The Olympics and Pity-Parties
Greetings Golfers,
The number one player in the world – Dustin Johnson – recently announced that he’s not playing in the Olympics. He’s more interested in the normal golf season.
Not exactly big news. Golf in the Olympics is not exactly the Masters. It can’t be. Only a few players can represent each country. I think America got a special exemption to have four players. England has two players, etc. Obviously it can’t be much of a field.
I used to love the Olympics. But, when it went from being the Mecca of amateur sports to allowing professionals … I lost interest. Professional sports already had their championships.
The reason we all loved the 1980 “Miracle” USA hockey team was that they were amateurs. Especially because they beat the “amateur” Russians. The fact that the Russians seemed to violate the spirit of amateur competition added to their status as villains.
So … it was smart to use the villains as the new model?
What I mean is, why open the Olympics to professional athletes? The beauty and charm of the Olympics was its purity … amateur athletics.
So did they think the constant “human interest” stories during the televised coverage of the Olympics made it ok? Actually, those non-stop stories are annoying. And, I’m a cornball who loves such stories. But, not when I’m trying to watch competition.
Televised golf has even jumped on this bandwagon. A few weeks ago, Justin Thomas won the Players Championship by one shot. His play during the last few holes flirted with disaster. I wanted to hear how and why he did what he did. So, right after his victory, they stuck a microphone in his face and the first question was about … Tiger Woods. Huh? Really? How insulting to Justin … and to the audience. But it got worse. The next question was about the recent passing of his grandfather. He couldn’t reply because he was so choked-up. Ugh. I could just hear some producer saying to the interviewer “Perfect – I got a great shot of a tear rolling down his face”. Talk about shameless exploitation.
High level competition is fascinating to watch. Extreme skill tested under extreme pressure is amazing and doesn’t deserve to be cheapened by sentimentality. That’s insulting to the contestants. Those who overcome especially difficult odds to reach such heights … deserve to be treated with the respect given to such achievement … not diminish it by cheesiness or pity-parties.
I hear from family members that shows such as “American Idol” and “Shark Tank” have devolved into sentimentality instead of the actual competition. If the focus is on their back-story instead of the competition … it’s insulting to them.
If the back-story is really compelling … they can go on “Oprah” … that’s what she does. But, if I want to watch high-level competition – sport or anything – I’m not tuning into a talk-show.
Dustin Johnson and his finance Paulina Gretzky are made for an “Oprah” type show. Fine. But he doesn’t need to play golf in the Olympics. And the Olympics doesn’t need him … or any other professional athletes.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
The Enemy of Personal Service
Greetings Golfers,
I’m kind of an old-fashioned guy. Not just because I’m old … I had most of my same values and core ideas when I was in college. However, my attitudes changed quite a bit from high school to college. Mainly, because I worked while I went to college and began to deal with the real world.
But even in my most youthful, naive stages … I always valued relationships over everything else. And, communication is probably the key to relationships (integrity is at least a close second-place).
So, I’m a big fan of email. It’s a great way to communicate. Of course it doesn’t come close to face-to-face communication … but it’s great for sending messages and information. It can be simple and straight-forward … or you can spice it up.
What I really like about email … is that you can read it at your convenience. Many days I don’t have a free minute … and I can check emails after work … or in the middle-of-the-night (I’m not the best sleeper).
Not only is it convenient … it’s not intrusive. I hate being in a conversation or a meeting that is interrupted by a phone call. 99% of them are not urgent. They’re just rude and demanding.
Can you imagine running around all day just barging into people’s homes and offices? Well, that’s most phone calls.
Because we value personal service at DRGC … we are trying to limit the phone. Calling the front desk for tee times disrupts the face-to-face service at the desk. Please make your tee-times on line.
If you have any issues about anything … please send me an email. If we can’t resolve it over email … then we can get together.
Please use our website for information. If something still isn’t clear … please send me an email.
We love and value service. Personal service. We want you to have a great experience while you’re here. We don’t want that experience interrupted.
Email and websites are great tools for information. I couldn’t do this blog without computers. I have no issue with the modern world so long as it’s making things more personal and simpler.
Though I’m old-fashioned … I think you’ll enjoy this video about calling a Pro Shop. It was made 10 years ago … I’m sure that most tee times since then are being made over the internet. However, it’s still pretty funny. (link) Enjoy!
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Opening Information
Greetings Golfers,
The golf season is upon us in Minnesota. Our “normal” opening date is April 4. However, March has been so mild that we are planning to open on Monday, March 29.
The tee sheet will open today. Click HERE to book online your tee time.
When we open on Monday … we’ll open everything at once: golf course, range, and clubhouse.
Yet, we will still have the same check-in arrangement at the range-shack that we had last year.
Ironically, we learned a lot last year. How to simplify and do what matters … and do it well. Not try to too many things. Less is more.
Speaking of doing things well … last year we were invited to be part of a group of courses that do things well. We are honored to be among the “Elite Eight”.
Below is their informational letter:
The Elite 8 Golf Club Is Back
And with this exclusive membership you will get one round with cart at each of these Elite 8 courses for just $499 +taxes.
Every one of these courses is a Gem:
The Wilds, Troy Burne, Legends Club, Royal Golf Club,
Deer Run Golf Club, White Eagle, Prestwick,
The Meadows at Mystic Lake
These are courses that typically don’t offer discounts and there will be only a limited number of Elite 8 memberships available, So if you’re interested in this program act now.
Not only will you get a great deal, but you’ll be able to bring 3 guests to each course for just $70+tax each. And there will be opportunities throughout the year to participate in some special events for E8 members.
Check out the details at
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Perfect is the Enemy of Good
Greetings Golfers,
Our cable television provider doesn’t offer NBC … which we just found out last Sunday as we tried to watch the last round of the Players Championship.
So … we watched an old episode of “Feherty” featuring Rory McIlroy. Rory is great for golf. Such a likable guy. Yet, when he told Feherty that he doesn’t play golf for fun anymore … it made me sad … sad for Rory and sad for all of us hearing it. Sam Snead played forever … so did Arnie … they loved to play golf!
Rory also talked about how they’ve “improved” his swing over the years. Hmmmm. Rory won 3 Majors before age 25 … only Jack & Tiger had done it before Rory. I guess his swing needed “improvement”.
He shot 79 last week in the first round and wasn’t close to making the cut. He said he doesn’t play for fun anymore … well, it shows.
Rory is not a robotic person. Bryson Dechambeau is.
I’d take Rory out of the gym … get rid of his staff of “experts” … and have him start playing golf for fun … with juniors.
Probably my favorite saying is “Perfect is the enemy of good”.
Because it’s true.
Now, that’s not an excuse to not be good. Actually, perfectionism is an excuse for bad behavior … and a weapon used by mean spirited people to attack anyone and anything.
In fact, I’m thinking of posting that saying in the Clubhouse. Its message is at the heart of the desired culture at Deer Run GC.
Golf is not a game of perfect. Life is not a game of perfect.
I just finished reading Steve Elkington’s “Five Fundamentals”. One morning after putting poorly in a tournament, Elk complained about it to his neighbor Jackie Burke. So, Burke took him over to his golf course – The Champions – and had Elkington putt a few. Well, on the wet, dewy green … Elk made a 15 footer on his first try. As Burke started walking into the Clubhouse, he said “Come find me after you make another one on the exact same line”.
What Burke meant was that putting is more about speed than the perfect line. Elkington began to realize that the putt can go into the hole in different ways.
Yes.
Elkington had gotten too “perfect” to putt well. Rory is trying to get too perfect … he doesn’t play for fun anymore.
Golf is more fun when we’re good … but it’s not much fun when we’re trying to be perfect. Good course, good conditions, good friends … good as it gets. Did I say perfect? No. Let the haters obsess on perfect.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Characters at Sawgrass
Greetings Golfers,
We all have experienced the saying “It’s a small world” … especially on a golf course. You’re out-of-town and play golf and get paired-up with strangers … and by the 5th hole you’ve become old friends who have a bunch of mutual friends.
Well, maybe I’m exaggerating … but not much. The weirdest of those type of experiences I’ve had was 25 years ago at the TPC Sawgrass Course – the site of this week’s Players Championship. As I introduced myself on the first tee, one of my playing partners said that he knew a girl from my hometown … I asked her name … it was my wife’s maiden name. Seriously.
But, it got weirder. The other player in our 3some, said that this TPC was his favorite course and he played it whenever he was in town. However, he said that it was difficult and that he usually lost a lot of balls. He proceeded to unzip the huge storage compartment on the side of his golf bag that usually held a jacket … but he had it full of golf balls … 50 balls … maybe a 100.
Hmmmmmmm.
It was a difficult golf course. But not crazy hard. You needed to be in control … but not perfect. I thought it was fair and fun. Actually, I expected it to be much more diabolical.
We had nice weather and a good time. My wife’s buddy was a decent player … but the other fellow was not. After 9 holes, he refilled the side of his golf bag in the Golf Shop. I’m not making this up. He was not a slow player … though he lost a ball on almost every swing. I’ve never seen anything like it. And, he enjoyed every minute of it.
The island green on the par 3 17th hole is fun. And very playable. But we weren’t playing in a tournament. If you’re leading the tournament and that’s your 71st hole … wow … that would be a very difficult shot.
You would need the happy-go-lucky attitude of that guy with the bag full of balls … but a lot more talent.
These PGA Tour guys are ridiculously talented. It will be fun watching them navigate the course this weekend. Will Bryson DeChambeau keep it going and over-power the TPC? He could. He’s not just long … he’s in control of his irons … and he has a great short game. But what he really has is confidence. He totally believes in his technique.
Do I recommend his technique? No. He’s a mad man … the mad scientist of golf. He’s golf’s Dr. Frankenstein … and also the monster Dr. Frankenstein created.
The famous story is a warning about meddling with nature and the dangers of being obsessive. The monster came back and ruined the Doctor’s life.
We’ll see. DeChambeau is certainly playing amazing golf. Will it destroy his body? How about his personality?
I wish him well … but I hope he’s not the future of golf.
We meet interesting people on the golf course … I like unique people … even guys who lose a 100 golf balls during a round … but they’re human beings … not created monsters.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Know Thyself
Greetings Golfers,
Though I’m not back home yet … the rumor is that it’s warming-up quickly and will stay warm.
Warm enough to open golf courses in Minnesota? Probably. Open all courses? No. Golf courses are not uniform. That’s a good thing. In fact, I think we need more variety of golf courses.
Trying to be “everything to everyone” is not a good model. If you’re the only course in your area – such as rural Minnesota … you have a responsibility to provide for everyone. However, in a highly populated Metro area such as ours … people are looking for more of a rifle-shot than a shotgun-scattershot.
Think about this in terms of restaurants. If you try a new restaurant and the menu has everything: Mexican, Chinese, Steaks, Seafood, Ribs, French, Italian, Vegan, etc … well, you know that probably most of it is bad … they can’t do all of those things well.
So … customers become frustrated and stop returning … so they lower their prices and thus need to buy lower quality food … the spiral of death begins.
And of course, everyone is going to tell them how they should be doing it … and most of those ideas will be self-serving … and the restaurant is right back to what got them in trouble in the first place.
This happens to big companies too. Yesterday I was talking to a golf sales rep at a local golf course. He was proud that his company was staying focused on who they are and getting better at what they do. We talked about the many companies that we’ve seen who do something really well, and then try to do everything. For example … a company that makes great drivers, then expands into other golf clubs … that’s ok … but, when they dive into clothing, etc … they usually do it poorly and stop making great drivers. The reason they were successful in the first place is then lost in the mess.
Running a golf course is also like parenting … you have to say no. You can’t let the kids run wild. Is it fun saying no? Not for most of us … but it has to be done … otherwise it becomes a circus … and the bullies take over.
So, will we open next week? No. Will other courses? Probably. That’s a good thing. I’ll probably play at one of those courses. But it doesn’t mean it’s right for us.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Golf’s Holy War
Greetings Golfers,
I usually receive a lot of responses after my Friday blogs. Just for the record … the record number was after my blog about losing my dog – Harvey.
However, last week’s generated quite a few. An old friend responded and recommended that I read the book “Golf’s Holy War: The Battle For The Soul Of The Game In An Age Of Science”.
It’s great – I also recommend it. The author – Brett Cyrgalis – provides wonderful history and a clear view of the battle between the artists and the scientists over the game of golf … and especially the battle over the golf swing.
So … as I was reading the book … I kept thinking about a book that dealt with these issues … in 1946.
You also have to read “On Learning Golf” by Percy Boomer. Percy wrote it in 1946 at age 60 and died 3 years later. His title says it all … learning golf.
Percy understood the science and mechanics of the golf swing as well as anyone. And, he was just as aware of the art of the golf swing. But, he realized that what people really needed, and why he wrote the book … “was to give you an account of the relation between the physical and psychological in golf – a relationship which lies at the root of every form of CONTROL – of both individual shots and of one’s game as a whole”.
Percy believed that you developed a good golf swing by developing certain feels that are the building blocks of a good swing. His understanding of the proper mechanics AND the psychology of playing are what gave him the necessary balance of right and left brain to teach the golf swing.
I’ve heard for years that Hogan took a lesson from Percy in 1946 and had a copy of his book constantly with him at the practice tee. Hogans book “The Five Fundamentals” makes much more sense after you’ve read “On Learning Golf”.
Of course, things have happened since 1946. The biggie was Homer Kelley’s “The Golfing Machine” … and now we have Trackman, etc to provide and quantify data.
That information may not give you the proper “feels” needed for a good golf swing. They actually could be diametrically opposed. I got into a pretty heated argument about this with a famous golf instructor during a Titleist Staff day at Hazeltine years ago.
So … does anybody now swing the golf club better than Ben Hogan?
As I said … I recommend “Golf’s Holy War”. But, I also recommend “On Learning Golf”.
In fact … read them together. And let me know what you think.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Kurt Vonnegut and Bob Rotella
Greetings Golfers,
Sports psychologist, Dr. Bob Rotella, helps athletes deal with “an achievement oriented society.”
What does that mean? Isn’t achievement a good thing? I believe it is … but not if it defines who you are. I hope deeper and more controllable things such as your character define you.
Here’s a great story from Kurt Vonnegut:
“When I was 15, I spent a month working on an archeological dig. I was talking to one of the archeologists one day during our lunch break, and he asked those kind of “getting to know you” questions you ask young people: Do you play sports? What’s your favorite subject? I told him no, I don’t play any sports, I do theater, I play the violin and piano, I used to take art classes.
And he went WOW! That’s amazing! And I said “Oh no, but I’m not good at ANY of them.”
And he said something then that I’ll never forget and which absolutely blew my mind because no one had ever said anything like it to me before. “I don’t think being good at things is the point of doing them. I think you’ve got all of these wonderful experiences with different skills, and that all teaches you things and makes you an interesting person, no matter how well you do them”.
And that honestly changed my life. Because I went from being a failure, someone who wasn’t talented enough at anything to excel, to someone who did things because I enjoyed them. I had been raised in such an achievement-oriented environment, so inundated with the myth of Talent, that I thought it was only worth doing things if you could “Win” at them.”
Wow!
I wonder if Vonnegut played golf?
Obviously Vonnegut found out he had talent as a writer … but, I believe him when he said that this realization changed his life.
And, I’m sure that Dr. Rotella has seen similar changes in attitude help the professional athletes he works with. If your total self worth depends on every golf swing … you’ll wind-up like Jimmy Piersall in the movie “Fear Strikes Out” (mental institution)
I think there is a lot of confusion in our society over this issue. Because we put so much emphasis on achievement, we think that giving everyone a trophy solves the problem.
That’s the worst thing we can do. Not only are we over emphasizing the value of achievement … we’re rewarding NOT ACHIEVING. That is madness.
The emphasis should be on character. Then, winning the trophy is just icing on the cake … and we can be honest about achieving.
Years ago, I worked for a GM who wanted to run the golf course the way he had run the famous theater he worked for. He told me that every actor in his plays could do each other’s role … and he thought we should do it at the golf course. Hmmm. So I replied, “You want the Green Keeper to run the restaurant, the restaurant manager to give golf lessons, the bookkeeper to run the grounds crew, etc?”
If you knew those people, you knew it was ridiculous. Setting up people to fail is not kind. His intentions were misguided (at best). He was an arrogant fellow. He had sort of a God-complex … probably sincerely thought he could remake people.
I think we need to identify our strengths and weaknesses … and earn a living by using those strengths.
However, we shouldn’t limit our activities to what we’re good at.
It’s healthy to be “an achievement oriented society” … that’s how a healthy society functions.
But to be a happy and interesting person, we need to put our achievement in perspective and not let it define us, and not let it keep us from doing a lot of things we might enjoy – talented or not.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Nonsense or Common Sense
Greetings Golfers,
In 1914, John Alexander Smith, Professor of Moral Philosophy at Oxford, said “ if you work hard and intelligently, you should be able to detect when a man is talking rot, and that in my view is the main, if not the sole purpose of education.”
How good is that? All day, every day … we are bombarded with ads and news stories and people telling us stories … we better be able to discern “when a man is talking rot”.
Recently, I was asked to review a manual for people interested in buying a golf course. It was not “rot”. It was spot-on.
As I replied to the writers, most people who buy a restaurant don’t really know what they’re getting themselves into. It consumes their life … the constant problems, the expenses, the pressure, and the never ending long hours … and they can’t walk away … they’re invested and on the hook.
Well, owning a golf course is that times 10. Maybe I’m exaggerating … but I’m not speaking rot.
Think about it … it includes a restaurant, and a shop, and a range, and 150 acres of land, and a maintenance facility, and daily play, and leagues, and events … and the other usual parts of business such as budgeting, accounting, legal, marketing, and staff.
I guess it’s just all fun & games. Like the people who buy a resort Up North and never have the time to fish.
They asked for a quote, so I said something to effect of “that what new owners really need, is to figure out who their market is and nail it so that their course feels like home to that market. That aspect is the most challenging, yet the most satisfying, and the key to success”.
On that same vein, I want to talk about Rory McIroy’s comments last week. Rory thought the golf powers-that-be were wasting time and money on researching the effect that distance is having the game. He said that other things are more important for the health of golf and to grow the game.
I basically agree. However, I do believe that the modern drivers and ball have hurt golf at the Tour level.
Imagine if Major League Baseball players could use metal softball bats. The game as we know it would be ruined. Half-hit balls would still be home-runs. And solid hits would fly out of the stadium. The game would become ridiculous and would need ball parks … and we couldn’t compare previous feats and records to the new game.
That’s not improving. That’s going backward. Just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s better.
That sort of thinking is “rot”.
Golf needs to seriously look at “bifurcation” … Tournament Golf and Recreational Golf are two different games. And should not be governed with the same rules.
MLB and Recreational Softball are two different games.
Golf course owners should put pressure on golf’s powers-that-be … for the good of the game.
As I said … know your market … well, the market for 99% of golf courses is not the PGA Tour … it’s recreational golfers.
Though Professor Smith made his pronouncement back in 1914 … his point will never change … we need to know when “a man is talking rot” … and the golf world is full of a lot of agendas that are not good for the game.
Golf needs more people with common sense.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Heroes and Villains
Greetings Golfers,
I’m sure that you’ve heard about the Patrick Reed controversy … maybe even heard more than you want to. Well, here’s some more anyway.
During this latest uproar, I read a funny article that described Reed as the villain you don’t love to hate – you just hate. Perfect. He’s not interesting. He’s just a jerk.
The article said that not only does the Tour not have interesting villains … it doesn’t have interesting heroes. I agree. Dustin Johnson? no. Justin Thomas? ok. Rory? almost. Ricky Fowler? nice.
The other night, my wife and I watched “Ford vs Ferrari”. Very enjoyable. Because the main characters were really likable and interesting. The Ford executives? Not so much.
Well, it seems to me that the PGA Tour is trying to be those Ford executives. That’s not a good thing. Not for golf.
We don’t want fake drama like All-Star wrestling used to do with Verne Gagne and the boys … but we do want humanity … we want to know these guys.
Remember in the baseball movie “Bull Durham” when Costner tells the young pitcher going to the Major Leagues that when he gets to the “Show”, not to speak the truth … just say boring cliches when interviewed.
That can work for MLB or the NFL … those sports have a natural audience because they represent a city … people respond to that loyalty.
Well … the PGA Tour doesn’t have that … they have individuals. People need to relate to those players. It’s not enough that they’re good – they are really good. But, if they aren’t interesting … no one cares … not really.
Obviously, I’m making movie references … yeah, I’m watching too much TV lately … like most of us during this lock-down. All the more reason for the Tour to shine … people are watching television.
Here’s another movie analogy … if my wife and I don’t really like the main character … we don’t like the movie. We don’t care how much they “spice” it up with action, sex, exotic settings, etc … it doesn’t hold our interest … we don’t care.
Same with the Tour. If we don’t care about the players … it’s hard to care about how they play. However, the PGA and its sponsors are afraid that some guys will be “out of bounds”. Maybe that would be a good thing … there would be real villains. We’re grownups … we can handle it. And, we would like to see real heroes. Not those made for TV vignettes they show during the Olympics … we want to see real human beings. Some will be heroes … some will be villains … some will be boring.
But at least they won’t be robots. People trying to turn humanity into robots are the real villains.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
LAG
Greetings Golfers,
Let’s talk golf swing. The common denominator in all good swings is “lag”.
From Bobby Jones to Rory McIlroy … they all had lag … it’s pretty obvious in the videos … and even more obvious in real life.
There’s a great video of Hogan talking about how the hips should start the downswing … and he beautifully demonstrates how it creates lag. (Watch video HERE).
Most of the talk and instruction is about how the body – the lower body creates lag.
Moe Norman has a great video showing how he creates lag by moving laterally and creating lag. (Watch video HERE).
So is it weight shift? Or hip turn? Or both?
Let’s get there in a minute.
I want you to first feel lag with a little drill … and not as a result of the lower body.
Take a club and make a little half-swing figure 8. Seriously, this gives you the right feel. Feel like you’re swinging waist high … don’t go higher than shoulder height. On the backswing, swing it a little out and then loop into your body … then swing it out away from you and loop it back to your body … and then without stopping … start it all over again. Keep the whole swing below waist high.
As you do this … feel the transitions … that’s lag!
This is the feeling you need to incorporate into your golf swing.
So … do you want to feel the opposite of lag? Sure you do … you need to identify the wrong feeling. Ok, do the figure 8 the opposite of what you did. Meaning, swing the club back to the inside … then loop it out and around yourself … then swing it back to and past your body … then loop it back out … and bring it back at your body and start all over again.
That’s the feeling of coming over-the-top … the death move.
I think that a lot of modern golf swings flirt with that over-the-top move … and then save it with unbelievable lower-body action. Ugh. That type of swing puts too much stress on the body.
You don’t want to need your lower body to save your swing. I hate to admit that my swing relied too much on good leg action. As I got older … and if I walked instead of rode … or played multiple days in a row … my swing changed (that’s being kind).
Last year down here, I played with a local Pro and his assistants … we walked and carried … I shot 35-45. If we’d played another 9, I probably would’ve shot 55.
So, I’ve had to do what I’m talking about. The figure 8 action drives my swing, and my body has adjusted to it … not the other way around.
No matter your type of swing, you need lag … and you need to be able to identify the feeling lag.
Hopefully this helps.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Golf Courses, Gardens, and Civilization
Greetings Golfers,
Last week’s blog was just basically saying that even though I play on a terrible golf course, I like the guys that I play with and love playing golf – anywhere.
A good message … and true.
However, that’s not a license for golf courses to stop trying. They should be in decent condition. And of course, we all want other quality services … but first and foremost, the golf course should be playable.
I played with some visiting friends at a nice course over the weekend. It wasn’t “big-time” or in amazing condition … but it was good. Down South during January, the grass goes dormant, so it’s not lush like Minnesota courses in the summertime. But at least this course had grass … though dormant, it was pretty easy to hit off of it.
And the greens actually had nice grass and the ball rolled. Wow! I felt like I was cheating!
It was fun being with friends from Minnesota … and playing a nice course in nice shape was really a treat.
Well … I’ve been wrestling for years with the idea of a more “natural” golf course. But what does that mean? How “natural”? Maybe you could say that the course I usually play down here is “natural”? Or do you mean a course that is in good condition but doesn’t look artificial? I get that. I like courses where the layout fits with the natural terrain … where it looks like God designed it.
However, that’s not always possible … and every course needs to be “developed”.
Also, what about flowers? Deer Run GC is blessed to have a talented obsessive fellow who has built beautiful flower beds all over the facility. That’s not “natural”.
But it sure is beautiful. Nature can create beauty – but so can man. Nature can be cruel and ugly – so can man.
Philosophically, I’m not a Utopian – I’m very skeptical of creating La-la-land. But, I like civilization … I don’t want to live like an animal in nature.
Same with a golf course. I don’t like the totally artificial course … it’s creepy. And yet, the uncared for, “natural” course that I’ve been playing is not good.
Once again … it’s balance. It should look and feel as if God made it … but it needs human knowledge and effort to cultivate it.
I am going to go back and play with those guys. But, I am starting to play at other courses.
Just looking for a healthy balance.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A New World
Greetings Golfers,
We’re always learning (hopefully) … and usually we learn more when life is hard, rather than when things are easier.
Probably, because when things are good, we take it for granted … and when things are tough, we step back and try to figure out what’s going on.
Well, we’ve been learning at the golf course. Actually, things are tough AND good. Much better than expected or even hoped for. Like most people, we were really worried about our business when the pandemic hit. When would we open? Would we even open? Would people play golf if we opened? Lot’s of questions. Scary questions.
So, we got the green-light from the Governor on Friday, April 17 and opened the next day. That weekend was stuffed. In fact, both days sold-out in 15 minutes right after the Governor’s announcement.
And the barrage of golfers has continued. If the weather is decent, we’re sold-out. And from what I’m hearing … it’s the same at every golf course in the Metro area.
So now the big question for golf operators is: Will this continue?
I’m not sure that this will become the “new normal”. But, I think golf will see the resurgence that we’ve been hoping for. Ironically, it’s not the result of an initiative or an intense marketing campaign. It’s because people realized it’s a great thing to do outside. And, once they start playing golf with a new awareness … they have a new appreciation of the joys and benefits of the game.
Golf is always waiting there to be discovered … and rediscovered. It’s never needed tricks and gimmicks to keep it going. What it needed, was a slowdown in our normal pace of life. Too often we get too busy for the good things in life. We put off what matters so that we can hurry and get to that place in our life where everything is perfect … and then we can finally have the time for family and friends … and golf.
Well, I’ve been very guilty of putting off what matters until I get “there”. I’m proud of my work ethic … but I’m not so proud of when it dominates my life at the expense of family and friends … and golf.
Maybe the answer is to combine all three: family, friends, and golf.
Another example of learning. I just wish that I didn’t need tough times to wake me up.
Take care,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A Good Grip
Greetings Golfers,
One of the prettiest sights in golf is a good grip. And, unfortunately, it’s a rare occurrence.
If you ever give golf lessons to beginners, you’ll see one of two swings. The first one is the caveman swing.The club is gripped in the palms, squeezed in a death grip, then lifted straight up in the air and then pounded down on the ball as if it’s a deadly snake.
Or, the goal being to get the ball airborne … they close the club face on the back swing while their weight shifts to their front foot so that they can use their wrists to scoop the ball up in the air as they shift their weight to their back foot.
Both are not good ways to use a golf club ( you notice that I didn’t say “swing”).
Ironically, if they used the snake killing method for iron shots … and the scooping method for drivers off a tee … they would be sort of ok. But, they do the opposite. Thus the snake killer breaks the tee and pops-up the ball … and the scooper hits the ball on the way up so that it’s topped and is a wicked grounder.
Both actions are usually performed with the grip of the club in the palms of the hands. The same way that you would grip the rope in a tug-of-war.
The club needs to be held in the fingers … of both hands.
And, the grip should be most felt between the thumb and forefinger of both hands. That’s the start of a good swing. It will feel weak and out of control at first. But, it needs to be learned in order to swing and not hit or scoop.
Here’s a good analogy. When I was a young boy, my stern Scottish grandfather took me to a steak house. I held my knife and fork like a caveman in the palms of my hands and my elbows stuck straight out. He insisted that I hold the silverware in my fingers and tuck in my elbows. I thought I was going to starve. It felt weak and terrible. I was not happy. But, he was right (as always).
I had to go through the same process with a golf club in my hands. Practice gripping the club in your fingers. I used to do it while watching tv – gave me the excuse that I was doing something useful.
Keep at it. Pretty shots will become more common. Pretty shots begin with a pretty grip.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
It’s a Golf “Swing”
Greetings Golfers,
Some players golf games get better as they older … some get worse. I was one of those “worse” guys.
I started noticing trouble in my 50s … then around 60, it was pretty obvious that things had changed. Not only had I lost distance and swing speed … but I was hitting fat shots and other goofy stuff. And not only were my shots flying shorter, but they were getting lower … and lower.
The problem was that I was more of a “hitter” than a “swinger”. My swing was more of a punch than a sweep. I loved to punch wedges into greens – it was probably my best shot. And, I basically used a long punch swing as my normal golf swing. More of Lee Trevino than Payne Stewart.
It was a good way to play for my job. Was low maintenance … seldom wild … not exciting, but worked. If I chipped and putted decently, I could score decently.
Well, I played the other day with an old friend … and he was going through the same stuff. He’d played college golf at a big-time school … but 40 years later he was struggling. Though not a big guy … he’d been more of a hitter than a swinger. He’d always had a great short game … but you still have to get the ball around the golf course … he’d become short and wild.
Ironically, the wilder he got, the more that he “held on”. We all think that “swinging” leads to wildness … that control comes from no hand-action.
Wrong. Here’s why: You need to square-up the clubface at impact. If you don’t square-it-up with your hands … you’ll try to square-it-up with your shoulders.
And, he was trying to get power from his legs. He was trying to drive his legs into the shot. After he told me that’s what he was doing … I asked him to punch me and drive his legs into it. He couldn’t do it. The leg action stopped his punching motion.
Here’s an analogy: Our high school catcher could throw a rocket to second base without coming out of the crouch position. A pitcher pitches because he can throw. His windup doesn’t throw the ball.
Your golf swing should feel like throwing a golf club. That’s the right motion. But here’s the secret to make it work: The left hand has to throw the club back-handed through the ball like a frisbee. So (if you’re right-handed), the golf swing is like throwing the club sidearm at the target. And … during that motion … the back of the left hand also throws the club out to the right and up. If it doesn’t go right and up … you’ll hit a low hook. But, right and up, you’ll hit a high draw … not a bad little shot to have at your disposal.
In fact, since I first wrote this blog, I played 9 holes with the first Club Champion (1990) here at Deer Run GC. We hadn’t played together in 25 years … and he couldn’t believe how high my tee shots had become and that they drew back in. He was struggling with the same stuff as my old friend – not swinging the golf club. So he tried my left-hand frisbee throw. His last two drives of the day were semi-high draws. He’d never been able to hit that shot. I wish I had a video – he was pretty excited.
That is a free action – not a punch. You’ll need a lighter grip and softer hands and arms … in fact, just a more relaxed body. This is not the Arnold Palmer action. You want more of a Louie Oosthuizen swing. In fact, Tiger Woods has become more of a swinger than he used to be.
If you’re shut in and looking for something to do … take a look at videos by Manuel de la Torre, Ernest Jones, Bob Toski, and Mike Malaska.
And just watch videos of Sam Snead. Snead won on Tour at age 52 … and made the cut in a US Open at age 61. Snead played great golf into his 80s. He played everyday and never had the knee and back problems of modern golfers.
We can play well as we get older … but we need to be “swingers” and not “hitters”.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Don’t Worry About The Rain
Greetings Golfers,
You know that saying “April showers bring May flowers”? Well, I think for Minnesota it should be “May showers bring June flowers”. We’re about a month north of most of the country. But, a little rain shouldn’t stop your golf plans. Monday and Tuesday the report was for rain … it missed us and we were fine. But because of this phobia inspired by an over active media to heighten the threat of storms, people waste valuable beautiful Minnesota days.
So, every year I send the following:
Did you ever see the episode of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM when Larry accused the weatherman of manipulating the weather reports so he can have the golf course all to himself?
Did you also know that episode was based on fact and that all weathermen manipulate their weather reports to keep people off the golf courses?
Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit … but not much.
Bad weather makes news. Bad weather keeps everyone tuned in. I get that weathermen have a responsibility and safety concerns. However, if it’s not life-threatening such as a tornado …make your tee times dependent on your schedule – not the weather reports. And, if it’s too nasty of weather – just cancel. In fact, we’d prefer if you don’t cancel. It doesn’t help us. You can decide at the last minute. Try it … if it’s not fun … get a raincheck, refund, etc.
We’re not trying to take advantage of you trying to play golf in bad weather. I’ve heard of golf courses that won’t give rain checks if you play one hole – that’s not us. We’re not like that. We’ll do whatever is fair. And, we’ll error on the side of getting you on the golf course. That’s what we do. We want people to play golf. We don’t do all of this work just so people can drive by and say “What a beautiful golf course.”
You’re under no risk making a reservation to play golf. And you’re under no risk trying to play if it looks like rain.
Remember those old Alka-Seltzer ads: “Try it – you’ll like it.”
Golf will fix any ailment better than Alka-Seltzer.
So … “Try it – you’ll like it!”
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com