Two Great Guys
Greetings Golfers,
I hope you read the latest edition of MINNESOTA GOLFER magazine - the Travel edition. Not because of the travel info … but because of the opening and closing columns.
So, you open the magazine and read the “Editor’s Letter” by W.P. Ryan. The title of W.P.’s letter is “A Legend Retires from Golf Administration” … referring to “legend” Guy Green. Guy was one the founders of the MGA and an original with Joe Soucheray and Patrick Reusse on KSTP’s Monday Night Sports Talk. This show was before ESPN and it started the whole sports talk genre. These guys were hilarious.
Later on, Guy moved up to Brainerd … got into politics … and back into radio … and seems to like life Up North. He hasn’t mellowed-out or lost his amazing wit … he regales some of us with a blog called “Grampa Guy” … it’s profound and hilarious.
Then if you jump to the back of the magazine … you’ll find Mark Craig’s “Backspin” column … this one titled “Ode to ‘The Greatest’” … a tribute to Michael Turnbull … who I wrote about last month. Mark is a great writer who captures who Michael was and what he was all about.
That these two legends of Minnesota golf bookend an edition of MINNESOTA GOLFER is a perfect tribute to both guys … and a perfect tribute to Minnesota golf.
Though they were on opposite ends politically … they liked and respected each other … and knew that golf could handle and needed their unique talents and perspectives.
Golf has great respect for tradition … and yet is not afraid of progress. It can handle both.
Golf is dealing with the same struggles as are the culture and politics of America. But with a lot more grace and respect.
There is room for old-school golf. There is room for innovative equipment. There are classic course risk-reward designs and modern target-golf designs. Robotic swing instruction and “feel” based instruction. Country clubs … munis … 9-hole courses … resort courses.
Obviously I could go-on-and-on. But it’s still about hitting a ball with a stick.
But it can be so much more than that. It can handle what you bring to it. Guy is and Michael was … extremely intelligent. And passionate. And unique.
However, most of us aren’t … and we don’t have to be to love golf. But those guys brought something very special to golf that we can all appreciate.
And I appreciate MINNESOTA GOLFER magazine for reminding us how lucky we are to have been blessed with them here in Minnesota.
Please hit this link to really enjoy what I’m trying to say.
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/travel2022/index.php#/p/Intro
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Work, Golf and Ranches
Greetings Golfers,
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
Wise words from Carlos Castaneda. Yeah - that guy. Those of us from the 60s-70s era of mind-expansion and a search for meaning will recognize his name.
Even Castaneda - someone who would be considered on the opposite side of traditional America - knew that the secret to mental health is work. We need to work for what we want.
A new set of golf clubs will not make-up for a lack of work. They can help. But they don’t hit the ball for you … you control the golf club.
I believe Seve Ballesteros learned to play golf with a 3-iron … and on a beach. Chi-Chi Rodriguez has much crazier stories. Think those two had good short games? Think they could hit golf shots? Think they worked hard on their golf games?
We are not machines. We have logic and emotions and feel. Machines do not have hands. Good golfers have good hands. Sure, some people are blessed with good hands. However, we can all improve our feel of the golf club.
This winter is a great time to develop more feel. Practice hitting shots with one-hand. Full-shots and half-shots. Practice putting and chipping in your house with each hand.
Do you watch that show “Yellowstone”? Well, last season it was trying to make the point that the boys (including Jimmy) need to earn what they want. It’s not what they want to hear - but it’s what they need to do.
In fact, one of the boys learns “the secret to life” from Rip - the ranch foreman … “You don’t deserve anything”. A few minutes later, the patriarch of the ranch - John - tells the boy the same thing.
It was said out of love and respect. John had told it to Rip when he was an orphan … and Rip knew it was the secret to his success and sanity.
Well, none of us deserve a good golf game. But we can earn it. Just takes work.
They must have a golf course on the ranch - I’m looking forward to that episode!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Thankful for the Challenge
Greetings Golfers,
A belated “Happy Thanksgiving”!
I hope it was happy … and I hope you were thankful. Thankful and happy seem to go hand-in-hand.
Are we thankful only when things are going our way? Too often that’s the case. But, we especially need to be thankful when times are hard.
Here’s what I mean: Years ago when our sons were kids, they asked me why the world wasn’t perfect … Why was there sickness, pain, death, etc?
My answer was a golf analogy (of course). I said “What if when you played golf, every shot was a hole-in-one? Would it be any fun? The only reason golf is worth playing is that it's hard. The challenge is to rise above the difficulties.”
Obviously, the analogy applies to life.
But does it have to be so hard/brutal? … well, the consequences have to be real. Consequences? What about random unfair stuff? You mean like bad bounces or terrible lies in golf? Part of the game.
Now, I don’t mean that because life can be brutal and not fair that we have a license to be brutal and unfair. Just the opposite. That’s why being a good person who tries to be fair and do the right thing matters. Really matters.
The challenge is to rise above the difficulties.
We can do what really matters.
That’s what we should be thankful for.
Thankfully,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
The Many Forms of Golf
Greetings Golfers,
Golf can come in many forms. Remember, it started with Scottish shepherds hitting a rock with a stick while tending their flock.
And over time it evolved into the 18 hole game we know and love today.
However, we can hit balls at a range … or practice our short game on a chipping green … or play a 9 hole course or one of the new “short courses”.
Pinehurst started the trend with their “The Cradle” short course. It’s 13 par 3 holes … and all you need is a wedge and a putter. It’s casual - music blaring out from big speakers … and a bar in the middle of the holes.
Is it popular? It did 63,000 rounds last year.
People love to hit a rock with a stick. Sure, it’s fun to putt … but it’s especially fun to take a whack at it.
Top Golf has gone crazy. Golf simulators are packed in the winter-time up here.
The other day I read an article that the big threat to the future of golf is computer golf. Are you as sick of constant “threats” as I am? Golf is not going to die because of computer golf.
Nice restaurants didn’t die because of fast-food restaurants.
I think people want more variety - more options.
The threat or the danger is in trying to be everything-to-everybody. For example, if I go to a restaurant and they have everything on the menu - French, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Steak, Seafood, Ribs, etc … I know that everything is probably bad. They can’t do it all well - not happening.
Same with a golf course. Maybe a giant golf resort like Pinehurst can do a lot of different things … but even they have to be careful.
Not every course has to be 7400 yards and able to host the US Open.
Golf was too hung-up on that for too long. Does making a golf course really hard make it better? Does making food super spicy make it better? Isn’t good a good thing?
I’ve played golf courses where every hole is tricked-up? Is that fun? Maybe, if you think golf should be a crazy carnival-ride … or a house-of-mirrors.
But I think a golf course should be straight-forward and a common-sense challenge of risk-and-reward. Boring isn’t interesting … but it beats ridiculous.
However, I’m not the King-of-Golf. Fortunately there are a lot of golf courses out there … I’m not stuck having to play “Alice-In-Wonderland GC”.
Even though golf is an old game … people have been eating a lot longer than playing golf. So of course there are more food options than golf options.
But golf is catching-up. Those Scottish shepherds would be proud.
Whatever form it takes … it’s still all about the joy of hitting a rock with a stick.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Fergie for President
Greetings Golfers,
Well, you’re probably sick of politics … but I think you’ll like this photo of “Fergie for President”.
My brother Dan spotted it the other day on a lawn in Excelsior.
Before her run for office … Fergie had taken over the role of DRGC mascot.
I did not know she was a political animal. I’ve known her for many years as the pet of our Staff-member Ketti Histon.
Her talents mostly consist of demanding for treats.
She’s not subtle. And she doesn’t beg. She demands.
She thinks she’s in charge at all times.
Yet, she would not make a good President. Her arrogance is not an asset to leadership. Her lack of concern for others would lead to her being a demanding tyrant.
However … she is hilarious! Not intentionally … but definitely hilarious. So, her picture on a sign for President gives a much needed hilarity to politics in America.
And you may see more of her image in our DRGC marketing next year.
How can we not?
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Better Than Words
Greetings Golfers,
Sometimes … I just have nothing to say.
So, I’ll use that saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”.
This video of Louise Suggs golf swing is better than a thousand words.
https://twitter.com/LukeKerrDineen/status/1588149756790022145?s=20&t=airGeKZgcp8cYmwwTRxMTw
I can’t stop watching it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Vital Information
Greetings Golfers,
Three more days ’til Halloween. That’s a fact … and also a line from an annoying song in the movie “Halloween III”. Of course I thought the song was hilarious … though my wife and golf partners did not enjoy my singing of it.
That was 40 years ago … and also a beautiful October … we played golf right up until Halloween.
Though the rumor is of more nice weather next week … Sunday, October 30 is our last day of golf in 2022.
We had a great year. That’s fun to say. Weather-wise, April was brutal, and May was mediocre … but June through October was amazing.
Good weather is good for the golf business. (Profound!)
But good weather isn’t enough to make for a good golf experience … that depends on culture.
On Monday of this week, Joe Schmitt gave a talk at the MN PGA Fall Meeting. It was about culture … and it was great. Usually these types of talks at meetings are pretty generic and not very insightful. Well, this was profound.
I’m not going to go into it … but basically it was about culture first, money second. About the importance of making people feel good. Staff and golfers. And developing the skill of making people feel good about themselves.
Bravo Joe … bravo!
A golf course has a unique opportunity to build a culture. Build. It won’t happen on its own. And it’s not just jumping to satisfy the whims of people. It’s about building connection and respect and sharing a sense of humor. In a unique way. That’s a good culture.
Well … we have a lot of people at DRGC who have those skills. It’s pretty incredible. I try to stay out of their way. But … I want to thank them publicly. Last month I thanked Barry and his maintenance staff. Now I’d like to thank Kelly Olive and her food-service staff:
Alexa Allenson
Emma Bigham
Grace Blackwell
Kelli Cole
Courtney Eder
Ellie Eskuche
Lauren Eskuche
Emily Fornetti
Elizabeth Gerebi
Allison Grobel
Riley Histon
Maeve Kelly
Caroline Kohls
Allyson Kuzara
Jocelyn Lindquist
Izzy Lodge
Clare Melander
Jayne Pipkorn
Mara Sandberg
Sasha Snegirova
Elise Wilson
But that’s not all … Ketti Histon and Kathy Fee Jones and Thomas Aragon-Menzel were in charge of the Pro Shop, and the inside and outside staff. They all did a great job:
Dan Abts
Emma Braaten
Jacob Bryant
Kyle Bryant
Tyler Bryant
Avery Charon
Kam Hendrickson
Mike Melander
JT Rathbun
Ben Reiff
Zach Reiff
Danny Renner
Emily Renner
Ty Smith
Ethan Wolff
They all created a great culture. The proof is in this fact - we had no drama amongst staff … zero … seriously. We did great in the annual Tee Times Magazine Readers Choice Awards that can be viewed here … but the lack of drama was the real tale of the tape.
Ok … other vital information. We will continue our tradition of selling Holiday Passes from mid-November to mid-December. The exact dates and prices will be forth-coming.
However, we do have an exact date for our Annual Christmas Sale. That will be on Saturday, December 3.
Wow! Three days until Halloween … then Thanksgiving … then Christmas … then we’ll be teeing-it-up in March.
Hope to see you this weekend … and/or at the Christmas Sale. Don’t worry … I don’t sing that “Halloween III” song anymore.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Turn-Turn-Turn
Greetings Golfers,
Fall is here.
I didn’t like it as a kid. It meant going back to school. It meant that Summer fun was over.
Fall is a time of reflection. Falling leaves, shorter days and colder nights - these are all signs of a new change in the eternal circle of nature.
As a kid … I didn’t get it or want it. I wanted endless Summer.
Now I’m getting it. It’s time to slow down. And try to find balance. During the Autumn equinox, day and night are of equal length … a time of balance.
In the last few weeks … I lost a good friend … and welcomed Grand-baby #2 into the world.
As you know, we play music on our speakers leading into the Clubhouse. One of the mainstays is the Blood Sweat & Tears station. One of their best songs is “And When I Die”. It’s not a depressing song … it’s an uplifting song with horns … and the final line is “And when I die, there’ll be one child born in our world to carry on”.
It’s a time of letting go … not easy for me to do.
In “Kinds of Power” James Hillman, the elder statesman of depth psychology, challenges us to learn from others about this: “For what the actor tries to achieve on stage is to ‘get out of the way’ so that the character he is portraying can come fully out. So too the writer and the painter; they have to get out of the way of the flow of the work onto the paper and the canvas.” Same with a golfer.
Michael Turnbull was an excellent golfer. And a good friend. Joe Oberle just wrote a great tribute to Michael on the MGA website. https://www.mngolf.org/News/Michael_Turnbull_19552022. Please check it out. I really miss him. If you didn’t know him … you’ll feel like you knew him after reading Joe’s article. Michael was really a character.
Right after he died, my wife and I went to a concert of local musicians playing homage to the music from Laurel Canyon during the late 60s and early 70s. Michael and I were the same age and shared the music and craziness of those years. We were both on a “search”. I kept thinking about him during the concert.
Well, the musicians came back for an encore and played “Turn!Turn!Turn!” by the Byrds. Originally a Pete Seeger song, yet word-for-word from Ecclesiastes 3:1- 8.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Yes there is.
Son Mikey’s wife Amy just gave birth to daughter Fallon Isabella.
Life is not endless Summer.
Fall reminds us of the impermanence of everything. And brings home to our consciousness death and the challenge to live every day to our fullest.
Sue Jeffers in “Embracing Uncertainty” said:
“Spiritual masters in Tibet used to set teacups upside down before they went to bed each night as a reminder that all life was impermanent. And then, when they awoke each morning, they turned their teacups right side up again with the happy thought ‘I’m still here!’ This simple gesture was a wonderful reminder to celebrate every moment of the day.”
I get it. I’m going to celebrate living. And, reflect on Michael and the past.
Turn-turn-turn.
But I’m going to especially celebrate Fallon Isabella … and her 6 month old cousin Julia Jane.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A New Feel
Greetings Golfers,
The other day a guy was in our shop looking at putters. He was sure that he needed a new putter. So I asked him why … and he gave me a litany of reasons … I’m sure you’ve heard or thought most of them yourself.
I recommended that what he needed was a different putter … not necessarily a new putter. He needed a fresh feel.
Lee Trevino said that you putt better when your hands haven’t gotten too comfortable with a putter … that the newness increased your hands’ sensitivity.
Maybe.
Most of my best putting rounds were with a new or different putter. I probably was more aware.
I know that sounds counter-intuitive. You’d think that being more comfortable with a putter is what you want.
Arnold Palmer used to bring a bunch of putters to the practice green before a tournament … and try to find one that was “working”.
Of course this isn’t right for everyone. Ben Crenshaw used the same putter forever … and was as good as it gets on the green.
But perfectionism is not a good thing … and especially with putting. Nobody makes everything. Not in anything. Look at NBA free-throw stats … they’re about the same as college and even high school player stats. Seriously.
In fact, the guy who makes a tough shot with a hand in his face is also the same guy who misses a free-throw with no one guarding him.
A lot of people think that when they hit a bad shot, that it means they’ve lost their swing. They think that a good swing means the end of bad shots.
When I used to give lessons … sometimes I’d purposefully trip and make sure they saw it. Then, wipe my brow and say “Oh no, I can’t walk anymore. I better start fresh … lift my right foot, bend my knee, step forward while I shift my weight …”
We’d laugh (sometimes) … and I’d say that would make walking really difficult … and would make running impossible.
Good golfers hit bad shots. Normal people sometimes trip when walking. I worry about patterns. If I’m tripping every time I walk … I’ve got a problem. If I shank 5 shots in a row … I’ve got a problem.
Just because I love working and experimenting with my golf swing … doesn’t mean I’m trying to become a perfect-robot. I’m trying to learn more about what works … and different ways to hit golf shots.
The learning never ends.
And … trying new golf clubs is part of it. Sometimes a new feel is a good thing.
I love the search for knowledge. But I don’t love the search for perfection.
We’re humans - not robots. We have feel and they don’t. Keep working on your feel. Sometimes you just need a new feel.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Padraig Harrington Gets It
Greetings Golfers,
Modern golf instruction has tried to take the hands out of the golf swing. Since your hands are your link to the golf club … I think this concept is misguided. I believe you need highly-trained hands to play good golf.
Last week, Padraig Harrington played with some amateur golfers at the Dunhill Links Championship.
Here’s one of Paddy’s tweets afterward:
“A point from watching the ams. The only thing that squares the club face is your hands, not your hips, not your turn.Yes your turn can change where your hands are but you are probably better focusing on your hands and let your turn react to them.”
Bravo!
Most amateurs don’t know how to control the ball … because they don’t know how to control the club with their hands.
When you play ping-pong do you worry about your hip-turn? Does your body control the ping-pong paddle?
The golf club is just a longer ping-pong paddle.
You wind-up your body so you can hit the ball farther … but your body doesn’t hit the ball … your hands do.
Do you putt with your hips? Some people are into “shoulder putting”. They say that your hands are not reliable … especially when you get nervous. Hmmm.
When I was a young sales-rep, I went out to dinner with my sales-manager. I was nervous. But my hands worked fine … I didn’t shove my fork into my eye.
Using the hands is not the problem. Untrained hands are the problem.
And the hands are not just for control … proper use of the hands and wrists and arms supply most of the power in the golf swing.
Here’s another tweet from Paddy:
“Most ams believe turning faster/more open adds power. In a perfect world yes, but generally this isn’t the case for the ams as their arms just don’t keep up. Most of the speed in the swing comes from the arms and hands. Focus on moving these fast and let the body respond to them.”
You even see this in baseball. When high-school players hit the ball into the outfield, it usually slices. When MLB players hit the ball into the outfield, it usually hooks. Not because of body action … MLB players have great bat speed from their hands and arms.
Tour players have that same type of club speed … so to minimize hooking and retain power … they try to slow down their hands and use more body.
That’s suicide for most amateur players.
Here’s another great tweet from Paddy:
“To learn the feel of a square club face … work alternate shots with your hands/clubface extremely shut and then extremely open at impact. It’s hard to feel a small change, that’s why you practice the extreme alternatives that would be too much to use on the course.”
Padraig Harrington makes sense … maybe he should run for office.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Beavis and Butthead
Greetings Golfers,
Here’s a great quote by Percy Boomer from his book “On Learning Golf”:
“Our subject is power, and power like fire, is a good servant but a bad master. Uncontrolled power is the very devil - in golf or anywhere else.”
Power in golf can be a huge advantage. Making the golf course shorter makes it much easier. Much easier.
I can’t hit it reasonably far anymore. Yet, people say to me that it shouldn’t matter because I can hit it straight. Well, hitting driver off-the-deck on a par 4 is quite a bit harder than hitting a 7 iron.
Especially on holes with water in front of the green. Or elevated greens. I’ve gotten decent at hitting cut 5 woods into greens … but I’d rather be hitting a 7 iron … or a wedge!
I know, I know … that’s why courses have different sets of tees. But even if the shorter tees put me into the “proper” landing zone … that second shot is still long because my 7 iron goes as far as my former wedge … or my hybrid where I used to hit 7 iron.
So … this got me thinking about golf course design. Old school courses were designed with the idea that golf is basically played on the ground … and modern courses with the idea that it’s played in the air.
Very different mind-sets.
Last week I played in an event at an old-school 9-hole course. No par 5s. Short, narrow par 4s. Long hard par 3s. This course is difficult … especially for young power-players. Their small, tricky greens that slope off the sides penalize reckless and inaccurate shots.
Hmmmmm … sounds like a game that rewards strategy, patience and shot-making.
How about another game that rewards strategy, patience and shot-making … tennis … on clay courts.
I think tennis should only have one-serve. Or do you like tournaments where almost every serve is an ace … and every return is a winner.
How about baseball? 100mph pitchers … every at-bat is a strike-out or a walk or a home-run.
Do you remember the cartoon show “Beavis and Butt-head”? They just watched television and liked MTV if the music videos were loud and had fire.
Beavis and Butt-head were just young knuckleheads … their idiocy was supposed to be funny.
The love of power fits right into that mind-set - they want it NOW! No strategy … no patience … no admiration of learned skills … just love of immediate gratification.
What if that type of person was a general in a war … wouldn’t they just use nuclear bombs at the start of a conflict?
They have no regard for future consequences.
Shouldn’t our games reward more than just raw power? Do we want to develop a society of Beavis and Butt-heads?
Power isn’t a bad thing. Money isn’t a bad thing. But the worship of power and/or money is a bad thing.
A culture should be more than the “law of the jungle”. Obviously it has to be based in reality. But it should reward more than raw power … not based on “might makes right”.
Our games represent our values … our culture.
I prefer golf courses that reward strategy, patience, and shot-making. Power should also be rewarded. But not uncontrolled power. Unless we want to live in an idiotic society.
That reminds me … the guy who wrote “Beavis and Butt-head” also wrote the movie “Idiocracy”.
Golf should be the antidote to Idiocracy. Percy Boomer knew what he was talking about.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A Reimagined Approach
Greetings Golfers,
So the other day, I got an email from the MN PGA with the subject line: PGA COACH - “A Reimagined Approach for the Game’s Best Coaches”.
Hmmmmm … what does that mean? So I took a look … and it’s an interview with Mike Barge. Probably most of you know that Mike is the long time golf instructor at Hazeltiine Nat GC … and I always want to know Mike’s thoughts about the golf swing - he gets it.
You’ll see what I mean … here’s Mike’s answer to their question:
What has PGA COACH done for you?
Mike: “Well, I think the biggest thing is that it has helped me reinforce a couple things that I’ve always felt about juniors regarding the dangers of burnout starting at an early age and not playing a bunch of different sports. Obviously, the rest and recovery period is so important. We have a member here ( Hazeltine ) who is an orthopedic surgeon and he’s said he’s done Tommy John surgery on a 15 year old kid. It comes from the overuse and training as if they were a professional athlete.”
Mike continues: “It has reinforced all of that stuff they’ve found in surveys and studies that it’s a very dangerous thing and if they start too early and they’re not playing other sports, it can be troublesome for them. And the other thing too is that with our junior program here, we’ve started with kids 8, 9, 10 years old and the importance of them having played different sports and that hand-eye coordination. I was tossing balls to them maybe 10-15 feet away and half of them couldn’t catch the golf ball. It’s all about the importance of them running, catching, throwing, jumping, skipping - those type of skills at an early age are by far the most important things to learn and keep their interest up and then as they get a little bit older you can start to develop some better skills with them.”
Wow! How good was that? Don’t worry … I asked Mike if I could use it … he blessed it … and wants to know the reaction.
When I was a kid … we played neighborhood sports every day - mostly football, baseball, and hockey.
For the love of it.
Not only did we develop a variety of athletic skills … we developed organizational skills. Parents weren’t involved. We shoveled ponds … built hockey goals … turned backyards into football and baseball fields … picked teams … made-up our own rules … and dealt with disputes on our own.
And loved it. We came back everyday. We had fights and “grudge matches”. But they got settled … and we came back the next day.
I have no problem with specialists. In anything. But, people need to be well-rounded.
Colleges used to want well-rounded students. Then, they decided that they should have a “well-rounded” college made up of specialists rather than well-rounded students.
Sounds good. But … is it really? Is it good for the specialist? If your college is made-up of unbalanced people … is that a good thing?
Our society is overwhelmed with Xanax and other drugs to deal with life.
Do you think there’s a correlation between this intense focus on specialization instead of balance … and a society made up of people stressed-out.
Shouldn’t sports be games to help with stress? A chance to relax and play a game … for the joy of it?
When I see people at DRGC … I tell them to enjoy it.
Joy - enjoy.
I think what is best for society is a population of well-balanced people.
The powers-that-be might want a bunch of crazy specialists … they know that they can always find a new one … when the old one crashes and burns.
Good for Mike Barge. People have to say what needs to be said. Especially highly respected people such as Mike.
PGA COACH - “A Reimagined Approach for the Game’s Best Coaches” - sounds like they get it. Let’s hope it spreads beyond golf.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
A Debt of Gratitude
Greetings Golfers,
A few days ago - September 13 - was “Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day”.
Some of the golf magazines had articles about why and how to thank a GC Super.
That’s a good thing. Too often they get taken for granted … or are subjected to petty abuse and nit-picking.
As most Minnesota golfers know … we at DRGC have one of the best.
Every year, he pulls it off. And this year is the best ever. The golf course is ridiculously good. I hear about it every day. I wish he would hear it too … he deserves the compliments.
Who am I talking about? … I just presumed you knew … his name is Barry Provo … and he’s been here for over 20 years. And … he better stay for another 20 … in fact, he can NEVER leave.
Supers have to be artists and scientists. They have to manage a staff and a budget. They have to be a leader and a hands-on worker. They have to have an innate sense of the land … and yet keep up with the constant changes in the industry.
They have to be “all-in”.
Well … Barry is beyond “all-in”. It’s unbelievable what he does and what he accomplishes.
But he doesn’t do it alone. He has a great staff that should be acknowledged. Here they are:
Paul Bickel
Sam Brammer
Dean Clark
Gordy Davis
Ryan DeBenedetto
Ethan Erickson
Calvin Green
Sonny Jerkins
Lee Metzger
Zach Reiff
Grant Paulson
Ryan Scrivner
Chase Snedeker
Mike Stannard
Brian Tjenstrom
When you see Barry and/or his staff … please thank them for providing such a beautiful and playable golf course.
They certainly deserve our thanks. You may have missed thanking them on the official day … but that’s ok … if you thank them every time you see them in September … it will almost balance-the-scales.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Strategy and Planning
Greetings Golfers,
We all know people who are good at getting what they want.
I don’t mean that they’re selfish narcissists … I just mean that they’re good at navigating and reaching goals.
They’re usually good at planning … but what they’re really good at is strategy. Planning can be too rigid and not adapt to changing conditions.
A good strategist is usually aware of changing conditions and can adapt in ways that work.
Here’s an example using golf:
The night before a round of golf … you’re excited and can’t sleep … so you’re plotting your way around the course … you’ve got a plan for every hole.
But the next morning while playing … you don’t have any rhythm … and don’t trust your swing. So … you play more conservative … lay-up when you normally wouldn’t … and just use clubs that you have some confidence in.
Then … surprise-surprise … you shoot a good score … though it wasn’t exactly sexy.
Or … it can be the opposite: You know immediately that today you “have it” … so you play aggressively … not stupid … but going-for-it.
Some of you might remember Jim Colbert. He played on the Tour … yet had his success on the Senior Tour. He once talked about how golf was like gambling. If he won in blackjack, he doubled his normal bet because he was playing on “house-money”. If he lost, he went back to his normal bet. He said that he took that system to the golf course. If he made a birdie, on the next hole he tried to make another birdie because he was playing on “house-money”.
That strategy worked for Colbert. His game was not “sexy” … but he could really play golf … he understood it was a game … not a driving range contest with judges holding up scores for prettiest swing or longest drive.
I used to tell some of our young hot-shot Pros that they had to develop a game that was like an old Volvo. I said that their game was more like a Ferrari … it needed constant maintenance … and if they wanted to be a Head Pro they wouldn’t have that extra time … and they still needed to shoot a pretty score.
These young Pros weren’t Tour players. Tour players need to be Ferraris. Tour players basically have to keep their foot on the gas and pass everyone.
The rest of us need to focus on getting around the track without having an accident.
We all know stories about coaches and/or generals who clung to their game plan even though it was obvious that the plan was a failure.
Not only do golfers need to plan and strategize to be good players … but golf course operators have to plan and strategize to keep golf going.
I don’t mean just their course going … but to keep golf going. If a golf course folds or is deemed unnecessary … and becomes a real estate development, etc … it’s gone.
If a bowling operation or a tennis club goes away … you can open another one nearby. You just need another building. But if a golf course goes away … that land is gone. Probably forever.
I started this blog by saying “We all know people who are good at getting what they want …”. Well … if they like to play golf … if they like living on a golf course or having a golf course in their community … they better not take it for granted.
To be a good golfer … you need to be a good planner and strategist.
The game of golf needs good planners and strategists to survive. It can’t be taken for granted.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
You Need Left and Right
Greetings Golfers,
A good golf swing has power and control. One without the other is pretty limited.
I’m a hands player. Pretty old-school … a lot of movement, active feet, and then hitting with my hands.
I’m definitely not a modern swing guy who’s action is built around a strong “core” and quiet hands.
Maybe you’re young and strong and really flexible and do 200 sit-ups every night. If so … you’re a good candidate for the modern swing. And even if you are that person … you still need good hands for chipping and putting.
So let’s talk about hand action. Tommy Armour said that most golf swings were ruined by a lack of sufficient right-hand power. Like most things he said … he was spot-on. However, what does that mean?
Probably the reason that people don’t have enough right-hand power is they’ve been told that a good swing is controlled by the left-hand. And I agree … the left-hand should control the golf swing.
A right-handed controlled swing seldom leads to a good backswing. The right-hand usually just lifts the club up-in-the-air without any shoulder-turn. Try it and see. Whereas a left-handed backswing will turn the left shoulder behind the ball.
And … a left-handed controlled downswing will usually drop the club down behind the body … rather than throw the club out at the ball the way that a right-handed controlled downswing usually does.
So … when does the right-hand hit the ball? It supplies the hit when the hands have gotten the club into the hitting position.
That can be confusing and hard to understand.
Let’s try it with a putt. Swing the putter back and forth with your left-hand in control. The right-hand is just going along for the ride.
Now … do it again with the left-hand in control … but just as you’re coming into the ball … hit it with your right hand. Your left-hand is still guiding the putter … but your right hand is supplying the hit.
Once you get it … try it with a chip shot.
Then just work-your-way-up until you can do a full-swing.
It might work so well that you won’t need to keep doing 200 sit-ups a night. You might switch to push-ups to keep both arms strong. (If the push-ups help … let me know … I might have to try it.)
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Stars or Stars?
Greetings Golfers,
So the PGA Tour is making some changes to hold onto its star players.
I get it. They can’t lose their stars.
But, are they making it a better product?
Obviously, I love golf. But I also love other sports. And, I’ve basically stopped watching professional sports. Why? Because I don’t like all of the surrounding “stuff”.
Am I some kind of crazy purist? I don’t think so … sports should be fun … they’re just games … not life-or-death. Yet, I love the skills and the strategy. And the human drama.
However, they shouldn’t be a carnival.
I guess what really bugs me is that they feel too money driven. They don’t feel like a labor of love.
When I was a kid … they had “Bat Day” at the old Met Stadium in Bloomington. Every kid got a baseball bat. It was a mad-house. When Harmon Killebrew came up to bat … every kid pounded the floor with his bat … it was fantastic! It was genuine, not contrived … just a bunch of kids showing their love and respect for one of their heroes.
That’s an example of having fun at a professional sport without it feeling cheesy and manipulated. It doesn’t have to be pure … it just doesn’t have to be an embarrassment.
People think that because I don’t like the LIV Tour that I love the PGA Tour. Wrong.
I love golf. I want to watch the best players in the world … whether on television or in person. But I want to watch them play the game. Why do the tv directors cut to guys making meaningless putts? That’s about as interesting as that NFL Redzone show … just showing random teams scoring in the redzone. Really that’s interesting? Only if you’re playing Fantasy Football and caring about your guys’ stats.
Talk about caring … do you care about the FedEx Cup? I bet you can rattle off all the past winners … sort of like past winners of the Masters. We have a whole room devoted to former FedEx Cup winners. Not really … actually it’s in a mental institution.
The PGA Tour hypes-up how much money the winner will get. I can see why it’s a big deal for the players … but I don’t care how much money they’ll win. How is that interesting?
Maybe it’s for the best. I’ve spent too many beautiful days - especially in the Fall - inside the house watching sports on television. I should have been on the golf course.
Well, I guess the bottom-line is that sports are made to be played. Most of us waste too much time in front of the tube.
I just hope the PGA Tour doesn’t think “stars” means celebrities instead of great players. I wouldn’t want to see the Kardashians playing in Tour events.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
We All Share the Golf Course
Greetings Golfers,
Last week’s blog about the guy wanting to make two 3-somes in a row … but not allow anyone to join him … got quite a reaction.
No one defended his swearing at our staff … but some people criticized us for asking him to book a 4-some and a 2-some instead of two 3-somes.
One guy insisted that we’re probably not full … so why not let him do it?
Well, we are full most days (fortunately) … and his hogging of the tee-times doesn’t allow room for other people to play here.
Doesn’t seem fair to people who can’t get a tee-time … and not fair to us for having to waste tee-times.
Here’s an analogy … compare it to flying on an airline. Most of us would prefer not to have people sit next to us. But we can’t reserve the whole row … and then only show-up with less than the full row … we would have to pay for the unused seat(s).
I get the desire. Some couples reserve a 4-some because they don’t like to play with other people.
But is that fair?
We try to be fair. We’re one of the only courses that did not raise rates the past few years.
We do not want to take advantage of people. And we don’t want to be taken advantage of.
This is also like pace-of-play. We believe a 4-hour round is fair. Sort of like going 60mph on the freeway. However, we aren’t a freeway … we’re a one-lane road. No one has a right to go 40mph and slow everyone down … but no one has a right to go 80mph and run people over.
If someone really wants to play alone and at any pace … they could rent the whole course for the day. It would be really expensive … but they wouldn’t have to deal with other golfers.
The reality is that we’re trying to provide a good golf experience for everyone. Thus, there have to be guidelines … otherwise it’s chaos and no fun for anyone.
I get hit-up all day for exceptions … and on the surface, many sound ok … if it only happens once. But if it was normal … it would create a mess. So … how is it ok for them and not for anyone else?
The point of this is to explain why we do these things. There actually is a reason … we’re not just winging it … or trying to be jerks. The goal is to keep things simple and fair and good. It’s easy to say yes … it’s much harder to say no. But, if you really care … you have to know how to say no.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
The Many Uses of Hybrids
Greetings Golfers,
I’ve got lots to talk about this morning … but not much is well-thought-out … please bear with me.
The other day a guy called the desk wanting to make a reservation for two 3-somes in a row. Our wise woman at the desk kindly replied that she could make a 4-some followed by a 2-some. The caller replied (not so kindly) that she should F-off.
Charming.
Most of us are in the hospitality business because we genuinely like people. I drive my family crazy because I get into conversations everywhere I go. But hospitality doesn’t mean a master-slave relationship. Basic respect and civility are needed to make hospitality work.
Demanding people are not fun to be around. What’s that all about? I’m still amazed after all these years.
But what’s maybe worse than the brash, demanding type … is the pompous, smug character. And they’re usually also demanding … yet in a subtle, but even more insulting way.
I just read about such a guy … he’s invented a new golf product … with a typically cutesy, annoying name … a product you will not see at DRGC.
A new golf product that is valuable … is a full set of hybrids. I just read an article about a hybrid set from driver to sand wedge.
The other day, I hit a goofy looking 8 iron … almost a hybrid … and it was easy to hit. Don’t laugh … I never understood these game improvement clubs … I’m still playing blade irons. I think I should have said “was playing blade irons”. My swing has evolved (or devolved) into more of a sweep … I can’t hit a crisp, compressed iron anymore.
I may become the guy with the full set of hybrids. Don’t laugh … it might be good for you, too.
Here’s the leap … we all need to be more understanding that the world isn’t designed for all of our wants. You can’t hog a full tee-time for only 3 players … especially two in a row. You can’t hit blade irons when you get old. That’s reality.
But … what matters is how you deal with it. Somebody invented hybrids as a way to deal with it - bravo!Somebody cursed at our desk staff - boo! Some smug joker invented a silly golf product to boost his ego - ugh.
And … this is where we’ve become confused. In our quest to be more understanding … we sometimes tolerate bad behavior … even terrible behavior. In fact, even appease such behavior.
Dealing with the reality that the world wasn’t invented for our whims … and that we should deal with it in a mature, responsible manner … should not be confused with appeasing bad behavior. That’s also being immature. Weak and immature. Good things need to be defended. Good people need to be defended. Jerks can’t tell my staff to F-off.
So … maybe those hybrids have many uses. Hopefully they can help my golf game. And, maybe they can be used on jerk-man if he comes in our shop and starts telling people to F-off.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Snappy Gilmore
Greetings Golfers,
Coincidences are a part of living. Some people think they’re just random, meaningless occurrences. While others see them as meaningful.
In fact, Carl Jung saw coincidences as meaningful … especially when they’re continual. He said “ When coincidences pile up in this way, one cannot help being impressed by them - for the greater the number of terms in such a series, or the more unusual its character, the more improbable it becomes.”
Well, the other night while hosting a golf event … I was showing some guys my theory of the golf swing as a throwing motion. I demonstrated the movement of a shortstop throwing a ball sidearm to first base. That I believe is the heart of the golf swing.
So … to my amazement … these guys brought over their buddy - “Snappy Gilmore”. Wow! My son had sent me videos of “Snappy” and his unusual golf swing. Check him out online … it’s pretty amazing.
“Snappy” has perfected the one-armed golf swing. He takes the club back with his right-hand … and lifts it up over his head while shutting the face … and flipping the clubbed back at the target … then dropping it down and rerouting it all in one motion as he snaps the club through the ball … hitting it hard and far … and usually straight. He can also fade it … and draw it.
Do you think we had any fun talking about the right-handed, whipping, throwing motion?
Jung gave a name to this type of coincidence - synchronicity.
We all need this type of whipping action in our golf swing.
Legendary golf instructor Tommy Armour said that the greatest fault of amateur golfers was not using their right hand - it’s why he thought that their swings were weak.
I would agree … but it’s because they don’t know how to use their right hand.
The problem is that they use their right shoulder.
There is no “whip” to their golf swing.
Hitting the ball with your right shoulder might feel “strong” … but there’s no speed … no whip.
Think of throwing a ball with your right shoulder. Try it. Not very good is it. Now … try throwing side-arm, with a loose arm and wrist … make it snap.
This motion will greatly improve your golf swing. You probably won’t rival “Snappy Gilmore” … but you don’t need to.
Maybe reading this blog is the coincidence … I mean synchronicity … that you’ve been looking for.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Respond-ability
Greetings Golfers,
Last week I got heat for not writing about the Open at St. Andrews.
I didn’t think that I had much to add. The only thing that I would say, is that I wish it had been windy. They beat up the course pretty bad … they are the best players in the world … and a defenseless St. Andrews is vulnerable to those guys.
Unfortunately, modern golf has put the emphasis on long driving and putting. I’m more into shotmaking and strategy. A windy St. Andrews is much more about rewarding shot-making and strategy.
That’s it … so let’s move on. The other day, The “Daily Stoic” had a great piece about the difference between trying to control everything in your life … and … taking charge of your life.
As the article said “Taking charge of our lives means owning our lives and having a respond-ability to our lives.”
This actually correlates to a windy St. Andrews. The player needs to have more “respond-ability” than playing in easy conditions.
We’re way too into creating “perfect” environments … instead of helping people get strong and able to deal with not perfect environments.
A similar mindset has too much emphasis on the perfect swing … instead of learning how to hit golf shots.
And … not just too much emphasis on the perfect swing … but also on the “perfect” golf course. If every fairway and green aren’t perfect … I guess it’s not playable and the people responsible should go to jail.
Excuse the sarcasm …I’m not defending poorly maintained courses … or people who provide bad products. But I am attacking the idea that people are not responsible for their behavior unless the environment is flawless.
My wife and I just went to see “Top Gun”. I was skeptical … on the way over, I said that I hoped it was at least a C-. Well, I loved it. Much of the plot was about that an older “washed-up” pilot was better than the new hot-shots because he had “respond-ability” … he wasn’t just a robot.
And, when their mission went off the rails … it was the “respond-ability” of the characters that saved-the-day.
How much “respond-ability” does your golf game have? Are you always working on the perfect swing … or working on hitting golf shots? Punch-shots … cut-shots … high-draws, etc.
The world isn’t perfect … and golf courses will have windy days. We all need to work on our “respond-ability”.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com