Mid-Year Review of My Golf Resolutions/Goals

Since the calendar now says July, it's a good time to review the golf resolutions, or goals, I set for myself back in January. I ambitiously made 10 resolutions. Here's an update on where I stand in keeping or meeting those resolutions/goals:

1) Get myself physically ready to play golf before the season starts -- I got a late start to the season and while I did try to do some things, I was not really in the best physical shape when I did finally get on the course. My wife and I have been occasionally walking at night, so this has helped me a bit, but we need to do it on a more regular basis.

2) Play a minimum of 30 regulation and practice rounds combined -- I've played less than 10 regulation and practice rounds so far, so unless I play deep into the fall, this resolution/goal may be tough to achieve.

3) Play those rounds on at least 10 golf courses, with at least three being courses I've never played before -- Although I have played less than 10 regulation and practice rounds, I have managed to play them on six different courses, two on which -- Rock Manor and Center Square -- I played for the first time, so this one is well within reach.

Rock Manor Golf Club

4) Play more rounds with family and friends -- While I've made attempts to play more with friends, it hasn't happened as much as I would like.

5) Lower handicap to under 25 -- My handicap is down almost two strokes since the season started and now stands at 26.5, so this one is achievable if I continue my good play.

6) Emphasis on course management -- I'm not taking as many low percentage shots as in the past and the fact that my handicap has dropped is evidence that I am managing my game much better on the course.

7) Practice my short game, including putting, chipping and pitching -- Except for some putting on the carpet, and some warm-up wedges at the driving range, I have not practiced my my short game at all. My putting has been pretty bad this year, particularly from five feet and in.

8) Visit the driving range more regularly -- Early in the spring, when I wasn't getting out on the golf course, I was visiting the driving range weekly. In April and May, I went to the driving range -- Fishers Glen and Burholme Golf Center -- five times, about four times more than I normally do in a season.

Fisher Glen Driving Range

9) Break 90 on a course of Par 70 or higher -- If not for a missed seven foot putt on the 18th Hole at Center Square, I would have already achieved this one. But it did give me confidence that I CAN do it!

18th Hole at Center Square

10) Have FUN playing -- My handicap is going down which means my scores are going down, so how can I NOT be having fun on the golf course?

So, as you can see, I have some things to be optimistic about, and some things still to work on in the second have of the year.

Four Ault-ernate Courses

While writing recently on this blog about the courses I have played, I discovered that I have now played four courses designed by renowned golf architect Ed Ault. Ault, who passed away in 1989, designed or co-designed over 100 golf courses. In the late 1950s, he established the golf course design firm Ault, Clarke & Associates, Ltd., which still adheres to his philosophies and standards of golf course design. Ault seemed to enjoy his most prolific period of course design in the 1960s as the merger of a young charasmatic Arnold Palmer and the infancy of televised golf began bringing the sport to the masses. The four Ed Ault courses that I have been fortunate enough to play fall into four unique and distinct categories: municipal, daily fee, public country club and private country club. Those courses are:

Juniata Golf Club: One of Philadelphia's six municipal golf courses and my home course. Opened in 1930, it was probably one of Ault's earliest designs since he would have only been 22 years old at the time. Built along the Tacony Creek, this short course, which features naturally rolling terrain, is set amongst the urban landscape of a major metropolitan city.

Center Square Golf Course: Built in 1963, this Ault-designed daily fee course sits on 148 wooded acres in the suburbs just northwest of Philadelphia. It has hosted two national championships: the 1980 and 1997 U.S. Women's Amateur Publinks Championship. I played this course two weeks ago.

Ramblewood Country Club: Designed by Ault in 1962, this Delaware Valley public country club in Mt. Laurel, N.J., features 27 championships holes set through a housing community that borders the edges of the course. Ramblewood Country Club and the surrounding homes were developed by Richard C. Goodwin, a Drexel University alumnus, who endowed the University's Richard C. Goodwin College of Professional Studies, of which my wife is an alumna. I played in several Drexel golf outings there in the mid-1990s.

Shawnee Country Club: This private country club in Milford, Del., was established in 1957 by local businessmen. Ault co-designed Shawnee with Al Jamison in 1960. The well-maintained, PGA-rated championship course sees approximately 23,000 rounds of play per year. I played this course in July 1999.

For a full list of Ed Ault-designed course, click here.

A New Low at Center Square

Center Square Golf Course
Center Square, Pa
Yards: 2939/3061 - 6000
Par: 35/36 - 71
Rating: 67.9, Slope: 119
Score: 46/44 = 90
Date: June 26, 2008

Center Square Golf Course in Eastern Montgomery County offered a unique opportunity to test my game on a layout that has hosted a major golf championship. In 1980 and 1997, the U.S. Women's Amateur Publinks Championship was held at this Ed Ault-designed course, and it is not hard to imagine why. Center Square features generous Rye/Blue Grass fairways and medium-sized Bent/POA greens. The greens are fast, offer subtle breaks and are guarded by nearly 60 bunkers. Except for the occasional blind tee shot, all the trouble at Center Square is right in front of you. It is in terrific shape for a public course and the greens fee are very reasonable; $29 to walk Monday through Thursday, $37 on Friday and $39 after 1 p.m. on the weekends. Carts are $15.

The 10th Hole at Center Square, a 378-yard Par 4

Although overcast, drizzling and extremely humid and muggy when we teed off at #1, the day turned out to be pretty nice as the sun finally popped through on the back nine. Coming off my lackluster performance at Rock Manor, I was hoping for a little bit more from my game at Center Square. And did I get it! I played well from the tee, generally finding the fairway. When I didn't, my course management kept me from posting a big number. My ball striking was the best it has been this year; I hit several greens in regulation. The new TaylorMade r7 irons are allowing me to get the ball in the air with great distance, whether from the tee, fairway or rough. My short game allowed me to get up-and-down when I needed it. The only down side again was my putting. I still three-putted too many greens. I did manage to make four pars, including two of the three Par 5s. It all added up to a 90, my lowest score ever on a course of Par 70 or higher! In fact, I missed a putt of about seven feet on the 18th hole which would have given me an 89!

Center Square Scorecard

Following the round, my golfing buddy Ken and I enjoyed delicious sandwiches and beverages, while catching a few innings of the Phillies game in Center Square's Champs Sports Bar.

A view of the clubhouse, Champs Sports Bar and the 18th green from the 13th tee

A few additional views of Center Square Golf Course:

The 3rd Hole, a 160-yard Par 3

The 5th green is protected by a large bunker

The 8th Hole is a 388-yard dogleg left

The 9th Hole from the tee box

The 187-yard Par 14th Hole.
The power lines do not come into play.

The tee marker for the 16th Hole, a short Par 4

The downhill 15th fairway from the 16th tee box

The 18th Hole, a 133-yard Par 3 over water

The view of the back nine from the 18th tee

Photos by The Muni Golfer