An Afternoon at the Victory Golf Show

This afternoon I attended the Victory Golf Show at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa. This show was very different from the Greater Philadelphia Golf Show I attended last month. Today's golf show featured exhibits from many more local golf courses and golf destinations than the GPGC. There seemed to be fewer equipment vendors, but those that were there offered much better merchandise.
Everyone entering the Victory Golf Show, with the their paid admission, received a one-year subscription to Golf Digest, a $20 gift card to Chesapeake Bay Golf Club a $10 gift card to Horsham Valley Golf Club and a $10 gift card to Golfdom Golf. There was also a goodie bag that contained coupons for several area courses and Dicks Sporting Goods, an offer of a free sand wedge from SMT Golf and a free hybrid from Magique Golf, information about the PGA's Play Golf America Day on May 9, information for junior golfers and junior tournaments, and the spring issue of Eastern Pennsylvania Golf magazine.
The Victory Golf Show also featured free lessons from local PGA professionals, skills challenges, putting contests, a closest to the pin contest and a demo range to test some of the latest equipment. There were also rules seminars and golf instruction lectures, comedic entertainment, and celebrities such as Philadelphia Eagles mascot 'Swoop' and Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders.
As I mentioned earlier, numerous local courses, golf academies and golf getaway packages were represented at the Victory Golf Show. Many were distributing coupons for discounted green fees or 'three pay four play' deals. Among the courses I collected info from were Ron Jaworski's Valleybrook Country Club and Riverwinds Golf Club in South Jersey; Brandywine Country Club and Rock Manor in Wilmington, Del.; Northeast Philadelphia's Island Green Country Club; The Hershey Hotel; Baywood Greens and The Rookery--two favorites of The Muni Golfer--in the Lewes/Rehoboth Beach area; Ocean City, Md's Eagles Landing; The Links at Brigantine Beach--still on my golfing wish list--just outside Atlantic City; Tyoga Country Club in Wellsboro, Pa.; and Lehigh Valley golf. One bright note, I learned that Ron Jaworski has recently acquired Riverwinds, so we should see that links style gem along the Delaware River being returned to its previous luster in the very near future.
One section of the show that was pretty impressive was the area devoted solely to kids and golf, where they had lessons, contests and a putting green.
As with the previous golf show, I was looking more for golf accessories--gloves, apparel, headwear and Wilson Staff products--than I was for golf clubs. But I also kept an eye out for a bargain that might be too good to pass up. I didn't find any Wilson Staff equipment, but I did pick up a brand new Sonartec SS-07 4-wood with a Grafalloy ProLite shaft for $50 from the Golf Tour Trailer at Westfields. Although Sonartec is no longer in business, it was once a highly regarded fairway wood on the professional tours and is still in the bags of several Tour Pros. In addition, I picked up a Victory Golf Pass wind shirt/pullover from the Philadelphia Section PGA Pro Shop for $19.99.

Photos by The Muni Golfer

My Year in Review

As the final hours count down on 2008, it is time to look back at my golf year. This past year, I played 23.5 rounds, which included one-and-a-half practice rounds and one incomplete round. I played on 14 difference courses, including four for the first time: Rock Manor, Center Square, Jonathan's Landing and Talamore. I played 422 holes and averaged 93.1 strokes per 18 holes, excluding the practice rounds and incomplete round. I had a score of par or better on 85 of those holes, or 22 percent of the holes I played. I had at least two holes of par or better in every round this year. The most holes of par or better I had in one round was 6 at FDR on July 19 and Oct. 12 at John F. Byrne. I also made six birdies, all on Par 4s: #1 at Rock Manor, #1 at Horsham Valley, #12 at Jonathan's Landing, #14 at Juniata and two at Juniata's 5th Hole. My lowest round of the year was an 87 at Juniata on September 21 and my highest round was a 101 at Talamore on Oct. 17. I also had an 88 at Horsham Valley (Aug. 16) and at Juniata (Sept. 14), as well as a 90 at Center Square on June 26.

The 1st Hole at Rock Manor
where I made my first birdie of the year

Photos by The Muni Golfer

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.

A Rock Solid Course -- Rock Manor

Rock Manor Golf Course
Wilmington, Del
Yards: 2831/3149 - 5980
Par: 36/36 - 71
Rating: TBD, Slope: TBD
Score: 51/47 = 98
Date: June 24, 2008

Today I took my clubs and game down I-95 to Wilmington, Delaware to try the newly renovated Rock Manor Golf Course. A municipal course owned by the City of Wilmington, "The Rock" as it is affectionately known has recently re-opened after two years of re-design and re-working under the direction of golf architect Lester George. For a municipal golf course, George and the City of Wilmington have done a magnificent job of lengthening and transforming "The Rock" into a first rate course. Four sets of tees make this course playable for golfers of just about any skill level. The fairways are generous and in fantastic condition, while the greens are smooth and extremely quick. A beautiful, circa 1921 building is being refurbished and will serve as the Course's clubhouse in the very near future. Because the renovation and redesign of the course is so new, the rating and slope have yet to be determined by the Delaware State Golf Association. The course is being managed by Billy Casper Golf, which is also managing three of Philadelphia's public courses.

The future clubhouse at Rock Manor

Today also marked my annual golf outing with Robert Levis, the Chair of Temple University's Chemistry Department, and his father. Also joining us for today's round was George Baran, Associate Dean of Temple's College of Engineering.

Rock Manor Scorecard

We started our round on the back nine, which opens which a 528-yard Par 5 that doglegs right. I started off well, making a 6 on the Par 5, and played steady golf, making two pars: at the short 305-yard Par 4 14th and the 172-yard Par 3 16th. A gusty wind made club selection tricky all day and speed of the greens made it very tough to get approach shots, pitches and chips close to the hole.

The view from the first tee, a 90-degree dogleg right.

The front nine, our second, started off very well as I made my first birdie of the year at the 345-yard Par 4 1st Hole. I hit a three wood off the tee to the left side of the fairway, which doglegs right at a 90-degree angle. I was left with 135 yards downhill to a green which slopes from right to left. I hit a 9 iron to 20 feet left of the pin, which was in the back right portion of the green, then sank the uphill putt for birdie! I made bogey on the next two holes, a Par 5 and Par 3, respectively. The Par 3 3rd Hole is very challenging, requiring a tee shot from an elevated tee over wetlands to an elevated green that is protected by two large bunkers that swallow short tee shots. From the 3rd Hole on, my game started to desert me and limped home with an 8-5-6-7-7-5 over the last six holes. Putting was my nemesis through most of the round at Rock Manor. I missed more putts from 5 feet or less than I care to think about. But I capped off my day by sinking a 35-foot putt that broke hard to the right off a hump in the green.

The green at #1. I-95 traffic is speeding by just behind those trees and bushes.

A round at "The Rock" is worth the 45 minute drive down I-95. It is a welcomed addition back into the public golf arena of the Delaware Valley. A few additional views of "The Rock":

The 3rd Hole. A 157-yard Par 3 over wetlands.

The downhill Par 3 5th Hole plays over a small creek.

The Par 4 17th Hole.

The course known as "The Rock."

Photos by The Muni Golfer