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