next six months he caddied for Brad Faxon, Al Geiberger, George Archer, Steve Elkington (in the Dutch Open, the Aussie's first tournament as a professional), along with lesser known players such as Billy Britton, Larry Rentz and Jamie Howell. In 1985, only the star players had regular caddies. Many players often switched from tournament to tournament.

Bamberger takes us through the long drives between tour stops, the cheap hotels and fast food, as well as the anxiety of arriving at a tournament with a guaranteed "bag" for the week. On a few occasions, Bamberger did what other caddies did when they didn't have a "bag"--he worked as a spotter for CBS' broadcast or drove a shuttle van at The Memorial Tournament.

Although a short read, it was very enjoyable as Bamberger shines the spotlight on the colorful characters who we often only see carrying the bag down the fairway or walking across the green to tend the flag on our televisions. I highly recommend this book as a short summer read.

Mainland GC, A Golfing Gem in Montco

Mainland Golf Course
Mainland, Pa.
Yards: 2917/2879 - 5796
Par: 35/35 - 70
Rating: 65.3, Slope: 111
Score: 49/41 = 90
Date: June 19, 2009

Friday I had the opportunity to play Mainland Golf Course, I nice little track located just off the Lansdale exit of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I had seen the course featured earlier this spring on Comcast Sportsnet's Inside Golf, and the husband of my cousin who lives in nearby Harleysville had also given me a good review of the course over Memorial Day weekend. It seems to be one of the many golfing hidden gems in the Delaware Valley.

Mainland GC Scorecard -- Front 9

Let me say straight out, this course does not disappoint. The conditions were exceptional and it is easy to see why: there were workers cutting grass and tending greens and bunkers throughout the course. While the course is fairly open and not overly long--I only hit Driver three times and two were Par 5s--the course does have its challenges. There are strategically placed bunkers at key spots along the fairways and around the greens to catch errant drives or approach shots, short doglegs, holes that play uphill or downhill, and some narrow tee shots. The greens have little undulation, but there are some subtle breaks. The only real problem that we noticed was the amount of ball marks on the greens; people always remember to repair your ball marks. Because of all the rain we've been experiencing, the rough at Mainland was very thick and sand in the bunkers heavy. The greens were also a touch slow, but very receptive to approaches, pitches and chips because of the wetness.

Mainland GC Scorecard -- Back 9

The price at Mainland can't be beat. My golfing partner and I paid $30 to walk at 11:30 a.m. Although there was a foursome in front of us and a trio of ladies playing behind us, the play kept moving. Rangers continuously monitor the course for pace-of-play. And the staff--from the pro shop people to the starter to the rangers to the woman manning the halfway house at the turn--were very friendly and helpful. The course does have a short, irons-only practice range where you hit "floater" golf balls out into a small pond. If you get the chance, definitely play a round at Mainland, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

The "Driving Pond" at Mainland Golf Course

As for my round, I played my best golf of the year. Although I struggled a bit on the front 9: making an 8 at the 511-yard Par 5 2nd, a triple-bogey 6 at the 168-yard Par 3 4th, and another triple-bogey 7 at the short 319-yard Par 4 7th, but I did mange two pars at the 5th and 9th. I hit Driver on the first two holes, but mostly used my 3-Wood and 2-Hybrid on the other Par 4s. My chipping and putting really kept me in the round on the front 9. I never had a second putt of more then two-feet. I also hit my irons as crisp and as solidly as I have this year. The switch to the Wilson Staff Di7s is proving to be a good move, and their were really good coming out of the heavy rough. I went out in a slightly disappointing, but respectable 49.

Water guards the right side of the 9th Hole

The par at the 9th, a 125-yard Par 3 that has a large pond to the right of the green started a really good run for me on the back 9. After just lipping out a 45-foot birdie putt at the 9th, I made bogey at the 10th after my 2-Hybrid found a bunker on the corner of the dogleg. I then made four straight pars at Holes 11 through 14, including a sand save for par at the 509-yard 14th, a Par 5 that doglegs right and over a big, deep swale in front of the green. The 15th Hole features a narrow tee shot to a fairway that slopes from right-to-left. The 16th is a long Par 3 in which the right side of the green is partially hidden. The 17th is a Par 3 that plays from a well-elevated tee to a green that has creek in front and two bunkers and a large tree guarding the right side. The 18th is a short dogleg left to a green that is also protected by the creek, bunkers and trees. I made bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 17th, and a double-bogey at the 18th after a poor, pulled tee shot and then hitting my third shot over the green. I came home in 41, only 6-over for the back 9!

The downhill Par 3 17th Hole

Following your round at Mainland, make sure to stop into Whiskey River Grille, which has a really nice bar, a good assortment of beers and ales, and a delicious menu for lunch, dinner or just munching.

Additional photos of Mainland Golf Course:

The 4th Hole, a Par 3

The green at the short 5th Hole

View of the 7th green from the fairway

The 11th green from the fairway

The 12th Hole doglegs left

The narrow tee shot at the 15th Hole

The partially blind 16th Hole, a long Par 3

Photos by The Muni Golfer

Practicing with the New 'Big Dog'

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

I have been wanting to up-grade my Driver, so last night I purchased a new TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver from Dicks Sporting Goods at the Franklin Mills Mall. The Driver was on sale and I had several gift cards from my recent birthday, plus a $20 off coupon, so I picked it up at a steep discount. It has 10.5-degrees loft and a Fujikura Re*Ax 60-gram shaft in regular flex. I already have the TaylorMade Burner 3-wood, so I thought this Driver would complement my bag set-up nicely.
On Friday, I scheduled to play a round with a friend at Mainland Golf Course, just northwest of Lansdale, Pa. From the reviews I've read about the course, a Driver is not necessary on most holes, but I still wanted to get to the Driving Range tonight to get a feel for my new Tour Burner so I can use when needed Friday. I also wanted to hit some 3-woods and utility clubs, since they will probably be the club of choice off the tee at Mainland.
It was unseasonably cool and a bit rainy, but I still headed over to Fishers Glen to hit a small bucket of balls. After warming up with 8 wedge shots, I hit 15 3-woods. They were some of the best tee shots I've hit this year. I then moved to the Driver and worked on figuring out how high I need to tee ball, ball position in my stance and swing tempo. I hit 16 balls with the "big dog," some good, some fair, a few I'd rather forget. But overall, it looks like I'll be able to have it in my bag on Friday.

The Rain is a Pain at Juniata

Juniata Golf Club
Philadelphia, Pa
Yards: 2805/2185 - 4990
Par: 34/31 - 65
Rating: 63.2, Slope: 106
Score: Practice Round
Date: June 13, 2009

Despite threatening skies, I tried to sneak in a round at Juniata Golf Club late this afternoon. The sun had been peeking in and out from ominous skies through most of day, but I thought I would be able to get 18 holes. No such luck. I played the first three holes, making par at #1, before I heard a second roll of thunder while waiting on the 4th tee. Knowing this could be a dangerous situation, I quickly hoofed it back to the clubhouse; a third roll of thunder rumbled as I walked up the 1st Hole. I waited about a half hour, watching dark, black skies off to the west of the course. Finally, feeling the worst had passed, I decided that rather than walking back to the 4th Hole, I would start at the 10th and play the back nine. After such a delay, and still keeping a wary eye on the grey skies, it was tough to get back into the round mentally, as well as physically. By the 14th Hole, the rain was coming down hard enough that I had to put up my golf umbrella and put the rain cover on my bag. The rain lasted only a hole or two, however. Although my game was a bit suspect off the tee--I lost five balls--I felt my swing was the best it has been so far this year. I still need to work on my mental game and my course management, but I feel I am swinging well, just not scoring well.

Dark skies beyond the 11th green

Welcome back Mr. Wilson: Since my swing is feeling the best it has this year, I decided to put my Wilson Staff Di-7 irons back in the bag. These irons will join the Wilson Staff Spine Driver I have been using off-and-on, as well as the Wilson Staff Fybrid. I bought these irons last last season, but never really had an opportunity to test them. When I started out swinging so poorly this season, I quickly lost confidence in them before I ever really had a chance to test them. Today, I felt like I hit some of my best iron shots so far this season, so that gave me a big shot of confidence. I also played today with a Titleist NXT golf ball for the first time. I had received a trial pack of two about a year ago, but had never used them. Recently, I had been given a box as a gift, so I decided to put the trial pack, along with a sleeve of three in my bag to test. I have to say I was really impressed. I liked the ball's distance, accuracy and feel. I will play with these for the next couple of rounds and then make a determination about a possible ball switch.

Rain clouds roll over the 10th Hole

Course update: Looking over my Juniata Golf Club scorecard today, I noticed that the lengths of some of the holes have been changed to better reflect their true length. The course now plays at 4990 yards from the white tees, an overall increase in length of 185 yards. The 2nd Hole is now 20 yards longer at 280 yards, 4th Hole has been lengthened by 10 yards to 390, the 5th Hole now plays 10 yards longer at 370, and the 6th is 30 yards longer at 380. On the back nine, the 10th Hole measures 15 yards longer at 165, the 11th is also increased 15 yards to 375, the 13th plays at 10 yards longer at 170 yards, the 15th increases 15 yards to 150, the 16th adds 125 yards to 400, the 17th Hole adds 20 yards to measure 340 and the 18th now plays 25 yards longer at 160 yards.

Updated Juniata Golf Club Scorecard

Photos by The Muni Golfer

11th Exelon Invitational is an Ace!

Today I attended the 11th Annual Exelon Invitational hosted by Jim Furyk at The Ace Club in Lafayette Hill, Pa. The event featured four members of the 2008 Ryder Cup--Delaware Valley native Furyk, Kenny Perry, Anthony Kim and Paul Casey--playing a two-team fourball match. The match was Furyk/Kim vs. Perry/Casey. Furyk and Kim won the match 3&2, thanks to an ace by Kim at the 212-yard Par 3 14th Hole. What was really cool about Kim's ace was, as per golf traditional, he bought all of the spectators a drink! At the 15th green, they were handing out free cans of beer and soda on Kim. Furyk and Kim split the first prize money of $160,000, while Perry and Casey split the runners-up share of $120,000. The event raised nearly $200,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, and in its 11 year history has donated almost $1.7 million. You can see all of my photos from the event by clicking here.

Furyk, Perry Casey and Kim

It was a gorgeous day with brilliant sunshine and high humidity. Thunder storms that predicted for the afternoon held off, but some gray skies did roll in late in the day and the winds began to gust. The sun and humidity had to take a small toll on the players, who had all just finished playing The Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio this past weekend except for Kim.

Anthony Kim makes an ace at the 14th Hole

Apart from Kim's ace, another interesting moment occurred at the Million Dollar Shootout. Prior to the start of the tournament, spectators can can take three swings to try hit a golf ball as close as possible to a pin 72 yards away. The four closest contestants are then given the opportunity to tee-off for a hole in one at the 8th Hole, prior to the pros. A Hole-in-one is worth $1 million. One of the contestants was a 13-year-old named Cole, who hit his tee shot about 20-feet above the pin. One the green, Paul Casey gave Cole his putter and the youngster two-putted for a par!

13-year-old Cole putts for birdie!

Here is a re-cap of the match from the Sports Network:

Kim's ace highlights Exelon win

Lafayette Hill, PA (Sports Network) - Anthony Kim made the first hole-in-one in the 11-year history of the Exelon Invitational on Monday, guiding himself and Jim Furyk to a 3 & 2 victory over Kenny Perry and Paul Casey.

Kim holed his 212-yard tee shot at No. 14 with a five-iron, giving his team a 3-up advantage with four holes to play. He said it was the ninth ace of his career.

"I didn't see it go in," said Kim. "I saw the reaction of the crowd and knew it was good."

The one-day event is hosted by Furyk and held -- fittingly for Kim -- at the Ace Club in suburban Philadelphia. The Ryder Cup-style fourball tournament raised nearly $200,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, Furyk said.

Kim's hole-in-one may also be the last in tournament history.

Exelon, which has sponsored the event since it began in 1999, is cutting back expenses in the difficult economy, Furyk said. He said the tournament, which draws top players every year, won't be held in 2010.

"We're hoping to come back in the future," said Furyk.

The players kept the mood light while birdies were made at 11 of the first 13 holes.

Furyk and Casey were especially hot, combining for seven birdies on the first nine holes. Furyk's fourth birdie putt on the front side, a five-footer at No. 9, gave himself and Kim a 2-up lead.

Perry didn't make birdie until the 10th, when he holed an 18-foot putt to cut his and Casey's deficit to 1-down. They also made birdie at the next hole to square the match.

Kim put his team ahead again with a 10-footer for birdie at the 12th, set up by a soft six-iron into the green.

After rolling a birdie putt well past the hole on 13, Kim played to the supportive gallery, which was reacting to a loud noise coming from the greenside pond.

"That frog is laughing at me," he said.

Furyk rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the hole to give his team its second 2-up advantage of the day. They moved a commanding 3-up on Kim's ace at the 14th.

"Hey everybody, drinks are on Anthony!" Perry called out -- and sure enough, beer and soda were brought out on a cart several holes later.

The players -- all ranked in the top 15 in the world -- halved the next two holes to give Furyk and Kim the victory.

Furyk, Kim and Casey then played the final two holes using only one club -- Furyk a five-iron, Casey a four-iron and Kim a three-wood. Furyk thrilled the gallery by holing a 40-footer for birdie with his five-iron on the 17th green.

The ACE Club is a beautiful Gary Player-designed course, built over the rolling, hilly landscape of northwestern Philadelphia and southwestern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. From the tips, it plays at 7,471 yards, with a rating of 76.1 and a slope of 146. It also features a 610-yard Par 5. From the white tees, the course is 6702 yards, with a rating/slope of 72.7/137.

Photos by The Muni Golfer

Getting Back in the Swing at Juniata

Juniata Golf Club
Philadelphia, Pa
Yards: 2735/2070 - 4680
Par: 34/31 - 65
Rating: 63.2, Slope: 106
Score: 50/46 = 96
Date: June 7, 2009

Hoping to rid myself of the horrible swing memories from Wednesday's round at Paxon Hollow, I headed out for a late afternoon round at Juniata Golf Club. I put my Wilson Staff Spine Driver back in the back for this round, as well as an old Golfsmith XPC Plus 16-degree 3-Wood. I was joined on the first tee by John, a 14-year-old who will be a freshman at Father Judge High School next year. John has been playing golf for six years and hopes to try out for Judge's golf team next year. He had a nice grip and a nice swing, although I think his backswing is a bit too long. He played well overall and was a fun companion for the front nine. On the back nine, I was joined by Mike, who was only playing his second round this year. Mike was another good golf companion.

Front 9 Scorecard

As for my round, I started out playing decent, making a par at the short 260-yard 2nd Hole, and was a mere three over par through four holes. But at the 5th, I hit a fade off the tee again and the doubts quickly crept back into my psyche. I stared making mental errors and soon tallied an 8 for the hole. At the 6th, I decided to try to go with the fade, but hit the first tree on the right just over the first ridge. I got a break and bounced back towards the fairway. I couple of more mental errors and I putted out for a 7. At the 7th Hole, with the tees forward on the lower plateau, I hit a hybrid and suddenly, there was a nice soft draw in the fairway. My second shot was again a draw, just missing the left edge of the green and into a bunker. I took two to get out and wound up with a 6. But I was feeling confident again. Something in my swing started feeling right. I hit my tee shot at the 8th fat which led to a double-bogey 5. But at the 9th, I hit my best drive of the day, a solid draw right up the right side of the fairway. It caught the slope that goes to the left and looked like a monster drive from the tee. I expected to find my ball along the left side of the fairway or just in the rough. But after searching and searching, neither John nor I could fine the ball! I finally took a drop and made a bogey 5. My front nine score was 50. Most of that came at the three hole stretch of 5, 6 and 7. Overall, I didn't play as badly as my score indicated.

Back 9 Scorecard

My back nine started with a drive hit straight, but right of the 10th green. I attempted a flop shot, but didn't clear the bunker. I got up and down for a 4. My tee shot at the 11th was solid and straight, just over the trees on the right side of the fairway. My approach was partially obstructed, but I was able to punch a 6-iron up the right side of the hill and made a 5. At the Par 12th, my tee shot found the fringe in front of the green and I three-putted for another 4. I continued to hit the ball well, either straight or with a bit of a draw, and made 4-5-5 at holes 13 through 15. At 15, I again was my own worst enemy. Unable to find an even lie, I should have teed it high and hit driver, but I topped a 3-Wood into the brush on the right. I tried to then hit a 5-Wood off the tee and topped that up the right side, but in play. My hybrid out of the rough was off the heel and hooked across the fairway and into the brush on the left side. A drop, a short pitch, a chip and a putt left me with an 8. Again, mental errors. At 17, I aimed a bit right trying to draw the ball back into the fairway, but I had the ball a bit too far back in my stance and hit it straight right. My ball was in the rough at the top of the hill, only 100 yards out. But I chopped it up to the green in 3 swings, then three-putted for a 7. At the 18th, I put a 4-iron just outside the right bunker, pitched on and two-putted for a 4. A 46 on the back and a round of 96.

New footbridge being built at the 7th Hole

Except for the four or five holes where I executed very poor course management, I felt very good about the way I played. I started hitting the ball straight or with a slight draw again, which is encouraging. One thing I need to work on is my short game: pitching, chipping and especially putting. But I definitely feel I'm exorcizing the fade/slice demons from Paxon Hollow.

Photo by The Muni Golfer

The Exelon Invitational

Monday I will be attending the 11th Exelon Invitational hosted by Jim Furyk. The annual event, which benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, will be held at The Ace Club on Ridge Avenue in Lafayette Hill. The Ace Club is a Gary Player signature course, which was used for The Golf Channel's "Playing Lessons with the Pros" segment featuring The Black Knight. This year's Exelon Invitational features, in addition to Furyk, PGA Tour pros Kenny Perry, Anthony Kim and Paul Casey. They will play a two-man teams fourball match for a purse of $305,000, with the winning team splitting $120,000 and the runners-up $120,000. I attended last years event and had a great time! It is awesome to watch the pros in person. They swing so effortlessly, yet hit the ball a mile and very accurately. It is also an opportunity to peek into their bags and see firsthand what clubs they play. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $40. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the match begins at 12:15 p.m.