Let it Flow
Greetings Golfers,
Some of us aren’t ready for Winter … so I’m changing the words of the song from “Let it snow” to “Let it flow”.
I’m obsessed with flow. I think it’s very underrated. Not just for the golf swing … but for living.
We want things flowing at DRGC:
pace of play
check-in
F&B service
music
carts
conversations
golf-swings
happiness
That list could go on-and-on …
What we don’t want is to get stuck. Sadly, a lot of what depends on technology here seems to get stuck.
Stuck is not good.
A few weeks ago, we had some owners of a golf course looking at our cart shed. They want to start using electric golf carts … so they need to build a shed … and had heard that ours was one of the best.
So, they asked me a bunch of specific questions that I wasn’t sure the exact details of. A little frustrated, they asked why our shed was so special. I replied that it flowed. And … I could explain the details and reason why it flowed. They were not impressed. Flow was not a priority.
Then, they told me that they were also building a big building to host weddings.
And, they proudly informed me that their 36 hole course would do over 100,000 rounds this year … and that they were the only full-time employees.
Woah!!!!!!!!!!
These guys have a great business. One of the few golf cash-cow operations. Why they need to complicate their business is beyond me.
They are like a fast-food restaurant. We’re more like a funky boutique restaurant. Apples-to-oranges. One of the guys commented that they needed more of our “polish”. No they don’t. Their market doesn’t care.
I told them they have a great business and focus on flow. Trying to do too much … well, they’ll get stuck. And screw-up what matters.
Prioritizing is vital to flow (and success).
Some people don’t understand that we have limited time and energy and resources.
For example, we rate everything we do A-B-C.
Can’t screw-up the As. Try not to blow the B’s. Obviously want to do the Cs … but never at the expense of the As.
Some people see it backwards. They take for granted when the As are flowing … and focus on the Cs.
For example, if they see an unpriced shirt in the Shop or a mistake on the website … they say “if they can’t get those little things right, how can they possibly do the big things?”
Well, it’s exactly the opposite.
Thankfully, most people get it.
To prove my point … please click HERE for the 2021 Annual Readers Choice Awards from the recent Tee Times magazine.
Is this obnoxious and self-serving? Probably. But I’m also trying to make a point. One that I feel passionately about.
Trying to do too much is not smart. Trying to do things right is smart. Knowing what matters and keeping focused is smart.
Then … things will flow.
Enjoy the flow … we’re not ready for snow.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Spin to Win
Greetings Golfers,
Can you spin it?
I don’t mean your story … I mean your golf ball.
Ball sports are about controlling spin:
ping-pong
tennis
pool/billiards
baseball(pitching)
basketball(shooting)
football(passing)
golf
When I was a kid we used to play a game called “Four square”, where you basically tried to spin the ball in and out of boxes/squares.
I think we put too much emphasis on power and not enough on control.
And control comes from controlling spin.
Most golfers slice - especially with their driver. The driver is basically a flat face with little loft. The lack of loft can’t balance the slice side-spin. It’s difficult to slice your wedge - the loft nullifies the side-spin.
An old friend stopped by the other day for a lesson. He couldn’t hook/draw the golf ball.
So, we went to the chipping green - not the driving range.
He needed to learn how to spin the ball on very short shots.
So, he hit a bunch of chip shots by just holding the clubface square through the shot. No turning of the wrists - just holding it firmly through the shot.
Then, he hit a bunch of cut/slice chips where he opened the club-face under the ball as he hit it.
Next was to hook some chip shots. I wanted him to hit it like a topspin tennis shot or ping-pong topspin shot. Not just turn his wrists to close the club-face … but to also hit up on the ball. So, we teed-it up like a driver shot.
He then would swing the club up to the ball while rolling his wrists to close the clubface through contact. He got to where he could loft it up in the air and land it about 10 feet from contact and it would roll about 5 feet left toward the hole.
Those 3 different chip shots are basically golf in a nutshell. If you can do those shots … you can control the golf ball with spin.
Your full shots are just longer versions of those chip shots.
Do you remember Johnny Sain … the pitching coach for the Twins in the 60s? He was all about spin. He wasn’t big on mechanics or running … he said “You don’t run the ball across the plate. If you did, they’d look for pitchers on track teams.”
This old friend of mine used to be a catcher. He could throw the ball back to the pitcher with more speed than the pitcher, though he was sitting the crouch. Maybe the pitching wind-up isn’t that important?????
He was also a quarterback. We talked about quarterbacks throwing while on the run and not using their three-step mechanics. He said the other night on a football telecast that the Manning brothers were talking to Favre about such ideas involving Aaron Rodgers.
What I’m trying to say is that my friend was too hung-up on swing mechanics. He couldn’t control his slice. He wasn’t using his ability to throw. His golf swing wasn’t athletic.
No matter what your golf swing looks like … you need to learn how to spin the ball.
And control the spin.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Manners Matter
Greetings Golfers,
Obviously, there are pretty heated cultural wars going on in America. And both sides are even talking about secession.
Why can’t we get along?
People will always see things differently. In fact, total uniformity is not a good thing - it would be like living in a massive slave state.
But to get along, we need to communicate back and forth … and know how to disagree.
Years ago, I went to a golf seminar in Orlando to hear a famous instructor talk about the golf swing. However, he was shouted down by a group of haters and the seminar didn’t happen.
This happened over differing ideas of the golf swing - not politics or religion.
That’s crazy.
And … it’s bad manners.
This is where I think we have a lot of confusion.
Some people believe that manners are just a phony power play. I vehemently disagree.
Manners are the grease that keeps human interaction flowing.
Bossy people are annoying (at best) because they have bad manners. Trying to turn our society totally utilitarian - taking away the human element - will only make things worse. Bossy people don’t respect people.
Life is not just functionality. It involves people. People are not robots to be treated like a machine.
I feel we’re losing the little touches that make civilization work such as saying: “please and thank you”, saying “I’m sorry”, turning off your phone, acknowledging people when they walk in the room.
And not being bossy. Bossy people think manners are a waste of time. Asking people to do something is respectful - telling them what to do is rude.
Shouting a speaker down is rude.
Power plays are rude.
Being demanding is rude.
I’m not saying that anything goes. Not at all. People have to be held responsible for their actions. I’m not absolving that. Not at all.
What I’m trying to say is that people have to treat people not as a power play. Otherwise - we have war. War within families, businesses, highways, and golf courses.
Rudeness needs to be stood up to. It’s not acceptable.
However, being treated rudely is not a license to start treating people rudely. That’s just doing what they’re doing. That’s not being “empowered”.
Yet, standing up to rudeness is not being rude. It’s self-defense.
Good manners are vital - not a waste of time, or phony, or a power play.
We can get along with each other … and good manners are the key.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Common Sense
Greetings Golfers,
You would think that ambulances would just sit and wait in golf course parking lots every day.
Think about it … people swinging metal sticks … which propel a rock-hard ball at great speeds … while standing next to each other … and driving golf cars up and down hills with these balls flying around.
Then, add alcohol into the mix. And that’s not even considering the lack of control of most players. Even very good players are capable of wild and crazy shots.
How can it work?
Because - for the most part - golfers have common sense.
Seriously … if they didn’t … golf wouldn’t work.
Sometimes when I go to work in the morning, I drive through the town of Excelsior. And most of the time, I see people just walking through stop signs without even looking. They think stop signs are just for cars.
Hmmmm ………
Maybe pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way. However, is it worth risking your life over a rule?
I see more people than ever pretending that they live in la-la land rather than reality.
These same people loved watching Yogi Bear cartoons so much that they go out to Yellowstone (Jellystone) to play with the bears.
That doesn’t always work out so well.
Dealing with reality is a good thing. Not learning to deal with reality leads to walking in front of cars and playing with bears.
Golf: hit it … find it … deal with it. Hit it again … find it … deal with it.
I wish everyone played golf.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Empathy and Leadership
Greetings Golfers,
I like Mike Zimmer. I think he’s a good coach and a good guy. However, I don’t think he gets kickers. They’re different from other football players. They perform one skill. And they don’t hit people.
On Google I found …
THE FIVE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER:
Communication
Vision
Empathy
Accountability
Gratitude
Not sure that Zimmer empathizes with kickers. Actually pretty sure that he doesn’t.
Kickers need to be loose before that game-winning (or losing) field goal.
Same with golfers. Tight golfers don’t hit good shots.
We all know people who play better after a few beers/drinks.
Maybe that list should include BARTENDER.
Speaking of leadership … a good friend just gave me a book about Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton was an English sailor who led expeditions to Antarctica about 100 years ago.
They did not go well. So, his incredible leadership kept things going … and people staying alive.
Here are some of his thoughts on leadership:
“The loyalty of your men is a sacred trust you carry. It is something which must never be betrayed, something you must live up to.”
“I have often marveled at the thin line which separates success from failure.”
“If you’re a leader, a fellow that other fellows look up to, you’ve got to keep going.”
“Leadership is a fine thing, but it has its penalties. And the greatest penalty is loneliness.”
Well, I’m sure that Zimmer feels pretty lonely a lot of the time - especially when they’re losing. But so do his kickers. A little empathy would help him and his team.
Empathy is not weakness - it’s an important part of leadership.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Ryder Cup Blog
Greetings Golfers,
As I warned you last week, Marty Lass and I are continuing our semi-annual Ryder Cup battle … using words instead of golf clubs (or fists).
Marty is defending the European team and has the floor:
Why Team Europe wins the Ryder Cup…
First and most importantly, I want to be clear that I certainly want Team USA to win the Ryder Cup! I think they have a great captain and team and hope they are celebrating big at the end of the competition.
This however is my stance on why the Euro’s take the cup back overseas….
Ryder Cup Experience. Some people will downplay this, but the European players combined have 38 Ryder Cup appearances vs. 12 appearances by the Americans. This will certainly help them in keeping the heavy ‘home field’ crowds at bay and not bothering them in the competition. The salty veterans will show the young bucks how to maintain composure…
Heavy Underdogs. The Euro’s thrive on this. On paper, there isn’t a snowball in hell’s chance they can win. Watch out.
Whistling Straits. Great venue: not really an ‘American course’ (i.e. Hazeltine) so I don’t feel the course itself has a home-field advantage.
WGC Match Play. Earlier this year in the WGC Match Play, the 12 Europeans had a combined 18-13-5 record in the ‘group stage’ matches while the 11 Americans who played (Koepka was injured) had a combined 13-12-8 record. The World Rankings are based primarily on stroke-play events, not many match-play formats used (which is the Ryder Cup).
Intangibles. Lee Westwood back in 2016 couldn’t make a putt if the cup was the size of a Frisbee. Since then, he has a new love in his life and she caddies for him, and no more missed 2-footers! Rory and Sergio since the last Ryder Cup now have kids. This will help them make playing golf in the Ryder Cup a bit more relaxed, no pressure, having some fun.
Win or lose, the European team will have fun, which alleviates some of the pressure. When the Americans win, it is fun. When they lose, not so much (and the finger pointing begins…).
When it’s all said and done, the team that can manage to win the last three holes consistently (making a few crucial putts) will win the Ryder Cup.
- Marty Lass
Thanks Marty - well done!
However, the Europeans will not win the Ryder Cup.
This American team is just too strong.
I know, I know … Europe has won 9 of the past 12 Ryder Cups … and they are more experienced than this American team. I get it.
But, since 2008, American Ryder Cup rookies have gone 40-29-17.
Maybe it’s not about experience.
Match-play is different from medal play. Medal-play rewards patience. Match-play rewards aggression and optimism.
As much as I like Webb Simpson … I like that Captain Steve Stricker picked Scottie Sheffield and Daniel Berger.
Stricker needs a fresh, exciting team. He has enough weirdness with DeChambeau and Koepka … he didn’t need Patrick Reed.
Look at the talent on Team USA: Collin Morikawa, Xander Shauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau.
Yeah - Jon Rahm is ranked #1 in the world. Yet, the next 9 are on this American team.
And, it’s on American soil.
Sorry Marty - it won’t even be close.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
An Insightful Fellow
Greetings Golfers,
Last week I almost wrote about PGA Tour player Patrick Cantlay. Not about his golf game … rather about how insightful he is.
Then the other day, a friend sent me a link to quotes from Cantlay. I’d never seen these … and they were amazing!
Last week he won the FedEx Cup. I think he’s rated #3 in the world. Obviously he’s an incredible player.
But, I’m more impressed with his insights.
Here’s the one from about a week ago, regarding Bryson DeChambeau that blew me away:
“I think it’s a tough situation. Naturally, of course there is sympathy because you don’t want to see anybody have a bunch of people be against you or even be heckled. I think that anybody that watches sports and sees someone being heckled, they don’t like that because if you imagine yourself as that person, it wouldn’t feel good.
“I think unfortunately, it may be a symptom of a larger problem, which is social-media driven and which is potentially Player Impact derived. I think when you have people who go for attention-getting maneuvers, you leave yourself potentially open to having the wrong type of attention, and I think that’s maybe where we’re at, and it may be a symptom of going for too much attention.
“But it can be awesome too, because if you succeed and you act perfect all the time and do perfect things, and then you go for the right attention-seeking moves, you get like double-bonus points because everyone loves you, and you’re on the perfect side of it. I think it’s just a very live-by-the-sword die by-the-sword type of deal. And when you leave it to a jury, you don’t know what’s going to happen. So it’s hard to get all 12 people on a jury on your side.
“And if you’re playing professional golf on the stage that you’re playing on and 98 percent of people are pulling for you and there are 10,000 people on the green, I don’t know, what does that leave, 20 people that don’t like you, even if 98% of the people like you? And if those 20 people have had enough to drink or feel emboldened enough to say something because they want to impress the girl they’re standing next to, then, yeah, like you’re in trouble. People are going say bad things.
“Golf, unfortunately, doesn’t and probably shouldn’t tolerate that. I think there’s a respect level in golf and an intimacy that the fans can get so close to you, and you’re all by yourself, and don’t have the armor of putting on Yankee pinstripes, and knowing that if the people hate you and you’re playing in Boston, you can tolerate it because you know that next week you’re going to be in Yankee stadium.
“And I think golf shouldn’t let that happen. I think the Masters is a great example of a place that doesn’t let that happen. And it’s the greatest place to watch and play professional golf because of the atmosphere they create. I think if you look at the history of the game and you look at the respect that underlies the entirety of the game, we shouldn’t tolerate that, and we shouldn’t celebrate it. We should celebrate the fan that is respectful and pulls for that side.
“So it’s a tough situation. It’s a tough topic but that would be my take on it, and I’m sure it’s not perfect, but after thinking about it a little bit, it’s the best I can come up with.”
That was not a prepared statement. That was a live answer during a press conference.
Please check out links to his other comments.
The link that was sent to me was on Twitter. If I knew how to do it … I would include it here. However, my tech and social media skills are close to zero.
Obviously, Cantlay will be on the American Ryder Cup team. It’s only two weeks away. So next Friday, my blog will be the continuing battle between Marty Lass and myself.
Marty is the revered, long-time Head Golf Professional at Edina CC. He will explain why he believes that the European team will win. His reasoning is always very insightful.
So, I’ll be defending the American team. I just hope that I can be half as insightful as Mr. Lass and Mr. Cantlay.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Golf is a Target Game
Greetings Golfers,
A lot of people hit a lot of wild shots.
I know … how insightful! But, why are they so wild? And why so often?
Because, they don’t swing at their target. In fact, they might not even have a target. They just swing at the ball and hope it goes someplace good.
And, they think that if they make a “good swing” the ball will read their mind and go where it should.
I think you need a target … and need to swing at it. And, the secret is “extension”.
Let’s start slowly. Putt a ball at a target … and extend the putter at the target. As the putter goes through the ball it should stay on line until it’s pointing at the target. Don’t stop the putter at the ball.
The best way to practice this is with long putts. Long putts are how you develop a good putting stroke. Too often with short putts, we take it back too long and then quit on the forward stroke.
Practice long putts … then keep moving closer to your target, so you get used to shortening your back stroke and keep a longer, accelerating forward stroke.
Next, take this concept to the chipping green. Start with long chip shots so that you extend your forward stroke at the target … and hold it.
Now, here’s the secret - on your next chip, use your hips on the forward stroke. See how the hips give you more extension. This is vital to your golf swing.
On your full shots, you need the hips to turn through the shot so that you can extend the club at the target.
Otherwise, the hips stop and the shoulders take over and the club probably won’t extend at the target. That’s where the wild shots come from.
Of course you can hit a wild shot with an open or closed club face even if you extend at the target. But you need a really open or closed face to hit a wild shot if you extend at the target.
A mildly open or closed club face will hit it pretty much on line if you extend at the target.
But, if you’re not extending at the target … it’s pretty difficult to hit the ball on line.
Practice taking half-swings and holding the forward swing at the target. Feel your hips turn through on the forward swing and help you extend at the target.
Then take this half-swing feeling into your full swing. Feel the hips during your full swing. Feel the hips extend the club at the target during your full swing.
I’m not saying that you’ll become a machine … but you’ll be able to give yourself a target … and give yourself a good chance of hitting the ball at the target.
Wild might be fun in some things … but not so much in golf.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A Great Wake-Up Call
Greetings Golfers,
Wednesday morning I was running signs out on the course before a golf event.
I couldn’t believe how beautiful the course looked. It was really amazing.
Then, while driving up the cart path on #3 … I passed one of the guys mowing the fairway. Though I waved … he didn’t wave back … I wasn’t snubbed … he was so focused on his line that he wasn’t aware that I was there.
This was a line in the fairway … not on the green. He was that focused on mowing the fairway perfectly.
Then it hit me … duh … that’s why the course looked so good … these guys CARE!
A minute later, the same thing happened with another mower on #4.
Then another minute later, a young guy was being patiently taught on how to mow around #9 green.
It actually got to me. I’ll admit - I’m a cornball … and stuff like that gets to me. The whole sequence of events was like something out of a movie … with the theme being that they care.
Sometimes people think that caring is a weakness. Exactly the opposite.
Caring is where you find courage.
You’re not going to do or stand-up for the hard thing unless you care.
Some people confuse caring with being needy. Not the same thing. Needy is about constant affirmation from others. Caring is about what is right.
Our maintenance crew does what is right because they care. That attitude comes from their leader - Barry Provo.
It’s easy to take good things for granted. That series of events on Wednesday gave me a needed wake-up call.
Thanks guys!
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A Good Fit
Greetings Golfers,
Can you believe it’s August 20th?
How did that happen?
We’re losing staff every day … they’re going back to college.
We’ve always had great kids … but this might be the best bunch ever. And, it’s not just the individuals … it’s how it comes together … how it fits.
Heidi Breen’s F&B staff has been unusually good … amazingly efficient and hospitable … and free of drama!
I don’t know about you … but I don’t like drama. It’s not fun … it’s not funny … it’s just annoying and exhausting.
So … why did Heidi’s team work so well together? Two things: Respect for each other … and a shared sense of humor.
Respect, because everyone deserved it - everyone worked hard and was responsible.
Sense of humor … hmmmm … that’s not so easily explained. Not that everyone was funny … but rather, everyone “got it”.
Humorless people are hard to get along with … and usually cause drama.
I’m not a soap-opera or drama type of television show watcher. But when I have seen those types of programs, I’ve noticed that they’re never funny. Everyone is so serious about their lives that they can’t laugh or joke around.
Fortunately, our staff was not that self-absorbed. They were serious about doing their job, but not so serious about themselves that they couldn’t joke and get along with each other.
After Labor Day, we’ll be basically kid-less. You’ll be stuck with us grown-ups.
Hopefully, we’ll still be fun. Maybe not as much fun … but definitely not a soap-opera.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
My Friend Golf
Greetings Golfers,
The other day I was Rangering … just driving around the course on a semi-rainy day … and enjoying every second of it.
And then it hit me why - I was spending time with a good friend - golf. I view golf as more than a game … it’s a spiritual being that shares my thoughts and feelings. It understands me … and judges me. And I trust it.
It’s more than the course - it’s the range, the putting green … and especially the game itself.
A lot of you probably think this sounds crazy … but a lot of you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Golf is an entity that can come in many shapes and forms. I’ve seen it twisted and smothered and abused. I’d compare it to music. Music is also a friend. But we’ve all heard music twisted and abused into forms that must be painful for it … sort of like an abused person.
I like melody in music. Britanica describes melody as: “A succession of notes that is pleasing".
I don’t like seeing abuse: golf, music, people, animals …obviously, it could be a long list. But, abuse of innocence is particularly upsetting.
Golf turned into a penny-pinching game or a carnival is as attractive as music turned into grating noise.
Some people think that degrading things is “real” or sophisticated. I just think it’s mean-spirited.
It gets back to the essence of life. Seriously. I think life is basically good. I am not a Utopian or a perfectionist. I am not mad at God. Life is challenging. That’s a good thing.
Trying to build Utopia or fundamentally transform the world is not progress. It’s just narcissism.
The further golf gets from the game of Scottish shepherds … the worse it gets.
Probably my favorite song is “Greensleeves”. The further music gets from “Greensleeves” … the worse it gets … not better.
Rangering on a rainy day … with “Greensleeves” playing in my head … some people might think is boring … not me - I’m happy being with two great friends.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Punch-It!
Greetings Golfers,
Just watched 10 minutes (?) of a video about how to fix the “biggest swing killer” in golf. Though I didn’t watch all of it … it was interesting. And, I think I know what his “fix” would be (or should be).
What he was talking about is “early extension”. His phrase for when people stand-up at impact. He claims that 7 out of 10 amateurs do it … and that Tour players do not do it. Sounds accurate to me.
But, before we fix something … I want to know why it’s happening in the first place. The drills probably won’t work if the faulty concept isn’t first dealt with. Isn’t that the key to changing any behavior?
I think “standing-up” at impact is a result of flipping the hands at impact. The faulty concept that the club needs to lift the ball up in the air.
Watch people chip. You can see what I’m talking about. They take the club back … then flip the club-head under the ball … or try to. Often, the club-head flips too soon and hits the ball on the way up … thus topping the ball and it goes shooting over the green.
Or, it flips too late … and they just hit it fat.
However, if it’s a fluffy lie and sitting-up … they just might make it work and then hit a fairly high, soft shot that might work out.
I’d prefer that they learn how to “punch” the shot. Meaning, set-up with the hands in front of the ball, close the face a little (to trap it), and punch down on the ball at impact while leading with the hands. And, the follow through keeps the hands in front of the clubhead.
This is the secret to becoming a good chipper of the ball … and the secret of good impact - especially on iron shots.
Does this work well on tee shots? Not so much. They are two different shots.
Ironically, the scoop can work off a tee … and yet, most scoopers crash down with their driver and break the tee.
They would be better off reversing their technique for a driver and iron.
I better qualify this. I don’t want to see you scoop … even using a tee. But, I’m trying to make a point about how to use the club.
Lee Trevino was the ultimate puncher. He learned how to play on desert-like fairways … he had to punch it to hit it solid.
His short-game was amazing.
Trevino never stood-up at impact. Learn to chip like Trevino … and to hit iron shots like Trevino. But first start with chipping.
We all want to hit it farther. But, control is the name of the game. And control comes from proper impact.
We all need a golf swing. Not a scoop. But we also need to learn the punch shot.
Though I respect “standing-up” for what matters … it’s not good at impact. Use that strength and direct it down at the ball with a punch. It’ll feel good … and it works.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Less is More
Greetings Golfers,
What do people mean by the saying “Less is More”?
According to PHRASE FINDER, it means: “The notion that simplicity and clarity leads to good design”.
Obviously it’s referring to architecture, but I think it relates to everything. Simplicity and clarity sure beats complication and confusion.
We host a lot of golf events. My mantra to the organizers is always “Less is More”. That usually isn’t what people want to hear. They get sucked into other people telling them they should do “this really fun thing”. Usually, it’s not really fun … and if they listen to a lot of people and keep adding “fun things” … it becomes annoying instead of fun.
We need to prioritize. We have limited time on this planet. We innately know how much time things should take. Life shouldn’t be rushed through … but time shouldn’t be wasted either. Time is precious. We all know that instinctively.
I advise golf events to focus on 4 things:
simple format
nice pace of play
friendly atmosphere
good food
Too often, adding “More” … leads to:
complicated format
slow pace of play
uptight atmosphere
frustrated golfers
Simple doesn’t mean simple minded. It usually means clarity. That takes work.
Adding too much to things … is usually lazy and not focused. Lazy because of not doing the work of clarity which leads to simplicity.
Henry David Thoreau: “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify. Simplify.”
Simplifying is not the same as being organized. Don’t get me wrong - being organized is important … it is based on priorities. However, I know hyper-organized people who are always reorganizing mundane details … that is not simplifying … that’s missing the point.
And, it’s easy to say yes to everything and everybody. But, that can’t work - or work well. It’s almost like lying. Here’s a great quote “hurt me with the truth, but never comfort me with the lie.”
At DRGC … we can’t be everything to everyone. Trying to do it or agree to it is basically lying. Of course people want to hear what they want to hear.
We are trying to provide a quality golf experience. Not perfect - that’s a fool’s goal - but quality. To do that means saying no to a million things that would get in the way of what we’re trying to do.
Saying yes would be lazy and dishonest.
Promising more is a scam.
Less is more. If you value quality.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Henry Cotton
Greetings Golfers,
I hope you watched some of the Open Championship last week at Royal St. George. Collin Morikawa is the real deal - he’s only 24 and could/should win a bunch of Majors.
Louis Oosthuizen was in the hunt again … but just can’t seem to close the deal.
A guy who could close the deal was Henry Cotton. Cotton won three Open Championships … his first was at Royal St. George in 1934. His second round 65 was the course record until 1993.
Henry Cotton is known as the ultimate “hands player”. He was an obsessive practicer and claimed to have tried every style in search of the perfect swing.
He was described as “independent, controversial, and self-assertive” … until he died in 1987 at 80. He gave golf lessons in Portugal until the very end.
You’ve probably seen or used an “impact bag”. Well, that’s just a slicker version of Cotton’s method of hitting an old car tire (not on a car). He believed in strong hands and fingers … and developing a powerful hit at impact.
In fact, he emphasized hitting “past” rather than “with” the body. This is how he explained it: “Through impact the left hand gradually turns down and over as the right hand hits past it. The action is a rolling or turning of the hands, NOT an inward collapsing of the left wrist or a forward bending of the right wrist.”
I agree with Cotton. I also agree with Cotton that other methods work - simply that the hands method, once mastered, is the easiest, most effective, and longest lasting.
If you do decide to be a “hands player” … you need to not move past the ball during impact … as you move into the shot, you need to feel that your left side has hit a wall.
I recommend the old-school “K” setup to give yourself that firm left-side. When you setup to hit a shot, just kick in your right knee … and that should put you into the “K” position.
Even if you don’t decide to be a hands player like Henry Cotton … developing your hands will help your golf game.
And try the “K” setup … it can help your backswing, your turn, and minimize “coming over the top”.
Now you’ll be ready to “close the deal”.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A Not So Charming Fellow
Greetings Golfers,
We all know that saying by Lord Acton “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Though I like Lord Acton, I don’t really agree with that statement. I think power and money are tools … and that they reveal more than they corrupt.
If someone all of sudden changes because they have money and/or power … it’s not the fault of money or power … it reveals their character.
Golf is also a revealer of character. The obvious thing is cheating … but also narcissism … or rudeness … or pettiness … or jealousy.
And, it reveals good things: the person who’s always ready but never in the way … or repairs extra ball marks … or is aware of where people hit their shots and if they need help.
We all know people who are fun to play with … or not so fun to play with. One of the least fun to play with is the “expert”. The one who is telling everyone how to swing … or what is wrong with their swing.
Unsolicited advice is not exactly charming.
We get a lot of unsolicited advice on how to operate the Pub, Bev Carts, Shop, Range, course maintenance, pricing, hours, policies, rules, etc.
The other night during Ladies League … a man got angry because he couldn’t use the range on Ladies League Day.
To make his point … he held up a fist full of dollars and said to me “This is what it’s all about”. I replied “No, doing the right thing is what it’s all about”. He scoffed and walked out the door.
Talk about revealing character.
Let’s hope that he doesn’t get a lot of power. He’s already corrupted … and proud of it.
I’m glad that we’re not the only golf course in town.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Undivided Attention
Greetings Golfers,
After hosting a golf event, the organizer told me that 3 separate people each told him that I gave them my undivided attention.
Hmmmmmm … what does that mean?
I think it’s because I don’t own a cell phone.
What I consider to be normal interaction, was referred to as unusual.
I’m all for connecting with people … but I don’t think cell phones are the answer.
And, phones seem to bring out a demanding attitude that I find really offensive. Sort of that everyone has to be ready for their call … at all times … no matter what.
Maybe that demanding attitude makes people anxious and always looking at their phone.
Restaurants are starting to do away with phones and only taking on-line reservations. I think that’s a good a thing. They should be focused on the people there … not the phone.
Speaking of giving undivided attention … a golf instructor better be focused on the student.
Here’s a classic instruction story: About 20 years ago a young guy asked for a lesson. I watched him hit a bunch of irons and fairway woods … and he was good … I didn’t see anything to monkey with. So I asked why he was there. He replied that he couldn’t hit his driver. That didn’t make sense … so I had him hit a few. Each one was a low, weak fade … nothing like his shots with his other clubs.
So, I asked if I could hit his driver … I produced the same gross, weak fades.
Where did he get this driver? … from his buddy’s brother - Cameron Beckman.
Yeah … that guy … the Cameron Beckman who beat Ernie Els to win last week’s Champions Tour event.
This lessonee was a good player with a very good swing … but he couldn’t flex Beckman’s driver. Who could? Maybe some other Tour players could. Beckman was a big strong guy … the shaft on this driver had no flexibility - it was stiff as a board.
I’m glad that I was paying attention during his lesson and not just giving him cliche advice. He didn’t need a lesson - he needed a different driver.
And he needed an instructor who wasn’t looking at his cell phone.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
You Still Have to Putt
Greetings Golfers,
The other morning on the golf radio station, they were talking about how in most sports the athletes are getting “bigger-faster-stronger” … but that it hasn’t affected the scoring in golf. One the show’s radio hosts - John Cook - said it’s because you still have to get the ball in the hole.
He’s right … you still have to be a great putter … but that’s not the whole story. You also need to be in control of the ball.
I don’t think there’s enough emphasis on understanding spin and how to control the ball.
Even the most basic ping-pong player is aware of putting spin on the ball.
All ball-stick sports are about control … and about using spin.
Too many golfers are victims of spin. They slice and don’t know how to correct it. If they knew how to hook-it … they could then fix their slice.
Power without control is worthless.
We host a lot of charity golf events. Before each one, our practice range is packed with guys only using their driver. And swinging like crazy people. They are not “warming-up” … they’re trying to vaporize the range balls.
A million years ago, I used to pitch in high school. Before the game, I used to warm-up slowly and loosen my arm with easy tosses … and then try to find some control and see if I could spin the ball. I didn’t wear myself out. I “warmed-up”.
If I’d warmed-up like the golfers I see at our charity events … I’d have just closed my eyes and thrown the ball at the backstop as hard as I could. For half an hour. Wouldn’t have learned a thing and probably thrown out my arm.
These guys should come out to the practice range with a wedge and 7 iron … and try to find some rhythm … and find some control hitting the ball at some targets. And maybe even try to spin it different ways. Then, hit a few drivers.
Let’s make the same analogy with tennis. Would you warm-up by trying to hit every shot as hard as you can? They’d go flying all over the court. Might be better to try to find some rhythm and control … and fool around with some spin.
I know … I can read your mind … I’m just mad because I’m old and can’t hit it far anymore. Wrong. Even when I could hit it … I didn’t warm-up like that. Hmmmm. It’s called … warm-up. Not … go crazy.
The object of the game is still to get the ball in the hole. Bigger-stronger-faster is helpful if you are already in control. Otherwise … not so much.
And … you still have to putt.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Cosmic Justice
Greetings Golfers,
Last Sunday while watching the US Open with my family, we were rooting for our “picks” in Marty’s Majors.
As much as I wanted one of my 4 picks to win … I also wanted Louis Oosthuizen, although he wasn’t one of my picks.
However, I was pleased when Jon Rahm (not my pick) made those putts on #17 and #18.
And, I was sad when Louis hit it into the hazard on #17.
As I said then, I wanted to see somebody “win it” not somebody “lose it”.
I’m competitive. I like to win. But, winning because somebody falls apart is not satisfying.
Do I ever cheer against someone or some team? Yeah. If I think they’re a villain.
I think that’s more about justice … than about winning or losing …or being competitive.
Who wants to see the bad guy win?
A few years ago, I played with a friend and two of his buddies that I’d never met. We paired-up and had a game. Over the course of the round, we’d had fun and gotten along really well. So, when the guy on the other team needed to make the putt on #18 to tie the match … we were all secretly rooting for him. You could feel it. He made it.
These were 4 competitive guys. But, everyone wanted to win by playing well … not by someone screwing-up … especially if you like each other.
As I said … I think we like the bad guy screwing-up because it’s more about justice than winning.
Rahm seems to be a good guy. Maybe it was justice that he won because of what happened a few weeks ago at the Memorial Tournament.
Sometimes justice is better than winning.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Golf Mystery/Detective Shows
Greetings Golfers,
My wife and I love watching mystery/detective shows. The BBC seems to have the best ones … though we did enjoy the Canadian show “Murdock Mysteries” … that I mentioned in a previous blog.
The golf swing could make a great mystery/detective show. Every episode could feature a famous golf instructor … or an unknown mad scientist. And, have actors portray great golf instructors of the past.
If so, my favorite episode would probably feature Ernest Jones.
Jones was born in 1887 in Manchester, England. He was a Head Golf Pro by age 25 and a very good player - winning the Kent Open and doing well in the British Open.
However, in 1915 he volunteered for duty in the First World War, and lost his right leg to a grenade.
Amazingly, four months after losing his leg, he played golf and shot 83.
Unbelievably, a week later he shot 70. On a regulation golf course … with hickory shafts.
You have to admit … this would make a great show. And … the mystery of how could a one-legged man play such good golf?
Well, Jones was a great detective - he believed that he solved the mystery of the golf swing. He was convinced that the secret was about using centrifugal force instead of leverage.
In his own words “There are, to be sure, more ways than one to strike a golf ball. You can strike it by swinging the clubhead or employing leverage. You can strike it harder with a swinging action than you can in any other way with the power at your command, and still retain reasonable control over your effort. The principal of centrifugal application of force guarantees this. But it is not likely that you will come to a realization of this of your own accord. To do so is not consistent with your past experiences. Your natural instinct is to try to turn the power on all at once.”
Are “detectives” such as Bryson DeChambeau discovering more powerful ways to strike the golf ball? Maybe. But little guys like Rory McIlroy and Louis Oostehuizen seem to hit it about as far as DeChambeau … while using a “golf swing”.
What I’m trying to “solve” is … what is the best method for the recreational player?
I see very few people “swinging” the golf club. I usually see a lot of body action and leverage - mostly upper body.
Instead of swinging the club back, I see a lot of lifting the club … then a powerful use of the shoulders to crash the club down at the ball.
Would better lower-body action help and/or save this over-use of the shoulders? Sort of.
But what is really needed is a “swinging” of the club on the backswing … and then an un-shouldered swinging of the club down and through the ball. A nice, rhythmic, swinging of the arms and letting the body respond naturally.
Please take a look at Ernest Jones writings and videos while you’re playing detective.
And, if you’re looking for a great mystery/detective series … I highly recommend “Inspector George Gently”. We think it’s the best of the bunch.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
The Joy of Sports
Greetings Golfers,
I’m not much of a cook. Pretty decent with a grill … but that’s about it. For me, cooking is just throwing things in a pan with a lot of butter.
The book “The Joy of Cooking” was published in 1931 and is still a best-seller. I like the title and get the concept … though it’s not my thing.
However, I would like to write “The Joy of Sports”. I love to play sports. Not necessarily to win - though I’m competitive - but mostly because I love it. It brings me joy.
One of life’s greatest pleasures is sharing what we love. I think that’s why people go into teaching and coaching. Sure, some people like the power and control … but I think most teachers and coaches go into it for the right reasons.
Thus, it made me sad when I read that the Duluth hockey coach is resigning because of pressure from the parents. He’s either getting forced out … or has just had enough … probably both.
When our boys were young, I coached soccer, baseball, and basketball. It was great. 20+ years later, we still laugh about it … and I see former players fairly often at the golf course and I’m still “Coach”.
Of course we played to win … but what I really wanted was that they would share my love of just playing … the shear joy of playing a sport.
I seldom watch professional sports anymore. I hate stuff like the Super Bowl Halftime Show. All of the tricks to get people to watch sports turn me away.
Sort of like the parents who tried to bribe the kids to play sports with “treats”. I didn’t allow that nonsense as a coach.
Bribing people to play golf with “chits” rubs me the same way.
I think it’s all related:
Super Bowl Half-time shows
Treats
Chits
Crazy parents
They don’t understand that sports are just a game. They do not define who you are. They are to be played for the pure joy of playing.
Years ago, one of my sons played on his high school baseball team. They were pretty good - rated in the top ten. But when they played against Joe Mauer - it was a joke. He was so much better than anyone on the field it was laughable.
99.9% of high school athletes are not going to make a living at playing a sport.
Stop the madness.
Last weekend Tim Herron almost won on the PGA Champions Tour.
He’s actually playing golf for a living. Look at how rare it is for a Minnesotan to become a Tour player.
There’s a big difference between professional sports and recreational sports. They are two totally different cats.
One is a profession …
The other is played for the fun of it … for the joy of it.
Please enjoy playing golf.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com