Thank You and Impact IV
Thank You and Impact IV
Greetings Golfers,
What a crazy year!
A rainy Spring rolled into a rainy Summer.
And then the most beautiful Fall of all-time
Though it’s still beautiful … we’re closing for the season on Sunday, Oct. 27. We have lots of work to do while we have nice weather and no one on the golf course.
People are already asking about the Annual Sale. It will be on Saturday, Dec. 7.
And the announcement and availability to buy the Holiday Passes will be on Weds, Nov. 20.
Wow - already talking about next year!
However, we have more to say about this year. We had another great year - thank you.
And I want to thank our staff. Lately, I wrote a few blogs about “impact”. Well, what is “impact” for operating DRGC? That’s easy - it’s our staff. We can have the greatest stuff and greatest system … but it still comes down to staff. They make it happen.
So let’s start with the Maintenance Staff - led by superstar Barry Provo:
Paul Bickel
Sam Brammer
Evan Casper
Myonghai Choi
Dean Clark
Gordy Davis
Kirby Dorothy
Ethan Erickson
Mike Histon
Sonny Jurgens
Tyler Loch
Colden Melton-Hanily
Grant Paulson
Ryan Scrivener
Chase Snedeker
Mike Stannard
Brayden Soderstrom
Gary Stahlke
Martin Teall
Brian Tjenstrom
F&B Manager - Kelly Olive ran a great show. And I mean show. Her staff was hilarious and set the tone for the whole place. Bravo! Here’s her staff:
Gabby Anderson
Katie Anseth
Adi Charon
Sophia Czuchry
Courtney Eder
Ava Ennis
Ellie Eskuche
Lauren Eskuche
Rachel Gallagher
Elizabeth Gerebi
Ali Grobel
Riley Histon
Sydney Hules
Kristina Hvass
Maeve Kelly
Ella Kurzhal
Allyson Kuzara
Molly McHugh
Allie Rector
Olivia Salem
Sasha Snegirova
Jamie Sorenson
Kenna Steger
Hannah Tate
Sophia Thompson
Elise Torberg
Elle Van Bronckhorst
Lucy Vetter
Elise Wilson
Maddie White
We’re not done yet! What about the people you deal with when you check-in … and keep the Shop cool and attractive … and the gang that makes sure our unique Range is functioning … and that our sexy carts are fresh and ready to go? Well … here they are … led by Kathy Jones and Ketti Histon and Avery Charon:
Dan Abts
Thomas Aragon-Menzel
Jacob Bryant
Kyle Bryant
Tyler Bryant
Austin Charbonneau
Kolby Christi
Jack Gallagher
Aiden Gerding
Chris Hansberry
Hunter Hanson
Patrick Hunter
Webb Jones
Ryder Martin
Mike Melander
Finn Neenan
John Rathbun
Ben Reiff
Zach Reiff
Danny Renner
Emily Renner
Wow - what a crew! Back to the “impact” concept … the staff is our family … and the golfers are our friends. How good is that?
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Classic Rock and Golf in the Wind
Classic Rock and Golf in the Wind
Greetings Golfers,
Just because I want to talk about the weather, doesn’t mean I don’t have something to say.
This fall has been crazy good. Beautiful warm days and little rain. Perfect. However, last Sunday was cold and windy. Really windy.
Most golfers don’t like wind. I get it. But … I like to play in the wind. I concentrate a lot better and I like hitting weird shots. I think it’s fun.
Just read an article about the demise of rock music - what I think of as “Classic Rock”. I relate rock music to playing golf in the wind … they’re both sort of gritty.
Elevator music is like playing golf in perfect conditions. They wouldn’t want to play rock music in elevators … they want smooth and easy music … not something that would make people think the elevator might crash.
My son Ryan and I played in the wind on Sunday with a former college golfer. Obviously a good player … but his game was built for good weather. His “perfect” swing couldn’t adapt to the gusty, intense wind.
The rock music article had a lot of reasons for rock’s demise. One reason was that big corporate groups bought-up the local radio stations and they wanted more of a generic form of music. Another reason was that rock music was expensive to produce … you can’t just record it on a computer.
I’m not somebody who tries to make life hard. In fact, I hope I’m the opposite. But, I do enjoy the challenges of life. And life is constantly throwing challenges at us … weather being one of many. So I think that trying to make life simple … helps in dealing with the challenges. If you’re already making life hard and complicated … the challenges become over-whelming.
If your golf swing is really complicated … bad weather is over-whelming.
If your swing has to be “perfect” so you can play … you better stay inside and play on a simulator.
Isn’t this modern music sort of like simulator music?Music made on a computer … not people in a rock band.
I don’t want to go through life half-asleep. It might be easier … but that’s a bad goal. I think embracing life’s challenges is a better goal. And playing golf in windy weather is a fun way to do it.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Impact III
Impact III
Greetings Golfers,
My brother Dan sent me this video of Lee Trevino - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOUBIbiT0sU
Trevino flies under the radar. He was a great player. And really smart. And has the confidence that comes from working your way up from nothing.
This video was recently made … and it’s really fascinating. No one talks about golf like he does. I don’t agree with everything he says - but I really respect what he says. He’s not selling anything … he’s trying to help. He’s a truth-seeker.
What he talks about is how to use the golf club. And how to hit golf shots. And what works … and why.
And … he also talks about putting. I like that he emphasizes practicing with the right hand. I believe that the right hand controls the speed of your putts. If you’re rolling a ball underhand to a hole … you’ll probably use your right hand if you’re right handed. It’s the same feeling using a putter. People are so afraid of the right hand flipping the putter that they do all that left-hand-low and other stuff. It’s not that complicated.
One thing that I disagree with him about is one of his putting ideas. He wants you to take the putter handle back - not the clubhead. And he says that this will really help people who make a forward-press. He says that people who make a forward-press struggle with short putts because it causes too long of a backswing. I agree - it does. But there is another cure if you want to make a forward-press. Here it is: on short putts, put the putter about 6 inches behind the ball. Your forward press naturally shortens … and you’ll have the right length for your backswing. Try it and see!
However, I love these kind of discussions. People need to understand how to hit golf shots. Too many people think they’re not good enough to hit golf shots … and instead are always working on their swing. Learning to hit golf shots will improve your swing … and give you the tools to fix your swing when it goes out of whack.
If you know how to hook it … you can fix your slice … and vice-versa. Or hit it high or low … etc.
Lee Trevino is a master at explaining how to hit golf shots. Enjoy!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Impact II
Impact II
Greetings Golfers,
During interviews with prospective employees … I usually say that I don’t have any rules for employees. After they give me a funny look … I explain that if I have to tell them: No stealing, no fighting, no showing-up late, etc … they shouldn’t work here.
Because we live in a big country, we need rules and laws to keep order and live with each other peacefully. But … I have the luxury here of choosing who I want to work with. I don’t hire people who I don’t like.
Last week I talked about impact during the golf swing. And that a golf swing should be built around impact. Some people think that good impact is a natural result of getting the parts of the golf swing correct. I don’t agree - that’s backwards. And I mentioned that I might write about what means good “impact” at Deer Run GC.
Well … that’s pretty obvious. It’s our staff. We can get all of the parts right … but if the staff isn’t good … we won’t be good. Just like the golf swing.
As I said, a big country needs rules and laws. However, the point of those rules and laws is intent.
And … this gets to what I want to talk about: Letter of the Law vs Spirit of the Law.
To get along with each other, we need to share a basic level of respect. The more respect we share … the fewer laws we need. Laws are then mostly needed to limit misunderstandings.
Here’s an example. When hosting Monday events, I’m on the lookout for young guys who can drive balls over our fence on the range … especially if the wind is at their back.
One event day, while walking up to the range, I saw a young guy hit it over the fence. It was his last shot, and as he walked near me, I pointed to our sign that says “Please don’t hit balls over the fence.” I could see on his face that he genuinely felt bad and said he was sorry. Just then, I saw a young guy with good swing pull out his driver. I walked up to him and said that he shouldn’t hit a driver. He the turned to me and arrogantly said “ Are you telling me that I can’t hit a driver on your range?” I said “Yes.” Well, then we started arguing. And then he “ordered” me to “stand over there” … while he accused me of being “passive-aggressive”. I guess my being nice … and then reacting to his rudeness was being passive-aggressive.
This just gets back to respect. This is our range. We don’t want balls hitting the neighbor’s homes. And I guess that a sign isn’t enough to stop some people. And that asking people not to do it isn’t enough. What is enough? Obviously for some people the Spirit of the Law isn’t enough. They only respect power. Doing the right thing is not what they value.
This is when a society gets into trouble. Too many rules and signs. Life can’t be lived … things can’t get done … too much time and energy spent jumping through hoops to keep things legal. Because of people who don’t have fundamental respect. People who have no concern for the Spirit of the Law and its intent.
Well … we won’t won’t be hiring those types of people at DRGC. And … we don’t want them playing golf here either. They wreck it for everybody.
It’s bad enough having to live in a society with them. What we can hope … is that they find or form their own club … and stay there. Birds of a feather usually stick together.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Impact
Impact
Greetings Golfers,
My son Ryan just sent me a great photo of Cam Smith at impact. Here it is:
See how his hands are in front of the ball? Too many people have their hands even with the ball … or behind the ball.
Why are their hands behind the ball? Because they’re trying to scoop the ball up in the air … rather than to trust the loft of the club.
Some people think that if you do everything correctly during your golf swing … that good impact naturally takes care of itself. Wrong. Your golf swing should be built around good impact.
So, where do we start. Start with chipping. Place the ball off your back foot so that it’s easy to have your hands in front of the ball. Then when chipping, feel like you’re raking the yard. Pull the club through the forward swing … through impact … and finish with your hands well past your legs … and the hands STILL in front of the clubhead.
For many people this will feel crazy. However, they will have a solid type of contact that they’ve never had before.
This is the most important part of the golf swing. In fact it is the point of the golf swing. You make a golf swing so that you can hit the ball. Not miss the ball. And hopefully hit the ball to your target.
One evening about 30 years ago, a 40ish aged woman came into the Shop and asked if anyone could fix her swing. I offered my help. On the way to the Range, she explained that she’d moved up the corporate ladder and that they had sent her to a golf school so that she could play the game (both games).
So, I asked her to hit 3 shots at the 100 yard sign with her 8 iron. Her process to hit the shot probably took 1/2 hour. Maybe not. But it was at least 5 minutes. However, she was a good student and her set-up was very good … and she had a good swing. She would’ve looked good on video. But … she proceeded to cold-top the shot and then hit 2 more cold-tops.
My turn. I said “You think the golf swing is a series of steps … and my job is to identify what step was screwed-up … and that will fix your swing.” She replied with her arms crossed “Of course!” So, I then said “What if I told you that none of your process really matters?” And then I took her 8 iron and said that I was going to hit a ball at the 150 yard sign. As I set-up … I was turned directly facing the sign … my body was completely open. I got lucky and the ball landed near the sign. Then I did the opposite set-up … I turned my back and feet completely around so that I was facing the road - not the sign. I had to reach awkwardly and turn my head around to see the ball … and I swung and got lucky again and it landed near the sign.
She then said “Those were trick shots.” I replied … so what … they worked. Then I pointed at the center of the 8 iron club face and said “You hit bad shots because your hands don’t know where that is. That’s what you need to work on.” She wasn’t happy … and stormed out. However, one year later, she stopped by and with warmth and kindness told me that “she gets it.” Hurrah!
I wasn’t trying to be a jerk … but I felt like I was dealing with a cult member who’d been brain-washed … who needed a blunt wake-up-call.
That’s enough for today. Do I want to go on a rant about what is “impact” for Deer Run GC? Yes. But I’ll save that for another day.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Moe Norman
Moe Norman
Greetings Golfers,
Below is a link to a video of Moe Norman. Not of his legendary golf swing … but of his insights into golf.
Don’t laugh. It’s amazing. As amazing as his swing.
Moe was an odd duck. They say he was autistic. He didn’t care about what he wore … he’d lost a bunch of teeth … he wasn’t wanted by promoters as the face of golf.
But … he could really play. And … he figured out his unique swing. And he figured out what golf is all about.
His swing isn’t for everybody … but this video is.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Courage and Work
Courage and Work
Greetings Golfers,
“All happiness depends on courage and work” Balzac
Did you know that the famous French author was talking about golf?
Kind of shocking isn’t it?
Well … you’re not going to get better sitting around the house. It’s going to take work. So let’s talk about what you need to work on.
As you know, I’m a big believer in controlling the ball with your swing. Your swing. And that means controlling spin.
Everyone talks about path. When I was just beginning to play … I played with two buddies who were on college golf teams. Mid-round … I asked for advice to cure my slice. One guy told me to swing out to right-field. I did. It went right … and then sliced and went farther right … almost to Hawaii. I didn’t need to change my path … I needed to learn how to control the clubface.
Why would any sane person swing to the right if they couldn’t make the ball spin left?
Ironically, a good way to understand spin … also combines with the proper path.
For example: A draw/hook spin is the same as a tennis topspin. So, make a tennis topspin swing with your arm. You will naturally swing from the inside-out. Try to make a topspin swing from the outside-in … you can’t do it (without falling down).
Then … do the opposite shot - a tennis drop shot. You will naturally come from the outside to in.
The topspin shot rolls over the face as it comes into contact with the ball … and the drop-shot opens the face as it comes into contact with the ball.
And they both … naturally … provide the proper path to the spin of the shot.
Though Balzac was considered a “Romantic” writer … he was also considered a “Realist”. A pretty cool combination. And necessary to enjoy and improve at golf. As he said “All happiness depends on courage and work”. I see the courage as the “Romantic” and the work as the “Realist”.
See … golf relates to everything.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Better
Better
Greetings Golfers,
Well, election season is upon us.
Some of it is interesting … but most of it is boring and annoying. You just feel manipulated. I want a vision … a clear vision. Not just pandering and/or attacks.
Cultures and countries and businesses and people’s lives get stuck … and die. We have to move forward … but it has to make sense. Revolutions just throw the baby out with the bath water. And sometimes that’s necessary … but it’s usually a disaster … one step forward and two steps back.
Too often people think that moving forward is getting bigger. Sometimes bigger is better. But the key word is better. Better is better … doesn’t have to be bigger.
This is always on my mind regarding DRGC. We don’t want to get bigger … we’re the size we want to be. But … we do want to get better.
One of the problems we had with the constant rain … was that the Range was basically a swamp. The problem was that when the balls landed … they would dive down into the ground. Pretty hard to get them out … the ball picker just drove over them. And pretty tough to mow a swamp. So the grass just got higher and the balls more entrenched. Then when we could mow … well … the entrenched balls paid the price … with their lives!
Probably not the most fascinating story … but one of the many crazy parts of running a golf course.
So … the other day … we tested a computerized machine that can mow the range … on its own. And it’s light … and doesn’t destroy the balls. Am I going to buy it? Are you kidding? Yes!!!!
It’s going help us get better.
Are we getting new golf carts next year? Yes! It’s going to help us get better.
Is your golf game getting better? Are you working on your short-game? Or are you trying to get bigger (hit it farther)?
Power without control is bad in life … and bad in golf.
Work on getting better until you need to reach the Par 5s in two … so that you can consistently shoot 68. Oh … you’re not consistently playing par golf? I guess your problem is distance. I’m kidding. And … you always have the option of moving up a tee box.
Good golf is about controlling the ball … and course management … strategy.
Let’s go back to the start of this … talking about the election season. Do you hear much about strategy? How about a clear vision?
My nature is optimistic. But I’ve lived too long to be naive. I want to know how we’re going to advance.
Well … I don’t know where we’re headed as a country. But I do know where we’re headed as a golf operation. We’re going to keep getting better.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Principled or Unprincipled
Principled or Unprincipled
Greetings Golfers,
I just read a great description of an unprincipled person:
“An unprincipled person follows no moral code, has no integrity, and should not be trusted, like the guy who offers to help an old lady cross the street but steals her purse instead.”
How spot-on is that? What an analogy!
Back to the world of golf. I’m sure you heard that Top Golf is in the toilet. Here’s another quote … this one by Karen De Coster about Top Golf:
“The Entertainment Bubble continues to be predictable. I have been calling out the unsustainability of these mega-entertainment places since before the meltdown of 2008. The business model for Top Golf assumes an endless supply of credit card limits for its consumers to party with groups of infantile friends who also have no limits on their credit card debt. Even the website for a location near me screams of ‘party, party, party’ for entertainment-needy adults who live in the moment. The drinks are pricey and the food is second-rate. Even the menu is designed like a Saturday morning cartoon.”
Ouch.
I know that my blogs wander … but these two quotes are linked. Here’s how:
Unfortunately, I get people who want to “help me” - like the guy helping the old lady cross the road. They want to pay less for golf … so they tell me to add Top Golf type features. They claim that the extra income would allow them to play cheap golf. Or if they’re a shareholder, to play more free golf and get more friends playing free golf.
Talk about stealing my purse!
What a concept. Then we could destroy what we do well and dive into a foolish market that’s going in the toilet.
Some people think “smart” is chasing fads. How about doing things right. Might not be as “exciting” … but it’s actually sustainable. And something to be proud of.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Leaving Home
Leaving Home
Greetings Golfers,
This time of year is tough on a lot of parents because their kids are heading-off to college.
Same thing here. We have a ton of college kids - Maintenance staff, Pro Shop, Carts and Range, and especially the Pub and Bev Carts.
Obviously we’ll miss their service … but more than anything … we’ll miss THEM. This is a tight-knit operation and we run it like a family. They’re way more than just employees.
People always complain about young generations.
But, I have to tell you, these are great kids. They work hard and are responsible. They work well with each other - we don’t have staff drama … seriously.
But what they really have are great hearts. They care about DRGC and each other and the golfers. They really do. It’s not fake.
We’ll survive when they leave … we have some recent grads who hang around … and some local college kids … and some high school kids. And the rest of us will have to step-up.
But it won’t be the same. Hopefully the golfers won’t feel it. But we sure will. Happy for them. Sad for us.
Already looking forward to them coming back next Spring.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Friendship
Friendship
Greetings Golfers,
A few weeks ago, there was an article circulating about a golfer running into a 10some on a golf course. Not a good situation … at least not for the players behind the group.
But is it good for the group? And why did they do it?
Probably out of friendship. I’m not defending it … just explaining it.
Players don’t always understand that they’re sharing a one-lane road. They get caught up in their little world and are oblivious to problems they’re causing the other players on the course.
This is tricky stuff. Here’s why: If golf is only played as a self-absorbed game about who is right … and “these are my rights” … well, that sounds like the attitude of someone looking for a fight.
Sharing the road … goes both ways. What about kind concern? Not just “I have my right!”.
A few years ago Down South … my playing partner showed-up late. He’d befriended a homeless guy on the side of the road … took him to a restaurant … and called the guy’s family in New York.
See what I mean … this is tricky stuff.
We’ve been tough about booking multiple tee-times. We’ve had problems. They always promise me things will be fine … and they probably mean it. But … we get no-shows, or late-shows, or slow-play, or just an entitled attitude.
Yet, so often it’s for good stuff: family reunion, wedding party, old friend get-together. I love that stuff. But … the reality is that it’s a one-lane road and they shouldn’t screw things up.
Here’s a fun one: A few years ago, we hosted a bunch of tee-times for a bachelor party. This was not a golf crowd. Probably wasn’t a golf shirt or pair of golf shoes on anyone … and they used all of our rental sets. On the first tee, I explained what was expected and wished them well. But … I kept my eye on them throughout the front-nine. My presence wasn’t enough … they needed constant prodding to keep moving. By the 10th hole they’d had enough (so I had I). A bunch had quit after 9 … so they came out to greet me on the tee-box on 11. I was circled by about 10 guys who were drunk and wanted to kill me. Somehow I survived and kicked everyone off the course.
As I said … it’s tricky.
The bottom line is that we all have to respect each other … and remember that we’re sharing a one lane road.
A round of golf doesn’t need to be “perfect”. We’re not isolated entities on the golf course. We need to think of other people as friends … sharing this planet. We get too obsessed with “rights” at the expense of being a good person.
We do everything we can so that your golf round can be smooth and around 4 hours. However, you’re sharing the golf course with other people. Real people. Not just objects.
Back to the 10some. Is it dumb? Yes. Is it selfish? Probably. Are they deliberately trying ruin other people’s golf experience? Probably not. Are they trying to enjoy friendship? Probably. Does our planet need more emphasis on friendship? Definitely.
But … 10somes are not fair … no matter how well-intended. Slow play in any size group isn’t fair … it’s a one-lane road.
We’re very proud of our pace of play … we take it seriously. However, we are not a factory. And a golf course is not a race track. But players should stay on pace.
This issue all boils down to respect. And we shouldn’t view other players as the enemy.
Viewing the other people on this planet as friends … would make it a much friendlier place. Let’s at least try it on the golf course.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Graciousness
Graciousness
Greetings Golfers,
The other day while paying cash for my gas (and a much needed Dr. Pepper) … I was 50 cents short … so the guy at the counter said he’d cover it. Being a Minnesotan, I felt guilty and tried to stop it … then he said “Don’t steal my joy”.
How cool was that?
Not only do we have to know how to give … but we have to know how to receive.
Gracious receiving … has not been my skill. I hope I’m getting better at it. I’m finally understanding that I’m “stealing their joy” by being a bad recipient … I thought that I was being noble.
Wrong. Noble is more than doing the right thing … noble is standing up for the right thing.
Here’s a crazy version of this that’s been on my mind. Some people think that doing the right thing is doing whatever they have the power to do. Basically … being a bully … or a thug.
One of my speeches here has been about acceptable levels of behavior. On an a grading system from A - F … here’s how I see it:
A - maybe/hopefully someone
B - staff and shareholders
C - our customers/golfers
D - unacceptable
F - public execution
A few years ago, I resurrected FastPlayFriday for a day. I went out Rangering … starting on #18. So … all was well on #18 … golfers on the green, in the fairway and on the tee … and they were on a 4 hour pace … same on #17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9 … and not on #8 … no one on 8 … #7 until the tee box … I inform them that there are 2 open holes and they’re behind pace … one of their players was a (former) shareholder who said “Why do you always yell at me?” … I replied “because your always doing something wrong”. He was “entitled”. He thought that being a shareholder entitled him to D-level behavior.
So … I left #7 for hole #6. There I saw a little girl running around on the green. Hmmmmmmm. And, there was a cart parked right in front of the green. So, I parked on the cart path and walked over and asked him what was going on. He replied that he could do this because he was “special”. Hmmmm.
I asked what that meant. He replied because he worked at Deer Run that he was special and could do what he wanted. I then made it clear that he couldn’t … and that they had to go in.
This craziness left me with having to relax the golfers backed-up on #5 and #4.
Why were we backed-up? Because … people who should be behaving at B-level … were behaving at D-level.
Amazing. Simply amazing.
Maybe my reluctance at receiving gifts is a fear of acting entitled. But they’re very different situations. Graciously accepting help or a gift is a good thing. Acting entitled is the opposite of graciousness. Does it warrant Level-F … public execution?
Maybe. It depends on the situation.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Play
Play
Greetings Golfers,
“It is the evening of the day, I sit and watch the children play” …
Many of us remember that line from the old Rolling Stone’s song. A lonely guy trying to get joy from watching kids play … a great image that captures someone’s sadness.
He needed the joy of play.
He needed to play golf.
I’m serious. I’m serious about the need to play. We all need to play - not just kids.
The other night, I was wrestling with the grandkids (toddlers) and the dogs … it was hilarious! We were playing.
The next day, we were hosting a football team fundraiser. So … I was talking about the need for play … and that when I was a kid, we played neighborhood sports day and night. And that two of the kids played football at the U of MN. And that they became so good because they loved to PLAY football in our neighborhood. Just for the sheer joy of playing the game. Of course we played to win. But we played because we loved to play … winning was just frosting on the cake.
I fear that we’re taking the play out of sports. Sports are about playing. You say that you PLAY football or baseball or hockey or golf. You don’t say that you WORK football, etc.
Before you go crazy … I want to make it very clear that I’m a believer in the value of work … and hard work! But not everything we do should be the Puritan Work Ethic.
We need joy in our lives … and play can be a great source of joy. More stuff doesn’t do it. The treadmill of constant work and constant consumerism doesn’t provide joy.
I wish that kids could play neighborhood sports like we used to. It’s all become too organized and too serious.
You can play golf your whole life.
That Stones’ song is “As Tears Go By”. Don’t sit around sad like the guy in that song … get out and play.
Play golf!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Shank-a- potomis
Shank-a-potomis
Greetings Golfers,
Remember that tv ad where the baby talked in a grown-up voice and called his golf buddy “Shank-a-potomis”?
Shanking is not fun. In fact “shank” was a word too awful to be said on the golf course … it was referred to as the “s” word.
So why is it so terrible and unmentionable on the golf course? Because, it can become a disease and almost incurable if it really gets in your head.
There are two types of shanks: the good player shank … and the bad player shank. The good player shank is when the club gets too shallow on too much of an inside-out path … so that the hosel of the club makes contact with the ball instead of the club face.
The bad player shank is the opposite move. It’s coming too steep and too outside-in … hitting with the shoulders and not the hands. Some people say it’s a result of flippy hands … I don’t buy that. Both shanks have no hands … whether it’s the good-player shank or the bad-player shank.
The bad-player has no lag and no hand-action (other than a flip or scoop). Basically, the bad player tries to hit the ball with his shoulders … lift it up … and smash down. It feels powerful … and over-the-players can hit it far if they can square-up the club face. But that swing is not a swing … and has almost no control.
However, the good player knows how to rotate or “release” his hands through impact and thus put hook-spin on the ball. Because he can make it spin left … he needs to swing-out right to have room for the hook spin to work to his advantage.
But here’s where the good player runs into trouble. Trying to control wedge shots or other little shots … he may try to hold the club face through the shot rather than release it. That holding of the club-face on an inside-out path can easily drive the hosel into the ball. Thus … a shank.
Ironically … the fix for both the good and bad player is to release (rotate) the club through impact. That will immediately work if you get the shanks on the golf course.
Then when you get off the course … go to the range and work on your swing path … either less inside-out … or less outside-in.
It’s very fixable … if you do this.
It’s worth it. Shanking is not fun … and not really funny. That ad was funny … but no one wants to be known as “Shank-a-potomis”.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
The Importance of Golf
The Importance of Golf
Greetings Golfers,
I can’t believe it’s July 12. The time between July 4 and Labor Day goes by in a minute. Don’t waste it - summer in Minnesota is precious!
Looks like we survived the 3 month monsoon. I was afraid that it would never end. Our course is in good shape - I hope all the courses are too.
People used to say to me that I must hope that other courses fold and reduce the competition. No! I love golf. I want to see golf thrive. In fact, I with there were more courses. Especially courses for beginners and kids.
Learning to play golf is like learning how to drive. People should learn to drive in a parking lot and then on side roads. You don’t just take a rookie driver and throw them on the freeway. You shouldn’t take beginners and kids and put them on a busy regulation golf course. That’s just mean. Probably not as dangerous as the car situation … probably not … but maybe.
I’m glad that golf has taken other forms such as TopGolf and winter simulators. I think short courses are a good option … like a 4 hole course. Why not?
Golf should have as much variety as restaurants. Golf is probably more important to your physical and mental health than restaurants.
Even the Presidential candidates got into an argument about golf.
How fun would it be to see mic'd-up golf matches between Presidential candidates. It’d be way more fun and informative than the typical debates.
Well … don’t waste your summer on tv … especially political debates.
Get out and tee-it-up!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Circle of Fun
Circle of Fun
Greetings Golfers,
Years ago one of my sons got into golf. He’d played high school baseball, so he could make a decent golf swing. But, he needed to learn how to hit different shots … so he needed to learn how to make different swings. A draw swing doesn’t look like a fade swing. I’m talking about controlled shots … not shots that hook or slice because of uncontrolled club-faces.
So … I showed him the “Circle of Fun”. I think he thought the name was funny … but he definitely did not find the concept amusing. Like most people, he was more into the perfect swing than a bunch of “crazy” swings.
Was helping a friend last week with his swing. His upper body was moving left and dipping as he moved into contact … causing fat shots and pulls.
So, I got him to swing out right of his target … and finish high. The body reacts to the swing. Trying to get him to stop moving left and dipping doesn’t solve the problem. When he would swing-out and finish high … he didn’t move left and dip … because he couldn’t!
Let’s go back to “Circle of Fun”. Picture that you’re at the range with a 7 iron. You’re standing on the left edge of an imaginary circle … right in the middle of the left side of the circle. The ball is on the right edge of the circle … right in the middle of the right side of the circle. Your feet are square, the club face is square, and your hands are just slightly in front of the ball. You are set-up to hit a straight shot.
Now, move the ball 6 inches down the right side of the circle. And, move your feet 6 inches up the left side of the circle. By doing this, your hands should be more in front of the ball, the club-face should have closed, and your shoulders should have closed. You are now ready to hit a draw. Just swing.
Let’s go the other way. Start at the beginning - the square set-up. Now move the ball 6 inches forward up the right side of the circle. And move your feet 6 inches down the left side of the circle. By doing this, your hands should be slightly behind the ball, the club-face should have opened, and your shoulders should open. You are now ready to hit a fade. Just swing.
You can keep moving up and down the circle in this manner and hit more severe draws and fades.
This drill will also fix you when you get out of whack.
Obviously you can hit variations of these draws and fades. For high shots - finish higher. For low shots - finish lower. Take control of your golf swing. You can do this. People think that shot-making is sophisticated. It’s not. It’s basic.
Yesterday was the 4th of July. A day for celebrating freedom. You can’t be free if you want people to control your life. We all need to take control of our own life.
Trying to play golf like a robot is as misguided as wanting to be a controlled robot in an unfree society.
Use “Circle of Fun” and take control of your golf game … and your life.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Rain
Rain
Greetings Golfers,
When we didn’t get any snow this Winter … I knew we were going to get some serious rain.
So, I thought it would be during April and May (which it was) … but it wouldn’t continue every day in June. Maybe everyday is an exaggeration - but not much.
The fellow who hired me here in 1991 saw the rain policy very differently than I did. He believed that if you started the round you weren’t entitled to a rain check. I wanted a very liberal rain check policy. I wanted people to play golf.
This difference in attitude was in everything. We never saw eye-to-eye on anything … micro or macro. This is not intended to throw him under-the-bus. I’m eternally grateful that he hired me. This place and my family have been the loves of my life.
I think you might enjoy hearing some of our different views of running a golf course.
He used to hold up his watch and say to me that he “was going to get this place to run like a Swiss watch”. I would reply that the goal should be to keep the place relaxed and able to handle the constant problems of weather, things breaking and wearing out, and just the realities of dealing with the public. I felt we needed to be flexible and adaptive problem solvers.
Woah!!! He didn’t agree. He saw everything from top-down control. I wanted the staff to have the power to handle the ever changing situations. Golf courses are not assembly lines.
But with his attitude, he saw everyone as just a cog in our “machine”. He talked about how in his experience in the theatre, that everyone knew each other’s lines and that “the spear-thrower could play the role of the star”. And that we should be able to do that with our staff of: Grounds superintendent, Kitchen manager, Bookkeeper, and Golf Pro.
Wow. I said that you should reward people for their strengths and not punish them for their weaknesses. I then laid-out a crazy example of what he was advocating:
People are different. We are not robots just to be trained as cogs in machines. He saw that attitude as “enlightened” … I saw it as cruel.
Well, cruel is wasting a round of golf. Please try to play if you made a reservation even if the weather man predicted rain. They aren’t always right. And … we do all of this work so that you can play golf. The season is short … don’t waste it waiting for perfect weather.
We’ll make it right. That’s why we do this.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Greg Norman, "Traitors", and Trust
Greetings Golfers,
It’s good to be home.
I love South Carolina … but home is home. And, the weather up here is as warm as Down South. We talked all day about opening. We would never force it … but if it stays warm … we’ll probably open in mid-March.
Is the reasoning emotional? Yes - we love golf and love sharing our love of golf and hospitality. Does it need to be logical and well thought-out? Of course. It’s both.
Just read an article about Greg Norman proudly proclaiming that none of his business decisions are emotional. He also said that using emotions in business decisions is a weakness.
Really? Is trust an emotion? Yes. So … being really smart and strong is not using trust in business decisions? Good luck - that’s a recipe for disaster.
Of course you need to use logic and facts when making good business decisions. But if you don’t use your instincts and emotions too … you’re vulnerable to con-men.
Some people would say it’s the opposite. It’s only the opposite if you have bad instincts.
Have you watched this new reality show called “Traitors”? They take a group of about 20 people and call the members of the group “Faithfuls”. But, within the group are 3 people who have been picked to be “Traitors” … unbeknownst to the “Faithfuls”.
Then the game is that the group performs tasks to earn money … that will go to the winners - either “Faithfuls” or “Traitors”. And then after every task … the “Faithfuls” vote out a suspected “Traitor” … and every night the “Traitors” secretly vote out a “Faithful”.
It might sound dumb … but it’s actually fascinating. You can’t believe how bad people are identifying the “Traitors”. It’s mind-boggling. They don’t use their instincts. They try to figure it out logically - which they’re not good at. And their lack of understanding human behavior is shocking. Put some dogs and little kids in the room and they’d pick the “Traitors” in a minute.
Well, I think the show is an analogy to most human group behavior. Whether it’s politics or business.
And what I trust … is trust! An emotion. I trust my logic - but not as much as my gut.
Sorry Greg … I don’t trust you. Not that you care about what I think … but I think you could easily get yourself in with some bad guys. Guys who your gut would have said not to trust. Oh … but you think emotions are a weakness.
Good luck with that.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Swinging Hit
Greetings Golfers,
On Monday I played my usual 1pm game with those characters I’ve mentioned in past blogs. Well, I finally had a putt for birdie. About 8 feet, but downhill/sidehill and it had me a little spooked. My stroke was pathetic … and the ball wobbled weakly and stopped a foot short of the hole. One of the guys said that it was bad contact … yeah … thanks for telling me.
Later that night, I was reading a post that Brad Faxon made on a golf website about his putting. He was mad that he’d been referred to as a “natural putter”. He even posted copies of his hand-written notes about his practice sessions. But, what really hit me was when he talked about learning from Ben Crenshaw. Crenshaw told Faxon that he let himself move right on his backswing (remember this is putting!) to make sure that his backswing was twice as long as his follow through. Woah. What was that? Conventional wisdom was that they should match … or even the follow through should be LONGER. But, Crenshaw wanted to give the ball a HIT.
Think about it … if you want to punch someone … do you make a little backswing and emphasize the follow through? Of course not. You wind-up and make sure that when you hit … you hit HARD … at impact.
Crenshaw was known for a long, fluid putting stroke with a definite hit at the ball. This is what Faxon worked on as made his way to number one in putting.
Now, I’m pretty good at chipping. And I definitely give it a hit. Not a scoop … not a flip … a hit. I try to make fluid stroke … but I hit it.
Let’s take this further. Your golf swing should hit the ball. I know some people just lift up the club and crash down on the ball. That’s not what I want. I want you to have soft, relaxed hands and make a full rhythmical swing … and give the ball a hit!
All golf swings should be a swinging HIT. Well, not all. Not bunker shots or flop shots … because on those shots you don’t want solid contact. But, on most shots you want solid contact. That means a “swinging hit”.
Even on slippery downhill putts.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Getting Ready For An Early Opener
Greetings Golfers,
I kept hearing how warm it is in Minnesota … and that some golf courses have opened.
And now I hear that we got a bunch of snow. Classic Minnesota Winter! However, we believe it will be an early Spring. Our normal opening date is April 4. Our earliest opener was March 14 in 2012
So in the spirit of an early opening … here are some thoughts on how to play every hole at DRGC:
Hole #1 - 371 yards
A fun opening hole. Though it’s a dog-leg left, trying to cut the corner is not a smart play … especially on your first shot of the day. Golf is risk-reward. Big risk going left - OB and a bunker … and it leaves a terrible angle for your second shot. Be smart and just drive it up the middle … even the right side of the fairway is good … it will leave you with a straight forward second shot … probably a wedge in. Don’t be greedy on the first hole.
Hole #2 - 149 yards
A deceptive little hole. Though short … and downhill … the green is kidney shaped and doesn’t offer much landing room. Long is dead. Be smart.
Hole #3 - 401 yards
A long uphill par 4. Bunkers guard the left about 250 out. If you can bomb it … fly it over the bunkers … your shot will be in the middle of the fairway. If you bomb it over the hill up the middle … you’ll probably be OB right. Most players should try to hit it at the 150 marker at the top of the hill. The second shot is pretty straight forward. Avoid the bunker in front of the left side of the green.
Hole #4 - 495 yards
A reachable par 5. But, danger lurks around the green. The OB on the left juts out short-left of the green. And, water is waiting a little right of the green. If you’re not in control of long second shots … you’d be wise to lay-up and give yourself a safe and easy third shot. Sometimes the pin is in a little area back right … some would refer to this as a “sucker pin”.
Hole #5 - 375 yards
A fun hole. Many years ago, some guys designated #5, #6, #7 our “Amen Corner”. Definitely not as famous as the real thing … but definitely a challenge. In fact, one year when we hosted the Women’s State Open, the average score on #5 was six. Too many of the women hooked it into the trees left of the fairway. The smart play is to aim at the hill on the right. The hill is mowed so that the ball will run down into the fairway. Even if you’re in the fairway, the second shot isn’t easy. The green sits up on a hill, and right of the green is a big drop-off. Aim at the left side of the green.
Hole #6 - 186 yards
A straight-forward hole. Bunker short-right of the green … but not a bad spot if you’re in it. Long green … can be quick coming downhill. The easiest Par 3 hole on the golf course.
Hole #7 - 351 yards
The trickiest hole on the golf course. OB left and right. And, a water hazard is right of the fairway about 200 yards off the tee. A driver is definitely a risky play. The fairway gets very skinny left of the water hazard. The best play is to the 150 yard marker. Then, the second shot to the green is a fun one. Left of the green is a drop-off, and right of the green isn’t terrible, but not good. This is a good time for a well controlled iron shot.
Hole #8 - 463 yards
Another reachable par 5. However, you need to go up the right side of the fairway to have a clear second shot to the green. But don’t go too far right … the water hazard isn’t always full of water, but mud and weeds aren’t conducive to good golf shots or clean shoes. The huge bunker in front of the right side of the green should be avoided. When the pin is on the left side of the green … the hole is a par 4 1/2. When it’s behind the bunker … it becomes a par 5 1/2. Also, putts break toward the bunker. You can’t see it … but they do.
Hole #9 - 353 yards
Another challenging hole. The green has water in front, behind, and on the right. So, it’s vital that the tee shot gets you close enough to an open, short-iron shot. It’s a narrow fairway with woods on the right … and a couple of big trees and a fairway bunker on the left. Bombers can reach the water and shouldn’t use a driver. And, it gets very skinny about 100 yards from the water. The best play is to hit it past the 150 pole … but not closer than 100 yards to the water … and favor the left side of the fairway.
Hole #10 - 429 yards
This used to be hole #1. Not a good starting hole. Too long and hard - especially if the wind is in your face. And especially if it’s Saturday morning. But, it’s a great hole to start the second nine. You should be loosened-up enough to take a rip at it. Tee box seems to line you up at the bunker on the left side of the fairway. Don’t go in there. For most people, it’s a long second shot. Miss the green left … it’s an easy up & down. Don’t miss right of the green - no chance.
Hole #11 - 358 yards
One of the easiest holes on the course … but easy to screw-up. Greediness can be expensive. Narrow fairway … OB left and right. Slight dog-leg left. The smart tee shot is in between the bunker on the right and the 150 pole … leaving a fairly easy short iron into the green. Or … try to bomb it around the corner and have a tiny shot to the green. Your choice.
Hole #12 - 349 yards
Another “easy” hole. However, the green slopes from front-to-back making for a difficult second shot. So, what is your best shot to hold the green? A full wedge? A full 8 iron? Or can you stop a little 50 yard shot? Answering those questions is the key to how far you hit your drive. Also, coming in from the left means you can’t bounce it onto the green … you’ll just stay in the swale short of the green. Lot’s of options … use your brain.
Hole #13 - 336 yards
Hope you’re still using your brain. The pond at the bottom of the hill is 260 yards from the tee box. Some of you can fly the pond and land on the green. The fairway kicks left … more than it appears. Also, leaving your tee shot half-way down the the hill is not recommended. Some jokers hit an iron to the top of the hill and have a 150 yard shot to the green. Unlike the last hole - this green is flat. Because of the hill behind the green and the little hill in front of the green … people think it slopes from back to front. Not so. Just an optical illusion.
Hole #14 - 176 yards
Another difficult par 3. Uphill and short shots kick right into the bunker … or OB. Plays longer than it looks. The smart play is to the back left of the green. Make par and move on (happily).
Hole #15 - 367 yards
A fun hole. And scenic. While on the tee box … enjoy the view. You can see much of the golf course and Lake Wasserman on your back left. Though you can’t see them … you are surrounded by lakes on all sides. Very cool. But, not cool to drive it into the pond along the left side of the fairway. A smart drive is short of the bunkers on the left … leaving a straight shot to the green. Drives on the right side of the fairway leave an awkward shot to the green.
Hole #16 - 146 yards
A very difficult hole. But fair. Uphill, so it plays longer than the yardage … but don’t go crazy … OB is the road behind the green. The bunker short right is not a good place. If the pin is up front and the green is quick … a downhill putt is a problem. Sometimes in that situation, I play to an area short left of the green and then chip up to the pin. A shot short of the middle of the green runs back down the fairway. Golf is about strategy and control. This hole is a good reminder.
Hole #17 - 314 yards
These last three holes are great finishing holes. They are not basic par holes. They offer eagles to double bogeys … a match can change quickly. This is a drivable par 4. Tom Weiskopf loved these type of holes at the end of a round. Not only was he a great player … but a great architect … he understood golf. Well, if you can hit it like Tom could … go for the green. However, most people should hit it short right of the green … and leave in an easy wedge shot with a good angle … and still have a good chance at birdie. Not as much fun as an eagle … but a lot better than a double-bogey.
Hole #18 - 527 yards
You made it. Now finish right. A reachable par 5. But, trouble along the way. OB left and right off the tee. OB continues all the way down the left side of the hole. Yet, the OB on the right stops about 230 yards out. However, there is water right of the fairway later on. Not really in play … but I’ve seen balls go into it. But, playing up the right side of the fairway brings the bunker in front of the green into play. The green is slightly on a hill … so that an approach shot needs to be one club more than normal.
A fun hole to finish your round.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com