The Golf Show is Coming!

A sure sign that the golf season is just over the horizon is the fact that the Victory Golf Show is just two weeks away. The show will be held Feb. 29-March 2 at the Valley Forge Convention Center. Admission is $5 on Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday. The show features some 100 vendors offing equipment, demonstrations, information booths, travel and course information, seminars, a demo range, FREE PGA lessons, and HUGE discounts on all kinds of golf equipment and merchandise. All entrants also receive a FREE goodie bag.



For those of you, like The Muni Golfer, who have not been able to play because of the winter weather or other reasons, the golf show offers a great opportunity to get off the couch and begin focusing on the links again. Whether you are just browsing, looking for some new or used equipment, need to pick up some golf balls or maybe some news golf shoes or attire, the golf show is the place to get your mind back on the warm weather, lush, green fairways or fast, smooooth greens.


This is the second for the Victory Golf Show. It has replaced the old Greater Philadelphia Golf Show, which has been without a home since the Fort Washington Expo Center closed two years ago. The Victory Golf Show is co-sponsored by Victory Golf Pass, the Philadelphia Section PGA, Chesapeake Golf Club and Play Golf America.com.

Farewell to a Father and a Friend

The Muni Golfer's father passed away peacefully and quietly on Monday, January 14. He was a wonderful father and friend. He had been suffering from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) for several years, and it had severely limited his breathing and his mobility. I will miss him greatly, but I take comfort knowing that he has been reunited with my mom. I love you Dad.

A Beef-and-Beer to Save Juniata Golf Club

A beef-and-beer will be held on Friday, Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to midnight in an effort to raise funds to save Juniata Golf Club. As I reported in an earlier post, the City of Philadelphia, through the Fairmount Park Commission, is leasing Juniata to the newly formed Juniata Golf Foundation, which will manage the course. The beef-and-beer fundraiser is being held at the Juniata Boys Club, 1001 E. Cayuga Street, adjacent to the course's main entrance. The cost is $25 per person and will feature, in addition to roast beef sandwiches and beer, a variety of other foods, set-ups for mixed drinks (the event is BYOB), a DeeJay and door prizes.

The online history of Juniata Golf Club, which was designed by renowned golf architect Ed Ault, states that, "In December of 1923, the Fairmount Park Commissioners decided that the development of a new public golf course would be located on a 66-acre tract along Tacony Creek extending to Juniata Park. The course was laid out on 66 acres plus 40 acres from Tacony Creek park as planned by Alan D. Corson, Fairmount Park's Chief Engineer 'in conjunction with local golf architects.' In commenting in 1925 on the design, Mr. Corson said, 'a public course should be easy to play around and with this in mind we planned the links in Tacony Creek Park to be less difficult than Cobb's Creek... An easy course permits more people to play on it.' Juniata Golf Club opened to the public on July 14, 1927, with 9 holes completed. By Memorial Day, 1930, all 18 holes were completed and open to the public."

Tickets for the Jan. 18 beef-and-beer may be purchased at the door. For more information contact Bob Wheeler, Juniata's general manager and head golf professional, at 215/743-4060.

New Year's Resolutions for Golf

Well, a new year has just begun and even though it might not be ideal conditions for playing golf here in the Delaware Valley, it is a good time to think about some golf goals for the upcoming year. So, just as we make New Year's resolutions for our daily lives, I am going to make some 2008 resolutions for my golf:

* Get myself physically ready to play golf before the season starts.

* Play a minimum of 30 regulation and practice rounds combined.

* Play those rounds on at least 10 golf courses, with at least three being courses I've never played before.

* Play more rounds with family and friends.

* Lower handicap to under 25.

* Emphasis on course management.

* Practice my short game, including putting, chipping and pitching.

* Visit the driving range more regularly.

* Break 90 on a course of Par 70 or higher.

* Have FUN playing.

I know this list is probably too long, but if I accomplish at least half--five--of these goals, 2008 will have been a successful season.