The Waste Management Open

Greetings Golfers,

There’s been lots of talk about that crazy hole-in-one scene at last week’s Phoenix Open. 

Was it over the top? Yeah. But, it seemed genuine. The crowd immediately reacted. People were literally jumping up-and-down with joy … it wasn’t fake. The videos are amazing.

As a lover of golf … and someone who has devoted his life to sharing that love … I loved the reaction.

This gets to the crux of the matter - is golf deadly serious? Or is it fun?

I think it’s both.

The US Open should be deadly serious. That type of fan reaction would be all wrong. 

However, not every PGA Tournament should try to be the US Open. In fact … the full name of last week’s tournament is the “Waste Management Phoenix Open”. How can that be a deadly serious event?

Ok … some people will say that they are “purists” and that is not real golf.

Hmmmmmm …

Golf started as a game of Scottish shepherds. While tending the flock … Ian said to Mac “I bet that I can hit this rock from here to that tree with my walking stick, in fewer shots than you can. And if I win … I get a shot of your whiskey”.

That’s pure golf.

I love recreational AND tournament golf.

It’s not one or the other. There’s room for both. And I think recreational golf should be fun.

Down here, I play every Monday with a bunch of old Pros from New England. We have a little game, no one has an “official” handicap, we give putts, and we have a lot of laughs.

Now, two of the guys have played in US Opens. They sure don’t act like that during our Monday game.

Is our group disruptive? No. We’re respectful of the other players on the course and of the golf course. 

But we’re not deadly serious. 

Save it for the US Open.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com