A Sunday Washout...

Severe thunderstorms throughout the Delaware Valley today washed out any chance for a round of golf for this weekend. Looks like it will be a trip to the Practice Range this coming week.

The Ongoing Search for a Fairway Wood

One of my biggest struggles this year has been finding a fairway wood that I am comfortable with and can hit repeatedly and consistently. That spot in my golf bag has been a revolving door, with no less than seven different clubs occupying that spot at one time or another. They include a TaylorMade V Steel (both 13 and 15 degrees), a TaylorMade r7, an Adams Redline RPM 4-Wood, an original Orlimar TriMetal, a Golfsmith XPC Plus and more recently, a TaylorMade '08 Burner.
Next up for a tryout is a Callaway X 3-Wood. What I am looking for is a fairway wood that I can hit reasonably straight, or with a slight draw, off the tee with some moderate distance and relatively easily from the fairway on really long Par 4s and short Par 5s. Off the tee is essential, especially on tight driving holes or when my Driver is misbehaving. And while I usually lay up on most Par 5s, there are those short ones when a good drive puts me in a position to at least give it a go. I'd like to have confidence in that situation that my fairway wood will at least give me the opportunity.

Big John, Big Jooooooooohn, Big Bad John

John Daly: My Life In and Out of the Rough is attempt by the two-time major champion to give his fans and the golfing public "the truth behind all that bull**** you think you know about me." After reading the short, 203-page book, it became clear to me that John Daly is golf's version of the Jerry Springer Show. While he is noted for the distances he hits a golfs ball and winning the 1991 PGA Championship after getting into the tournament at the last minute as the ninth alternate, he is just as well know for his drinking, his gambling, his (many) failed marriages, walking off the course and not signing his scorecard when he shoots a high number and his sometimes out-of-control anger.

"A lot of stuff has come down on my head in the last five years. My father pulled a gun on me, my mother died, my best friend since first grade walked out on me, and my wife was convicted of a felony and sent to prison. All that in five years. Sometimes I feel like a character in a bad soap opera that's stuck in replay mode. Sometimes I feel like getting in my bus and just driving away from it all. And sometimes I feel like kicking my own fat butt for feeling sorry for myself. Everybody goes through tough times. Everybody has troubles. Everybody has personal problems, family problems, relationship problems."

~ Chapter Twelve~

Daly has had enough problems for several people. And while he always tries in the book to take responsibility for his actions, he always seems to have an excuse. Like the many times he went to rehab, Daly repeatedly insists it was because other people wanted him to go, never because he realized he had a problem and needed help. Or, when he went off the wagon and drank several beers from the mini-bar in his hotel room during a tournament in Sweden. Daly called his agent to his room and told him and rationalized it by saying he was honest and not trying to hide. But he didn't ask his agent to get rid of the remaining beers and get him help.

Please don't get me wrong. I like John Daly. And Daly has a heart bigger than himself, if that's even possible. An example is the scholarship fund he established with part of his winnings from the '91 PGA Championship for the two young daughters of a man who was killed when he was truck by lightning on the first day of the tournament. Or the time he came out of a casino after losing a large sum of money and handed a homeless man $1,000. Or the numerous charity events he has established and plays in throughout the year.

Throughout the book, Daly refers to himself as a "redneck." Sometimes, I think he is trying harder to live up to that than being a professional golfer and two-time major champion. He has undeniable talent, but has squandered that and more money than most of the Third World nations combined. He reminds of a line Kevin Costner's character in Bull Durham, Crash Davis, says to Tim Robbins' charatcer Eppy Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh: "C'mon Rook--show me that million dollar arm 'cause I'm gettin a good idea about that five cent head of yours." John Daly has a million swing. Too bad it's guided by a five cent head.

There's No Place Like Home: Back at Juniata

Juniata Golf Club
Philadelphia, Pa
Yards: 2735/2070 - 4805
Par: 34/32 - 66
Rating: 63.2, Slope: 106
Score: 46/45 = 91
Date: August 3, 2008

It had been a month-a-half since I last played a round of golf at my home course, so I decided to pay a visit to Juniata Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. I was hoping, based on recent rounds at other courses, that I might shoot a low score. And after missing the 1st green right, then chipping to a foot for par, my optimism began to soar. But it wasn't to be as I topped my drive at the 2nd Hole into the Tacony Creek which fronts the tee box, and after three-putting, took an 8. After that, I had to grind my way around the course, finally shooting a disappointing 91. I consistently put myself into difficult situations off the tee much of the afternoon and my second shots were often pitches back into play. When I did manage to hit a fairway off the tee, my approach shots were not as crisp as they have been recently and my putting was less than stellar. The only part of game that I was relatively pleased with was my short game. I did manage to make four pars, which kept my season average at 20 percent of the holes I've played this year.

The 3rd Hole at Juniata, a 390-Yard Par 4

The playing conditions at Juniata continue to be pretty good. Although the tee boxes are showing some wear, the fairways are in very good shape, as are the greens. A few brown patches can be found in the rough, but even if you do find your ball landing in one of them, you still have a very playable lie. Overall, it felt good to again be playing on these familiar holes of my home course.

The 18th Hole, a short Par 3
guarded by two deep bunkers.

Photos by The Muni Golfer