Golf's Giant Blog

JPC’s Weekly Update: The Blog is No More (For Now…)

giantgolfblog — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:15:25 +0000

Hello all!

I apologize, first and foremost, for the lack of new content on the blog! I have taken a new position at a new company, and have been extremely busy with various JPC stuff ever since.

One of my favorite things about my time at JPC was this blog; I thoroughly enjoyed keeping you all posted about JPC, giving our avid golf fans some free tips, and providing my perspectives on the current happenings in the world of golf. Tiger’s scandal came at a pretty good time, as their was always something to write about.

A special thanks to those of you who commented and followed the blog consistently– I hope I was able to serve you the way that a good blogger should. The blog is taking a break from now, but hopefully, the person filling my modest shoes can pick up where I left off.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and again, many thanks to my readers!

-Frank Salatto

Weekend Golfer’s Tip: It’s Time to Get a Grip

giantgolfblog — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:47:13 +0000

I don’t know if you have been outside today, but it is windy and cold. If I were planning on teeing it up today (which, unfortunately, I’m not), I would definitely be having second thoughts. The season is certainly changing, and your last round of the year may have already come and gone.

With that said, it is important for all golf junkies (including myself) to look forward to next golf season. Many of you are probably hoping that Santa brings you some new equipment, and many are probably also planning their next golf trip. However, golf club maintenance is another task that needs to be done in the off-season, and another golf related activity that will help you to get your golf “fix.”

Most amateur golfer’s have never changed the grips on any of the clubs that rest in their respective bags. I can’t tell you how many times I see my playing partners with worn down grips. I myself, in fact, have a grip on my lob wedge that is about ready to disintegrate.

So, I urge everyone to take a Saturday morning to go and buuy some new grips and re-grip your clubs. Any one who can sell you new grips can certainly put them on for you. HOwever, that can be expensive, and their is certainly something to be said for taking the time and learning the process of re-gripping clubs.

So, here is a lesson on how to re-grip your clubs! Have fun!

JPC Plug: We are giving away a Cleveland wedge at the JPC Centre in Tysons Galleria as a part of our Sports Month! Their are only three days left of this raffle, so make sure you go by the Centre and enter your name ASAP!!! As always, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all of your golf news!

JPC’s Weekly Update: Advertise at JPC Centre!

giantgolfblog — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:11:53 +0000

As many of you know, JPC & Co. has a full service, multi-media advertising venue in Tysons galleria called JPC Centre. At the Centre, we hold various events, conduct raffles and monthly giveaways, and also run tv-style advertisements for our various clients (many of which are golf related).

JPC Centre is always open to new clients, and I wanted to personally reach out to this audience to see if any of you have a business, or know someone who has a business, that would benefit from advertising at at one of the most high-end shopping destinations in the country.

JPC Centre offers plenty for its reasonable rates; we offer up to minute-long tv-style ads, print material distribution, internet access, and also have a trained brand ambassador present at all times. We also offer a great location in Tysons Galleria, where foot traffic, especially during the upcoming holiday season, is both inherent and invaluable.

We have many high-end clients in the golf and resort world, and also have many clients in various service industries. If you are interested in marketing and advertising your company, or know of a company that would fit well at JPC Centre, please feel free to contact me at frank.salatto@jpcnco.com.

Lots of good stuff took place in the golf world this weekend! I’ll do a post on that on Thursday, so keep an eye out! Also, for more information on what’s happening at JPC Centre, follow this Twitter account and this Facebook page!

The Number One Golfer in the World

giantgolfblog — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:53:40 +0000

Currently, the number 1 spot in the World Golf rankings is held by Tiger Woods. However, it has been widely reported that Woods will relinquish that ranking, for the first time in years, in the next month. Most expect the new #2 in the world, Lee Westwood, to stake his claim to the number one position. However, the hottest golfer on the planet right now is Martin Kaymer, and with a win or a runner finish this week, Kaymer will jump to the number one spot.

Since I have been old enough to really follow golf, Tiger Woods has been the number one player in the world. I saw someone write that death, taxes, and Tiger Woods being atop the world golf rankings are the only things we can all be assured of in life. Woods’ reign as number one is coming to a close, and with his personal life forever changed and his swing in the process of being changed, who knows if he will ever get that spot back.

The upcoming season could provide drama that the PGA Tour hasn’t seen in years, as the #1 ranking could potentially be changing hands weekly. For now, Kaymer is the best player in the world. He has won his last three starts (including a major), and seems to be unflappable coming down the stretch of a golf tournament. Lee Westwood has been the best golfer for the past year, as his consistency in majors and ability to be in contention week in, week out has made him a world-wide force. And then, there is Woods himself, who as previously mentioned, is going through a swing change with new coach, Sean Foley. Woods’ game and ego have certainly been put in check in the past year, however, I’m never one to count him out. I still believe that Woods has some spectacular golf, and a fair amount of wins, ahead of him.

In my mind, the world number one will be one of these three guys, and probably will be a combination of all three for the next year. I’d like to think that Phil Mickelson can climb up into this group (as he had, oh, about 30 chances to take over the # 1 ranking throughout the Tour season), but his game, and his mind, is completely inconsistent.

It will be these guys in the hunt for the number one ranking for the next year: Woods, Kaymer and Westwood. Westwood will probably grab hold of it first, but don’t be surprised if Kaymer is the next to claim. The young German has serious game, and if he gets it, who knows if he ever gives it back.

The Year That Was on the PGA Tour

giantgolfblog — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:29:08 +0000

The 2010 PGA Tour season can be described in one word: uncharacteristic.

PGA Tour events have always been predominately won by American players. 2010 was different.

PGA Tour victories have generally gone to veterans who have done it before, rather than young, up-and-coming stars. 2010 was different.

Finally, since Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in the late ‘90s, we have seen one player win multiple times and be the clear-cut choice for the end-of-season, Player of the Year award. Again, 2010 was different.

The 2010 season on Tour can be characterized, for the first time in a while, by youth and parity. No one won more than three tournaments and it seemed as though a young budding star was winning his break-through tournament every other week. And, the tournaments that weren’t won by a Hunter Mahan or Bubba Watson seemed to be won by someone from across the pond.

Perhaps the most different thing on Tour, however, was the fact that Tiger Woods failed to win. For the first time since turning professional, Woods did not record a win on the PGA Tour. Since news of his infidelity leaked in November ‘09, Woods lost four majors (at venues where he was supposed to be dominant), lost many of his sponsorships, lost his swing coach, lost a lot of his image, lost his wife, and now, is set to lose his number one spot in the world golf rankings.

2010 was certainly a tough year Woods—but his troubles created opportunities for many others and made the Tour as wide open as it has been in over a decade. The PGA Tour was different in 2010. Whether it was better or worse without Woods being a dominant force is for you to decide.

Best Major Tournament: Mickelson’s win at The Masters

Best Non-Major Tournament: McIlroy’s win at Quail Hollow

Best venue: Harbour Town Golf Links

Worst venue: Whistling Straits

Biggest Hero moment: Mickelson from the woods on 13 at Augusta (even though he failed to make the Eagle putt)

Biggest goat moment: Dustin Johnson in the fairway (bunker) on 18 at Whistling Straits

Biggest surprise: Matt Kuchar

Biggest Disappointment: Tiger Woods

And finally…

Player of the Year: Jim Furyk

JPC’s Weekly Update: A Wrap-Up From TPC Potomac

giantgolfblog — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:57:53 +0000

The Senior Players Championship provided all of the excitement that anyone could handle this weekend, as Mark O’Meara held off Michael Allen in a playoff to win at TPC Potomac. The weather was great all week, and provided a perfect setting for an absolutely gorgeous golf course.

I was lucky enough to attend the tournament on Friday afternoon. I watched a lot of the action (mostly Bernhard Langer, as he has been the best player on the Champions Tour), and also was able to take a few pictures.

I hope everyone had a chance to get out to TPC Potomac for at least one day of the action! It was free, it was beautiful, it was fun, it was convenient, and most importantly, it was a great to watch some of the best senior golfers in the world.

My hat goes off to the Champions Tour for bringing such a great tournament to the people of our area for free! Here are a few of my pictures! Enjoy!

A shot of the par-3 Ninth Hole

Golf Channel Contributer and golf writer John Feinstein chatting outside the scoring tent

Bernhard Langer (in purple) finishing up his 2nd round on the 18th green

Senior Players Preview: The Lay of the New Land

giantgolfblog — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:54:06 +0000

I think I’ve made everyone aware of the fact that the Senior Players Championship has changed venues and this week will be played in our back yard at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. I hope I have made you all aware, at least.

The golf course will provide a great test for the best Senior players in the worlds. It is long, and it is fair, as good shots will be rewarded and bad shots will be harshly penalized. This kind of set up, a set up that I have been fortunate enough to play, will provide te perfect setting for the Champion Tours fifth and final major of 2010.

As with most major tournaments, I will provide in this post a hole-by-hoe preview of TPC Potomac. This way, when you make it down I-954 and get to Avenel Farm, you will know what to expect on each hole as you walk the course.

The tournament starts tomorrow morning! Have a great time when you go out there! The weather is supposed to be great all weekend! Here’s TPC Potomac! Good luck to all of the participants!

1	4	440	The green was shifted back approximately 30 yards, spectator mounding in the left rough was lowered to blend more naturally with hole #8, and tees were shifted back and to the right to create more of a dogleg.
2	5	619	Tees were shifted to the left and a stream channel was created at the second landing area, putting a greater premium on decision-making for the second shot. Spectator mounding to the right of the green was also lowered.
3	3	225	Tees were moved forward approximately 20 yards and the stream to the right of the green was restored.
4	4	440	The edge of the hazard was made more visable from the tee, and the green was moved back approximately 20 yards.
5	4	365	A large swale on the left side of the hole was filled and the fairway shifted towards the lake. Additionally, the green was elevated and shifted back and to the right approximately 20 yards.
6	4	484	The stream was completely restored. Additionally, the hole was converted from a par-5 to a par-4 by elevating and shifting the green to the fairway side of the stream, allowing water to flow more freely into the lake on the hole #7. The width of the landing area was also reduced.
7	4	452	The green was shifted forward approximately 10 yards, with spectator mounding lowered behind the green. New fairway bunkers were added to define the tee shot.
8	4	467	Both the tees and green were shifted back approximately 10 yards. Forest was also added on the far right side of the hole as well the addition of 2 new fairway bunkers.
9	3	201	The green was shifted up the hillside towards the tees on hole #1. May be the most dramatic change of any hole on the golf course.
10	5	560	The hole was converted from a par-4 tp a par-5 by eliminating the old 11th hole and incorporating it into #10. Stream restoration was also completed.
11	4	470	Stream restoration was completed and this par-3 hole was eliminated.
12	3	168	A new par-3 was created in the landing area of the old 13th fairway, playing across the gorge to an elevated green. New stone walls were built around the tee complex, which has improved the aesthetics dramatically.
13	4	360	The hole was converted from a par-5 to a par-4. Additionally, a single fairway was created by relocating the stream to the far left of the old fairway. The green is now elevated and well-protected, and sits just below the 14th tee.
14	4	299	The fairway was re-contoured and fairway bunkers were re-designed to make going for the green a key risk-reward strategy decision.
15	4	490	Tees were shifted back apprximately 25 yards, the landing area was lowered approzimately six feet and the green was raised about five feet – transforming this hole into one of the strongest par-4′s on the course. The hole now measures more than 500 yards from the back tee.
16	4	412	The landing area was lowered approximately five feet, the green was raised approximately 10 feet to improve sight lines from the tee to the green complex, spectator mounding was lowered behind the green approximately eight feet, and several greenside bunkers were added to protect the green complex. The length of the fairway is now 320 yards.
17	3	222	A new stone wall was built along the lake in front of the green, with the green re-oriented to run more left to the right and the hole was lengthened to 222 yards.
18	4	465	The landing area was lowered approximately six feet and the green was elevated approximately six feet, enhancing sight lines from the tee to the green. Tees were also shifted more to the right, with the cart path now running up the right side of the hole. The green was moved well to the right and back, closer to the clubhouse accentuating the new clubhouse backdrop and the new stone patio.

JPC’s Weekly Update: Go to TPC Potomac This Week!

giantgolfblog — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:03:00 +0000

The Ryder Cup is now over What an amazing finish and incredible event it was! Congrats to the Euro’s for winning and to the American’s for putting up an amazing fight! I’ll have more on the Ryder Cup throughout the week on Twitter and Facebook, and will also do a post on the blog at some point! So… keep an eye out!

However, now that the Ryder Cup is over, lets turn our attention to the Senior Players Championship, which has finally arrived this week! A great field is slated to turn out at TPC Potomac, where the fifth and final major of the year will be won!

Remember, all of the admissions and parking for the week long event are free! So make sure that you head to TPC Potomac turn out to watch some great golf at a great venue! Here are directions to TPC Potomac!

From points North (I-270)
Follow 270 South to 495 East toward Silver Spring/College Park
Take Exit 1 and turn right on Rockledge Boulevard
Turn right on Rockledge Drive and follow signs to General Parking

From points South (I-95 to I-495)
Follow 495 West/North (Capital Beltway Inner Loop) toward Tysons Corner
Continue past Tysons Corner into Maryland
Take Exit 38 to 270 North toward Rockville
Take Exit 1 and bear right on Democracy Boulevard East
Turn left on Fernwood Road and follow signs to General Parking

From points East (Baltimore/Eastern Shore)
Follow 495 West (Capital Beltway Outer Loop) toward Silver Spring/Bethesda
Take Exit 35 to 270 North toward Rockville
Take Exit 1B and turn left on Rockledge Boulevard
Turn right on Rockledge Drive and follow signs to General Parking

Now, it’s official, you have no excuses! See you out there!

Weekend Golfer’s Tip: Ryder Cup Highlights

giantgolfblog — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:04:14 +0000

This is the rare weekend where I would rather watch golf than play it. With that said, I’m more in the mood to show everyone the highlights of the 1999 Ryder Cup (the most exciting Ryder Cup I’ve ever seen), instead of giving you all your weekly golf tip.

So, this weekend, try and watch some of the Ryder Cup. And with play suspended for the day today, here are the highlights from one of the greatest golfing events of all time.

Enjoy!

Ryder Cup Preview (Part 2): A Look at the Teams

giantgolfblog — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:49:12 +0000

At last, the Ryder Cup is here! Or, it is very close to being here… Play begins tomorrow morning, bright and early on the east coast, and the morning pairings have been announced! Here they are:

Match 1: Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson vs. Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer

Match 2: Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar vs. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell

Match 3: Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods vs. Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher

Match 4: Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton vs. Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington

My preview today will consist of a look at who the players are for both the American and European side. I will also make a prediction for who will be each teams catalyst, who will be each teams goat, and finally, who will win the whole gosh-darn thing. SO, without further adieu, lets get started!

European side:

Coached by Colin Montgomery

Players:

1. Luke Donald– has played in two Ryder Cups (both victories)

2. Ross Fisher– Ryder Cup rookie who has four total international wins

3. Peter Hansen– Ryder Cup rookie who has four wins on the European Tour

4. Padraig Harrington– Has played in 5 Ryder Cups and has won 3 majors

5. Miguel Angel Jimenez– Has played in 3 Ryder Cups and has won 18 tournaments in his career

6. Martin Kaymer– Ryder Cup Rookie who just won his firsat major at Whistling Straits

7. Graeme McDowell– Played in the ’08 Ryder Cup and is the reigning U.S. Open champ

8. Rory McIlroy– Ryder Cup rookie who is the youngest player this week

9. Edoardo Molinari– First time Ryder Cupper who has two European Tour victories
10. Francesco Molinari– Making his Ryder Cup debut– is Edoardo’s brother

11. Ian Poulter– has played in two Ryder Cups. Is winless this year

12. Lee Westwood– Has participated in 6 Ryder Cups and is ranked 3rd in the world

American Side:

Coached by Corey Pavin

Players:

1. Phil Mickelson– Has played more Ryder Cups than any other player in this competition: 7

2. Hunter Mahan– Played in the ’08 Ryder Cup. Has two PGA victories this year

3. Bubba Watson– Ryder Cup debut. Won for the first time in his career this year, by defeating Pavin in a playoff

4. Jim Furyk– Played in 6 Ryder Cups and is the recent winner of the FedEx Cup

5. Steve Stricker– played in the ’08 Ryder Cup for the first time. Has won 9 times on Tour

6. Dustin Johnson– Ryder Cup Rookie. Had near-misses at two Majors this year

7. Jeff Overton– Ryder Cup rookie. Has no career professional wins

8. Matt Kuchar– Ryder Cup rookie who is coming off of his best year on Tour

9. Stewart Cink– Has played in 4 Ryder Cups and was the ’09 British Open winner

10. Zach Johnson– Played in the ’06 Ryder Cup and won Colonial this year

11. Rickie Fowler- Ryder Cup rookie and youngest player on the American team

12. Tiger Woods– This will be his 6th Ryder Cup. For the first time in his career, he did not win a PGA Tour event

USA Catalyst: Tiger Woods

Woods will be dominant this week because quite simply, he has to be. He needs a good week for image rehabilitation, and also o prove to golfers around the world that he is still a force to be reckoned with. Woods’ swing changes are coming along, and he will be motivated at the Ryder Cup for the first time of his career. Look at, team Europe.

Europe Catalyst: Martin Kaymer

In terms of form, Kaymer might be the best player in the world right now. He is long, is precise, and is tough-minded. He has played in big moments, and has picked up Ryder Cup experience at Valhalla in ’08 as a captains invite. Kaymer will be a tough beat for the American side, and his game is suitable for all the formats of the Ryder Cup.

American Goat: Phil Mickelson

To be a goat, you have to come in with expectations. Given that Mickelson is the #2 player in the world, he will be expected to perform well in all five matches. However, Mickelson has never been known to be a great Ryder Cup player, and his wayward driving nd erratic play could make him tough to partner with in a team play format. I hope I’m wrong, but I have a bad feeling about Phil this week.

European Goat: Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has made a few remarks that could, and should have rubbed the American the wrong way. He even went as far to call Woods out publicly. McIlroy is young, but he should have known not to poke the bear. If he does play Woods, and I am hoping that Pavin and Montgomery pit them against each other in singles, McIlroy should look out. Woods is hurting right now, but he tends to make people pay for publicly doubting him. Remember Stephen Ames?

Final Prediction: USA 14.5, Europe 13.5

No one is expecting the US side to win, but people don’t realize that the European side has more Ryder Cup rookies than the US, and that the US players, at this moment, are in better collective form than their European counterparts. Woods will rally this team and make this US victory a Ryder Cup to remember.