Greetings Golfers,

While watching the NFL Pregame on Fox last Sunday, I noticed that the guys were all wearing Stomp Out Bullying pins. Because I’m not up on the latest happenings, I looked it up on the internet. It seems that Fox Sports has teamed up with the Stomp Out Bullying organization.

Good for Fox Sports. Bullying is probably one of the ugliest of behaviors. Think about it – the strong picking on the weak – can it get much worse than that?

I’ve heard people try to dismiss bullying – they say that people are too sensitive. Wow. Maybe people are too sensitive – but that shouldn’t give anyone a license to be a bully. I think that bullies have to be stood up to. And if the people who are bullied aren’t up to the task, then someone should step up who can.

Operating on a pure power level is not civilized – I wouldn’t even call it human. Most people don’t like their jobs – not the work itself, but the workplace. Bosses who are tyrants, other people who are jerks… that’s why most people look for new jobs.

The best compliment I ever received was in 9th grade – a kid said that I was “the only cool guy who wasn’t mean”. Think about how messed up that is. Though I’m not a cool guy now (I’m just an old guy), I’m still really intent on not allowing a bullying atmosphere at DRGC.

If bullying was not socially acceptable, it would solve way more problems than anyone imagines. Of course I believe that people need to be strong and independent. But that’s not enough – people have to stand up to bullies.

It should be cool to stand up to bullies – not to be a bully – good for Fox Sports.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Have you seen the Bridgestone ad where the Pro Shop staff makes fun of the guy buying golf balls?

A “regular guy” comes in the shop and asks David Feherty for a sleeve of “those Pro balls”. Feherty then asks him if he has 118 mph swing speed like Fred Couples, or is a top Tour player like Matt Kuchar … while all of these guys look at him with disdain and smug smiles.

I get it. The guy should probably be playing a ball more suited to his game. Probably. Maybe. But, the “Pro” ball won’t really hurt his game, and he’s not playing for his living. Letting him have some fun by playing a Tour ball warrants making him feel foolish? Really?

I like Bridgestone. I like their balls, the company, and I really like their local sales rep. But, too often, golf projects this smug attitude that drives me crazy. There are other ways of making the point of choosing a golf ball that fits your game – mostly through educating.

But, using mockery to make your point? Promoting the smug attitudes of an arrogant Pro Shop staff to sell your product? That’s about as smart as the course in Wisconsin that decided to use the tragedy of 9/11 to promote their golf course by selling 9 hole rounds for $9.11. You didn’t hear about that? Look it up – just happened a few days ago. People threatened to burn the course down.

Back to the Bridgestone ad. The last scene is Lee Trevino knocking the guy out of the way while Trevino is vacuuming the Pro Shop. Charming.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

Greetings Golfers,

I haven’t seen any of the US Open – have you? I don’t mean golf – I mean tennis.

Slow down … I’m not knocking tennis – I love tennis … I just don’t play or watch it anymore. What happened? I’m not really sure, but I’m not the only one. Do you remember when tennis was really big in the 70’s and 80’s?

In fact, in the early 80’s my wife and I lived in a townhome development which featured outdoor tennis courts as the cool amenity. About 10 years ago I drove by and noticed that the tennis courts had been ripped out.

Why did I stop playing? Probably laziness. My doubles partners wouldn’t let me use a cart.

Why do I still play golf? Yeah – the cart is a major reason. I mostly play for social reasons, and riding in a cart with someone is fun and great for conversation. The cart is also helpful – it carries my bag, and is designed to carefully look after my food and drink.

Don’t laugh – I need that help. I still get tired playing golf – even riding a cart – and struggle to finish the last few holes.

Hey, my brother Dan used to be a tennis pro – he quit and just plays golf. And he usually takes a cart.

Really looking forward to playing golf this weekend. And really glad that we have cool, new carts.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Hope you’ll stop by our booth at the State Fair.

I’m kidding … Thank God! How’d you like to be working the cheese curds booth this week? I figure with the ovens and  the crowds, some of those food booths have to be over 1,000 degrees.

I remember warm days during Fair Week, but nothing like this. Minnesota is famous for unpredictable weather … but this is ridiculous. I’ll admit that we did have a run of beautiful weather from the middle of July to the middle of August – probably the best weather I ever remember. But, most of the year has been … not good/nasty/brutal … you choose the description.

So, that means we will have a spectacular fall. Fall golf can be the best of the year – great temps and no bugs. But … sometimes viewing football gets in the way. Hey, I love football – college and the NFL – probably more than is healthy/sane. (South Carolina, will win the National Championship – you heard it here first – place your bets).

But the first 6 weeks is sort of a joke. The Gophers schedule the weakest pre-Big Ten season teams they can get away with … and the NFL season really is only about the playoffs. Why Minnesotans will stay home on weekends to watch football is mind boggling. November, December, and January are great months to watch football. February and March are good for hockey, basketball, golf trips, etc.

What I’m saying is that it’s 5 months from Nov. 1 – April 1. This is Minnesota – don’t waste September and October. Is  this self-serving? Not really – this is wise advice from an old man. Please heed my words.

Happy Labor Day – see you until Halloween.

Cheers,

Tom Abts, PGA

Greetings Golfers,

About a month ago I referred to the show “Bar Rescue”. It’s usually pretty funny and always interesting. The host of the show – Jon Taffer – is supposedly a turn-around expert, and he does a good job of identifying the weaknesses and the solutions to troubled bars across the country.

Some of my family members have told me that I should do a golf-rescue show … their support is appreciated, but that’s not happening. First off, I’m not a tough guy like Jon Taffer. He rolls into these places and goes crazy on the staff and especially the owners. It’s good drama and lively tv, but not my style and probably not successful in the long run.

What’s really needed in these bars is a change of culture. Taffer does a great job of cleaning things up, training the staffs, and identifying their target markets … but it all can’t happen in a 1/2 hour television show. A culture takes time to develop – even a bad culture. But a good culture takes a lot of time and perseverance.

A good culture is based on respect. And a culture of respect has to be fought for, and those battles have to be won. If the leaders allow the customers to disrespect the staff, and if the staff is allowed to disrespect each other … a culture based on respect cannot thrive.

Usually the bar is rescued, but it later on goes back to its old ways and ends up drowning. Taffer is a talented fellow, and definitely entertaining … but these places need more than a quick fix – they need a new culture.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

I always thought that Walter Hagen said “ Stop and smell the roses.” Actually, he said “ You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”

What a great philosophy – I wish I lived it. Too often I’m just running around like a crazy person and worried about everything. It’s good to be productive and responsible – but worried and hurried isn’t a good way to live.

The other morning I was setting up the tees for Senior League, and the sun was rising while I was on the 15th tee-box. The view stopped me in my tracks. It was an unbelievably beautiful morning and the mist was coming up off the ponds – I didn’t smell any flowers, but I stopped and took in the scene. Sunrise is magical, but on that morning and from that tee-box it was a profound experience – I had to stop running around.

Hagen was quite a guy. One of golf’s all-time greatest players and probably the best match-play golfer ever. He also opened the doors for golf professionals. Before Hagen, most golf clubs wouldn’t let the pros into the clubhouse. Seriously. That’s why old golf clubs have a separate building for the golf shop. But Hagen wasn’t intimidated. He wore beautiful, expensive clothes and drove outrageous cars. He wasn’t a snob – he was just having fun.

Hagen had an athletic, unorthodox golf swing. He was also a baseball player, but won the US Open the week he was going to try out for the Philadelphia Phillies. What a break for golf. Modern instruction has criticized Hagen’s loose, big waggle golf swing. But the other day, television golf instructors were praising Jason Dufner’s old school golf swing, and especially “how he keeps in constant motion like all of the best ball strikers of the past.”

Maybe Hagen’s golf swing is coming back in style. I sure hope his attitude does.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

While we were in college, one of my friends stated that good conversation is the best thing in life. I’d never thought about it – I was young and more into being active.

But now, I think he may have been correct. We host a lot of golf events, and what people seem to enjoy the most is the conversation after the golf. People want to talk. Alcohol helps loosen the tongue, but also makes people more tolerant listeners. That combination can really get the conversations going.

Another guy I went to college with was known as “Long Story”. Not only was he long, but he was unbelievably boring. His stories went on for ever – they were just random uninteresting information about his day. For example, he’d start to tell you the facts about his morning – such as his breakfast, which would remind him of a breakfast he had years before with someone named Sue, then that would remind him of someone else named Sue … then … you were running for the door. His stories never had a point – they were just uninteresting information.

One weekend back then, I was sick in the bed with the flu. Long Story lived for opportunities like this – I was trapped. The flu wasn’t fatal – but the stories almost were – I’m lucky to be here today.

Goethe said that the test of civilization is conversation. A really good conversationalist is like Ricky Rubio with the basketball. Rubio controls the ball, but doesn’t dominate. He keeps the ball moving and passes it to the open player – he keeps everyone in the game. He might try a tricky behind-the-back pass… not to show off, but to get somebody the ball. Witty people can be good for a conversation – but not if they’re just showing off – if they’re keeping the conversation lively and interesting, that’s great – but not if it’s just a trick shot.

I’d rather play golf with good conversationalists than with good golfers.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

One of my favorite golf books is “On Learning Golf” by Percy Boomer. Boomer wrote his classic in 1946 and is famous for his concept of “turning your hips in a barrel”.

Boomer’s ideas of the golf swing are pretty sophisticated and I would even go so far as to call him an “intellectual”. I know that sounds ridiculous, but Boomer’s “Interlude” chapters are golf swing discussions with world class mathematicians, dancers, etc that push the boundaries.

Boomer wanted the student to understand the golf swing through mental images and feels. He was not of the learning successive positions during the golf swing, but rather learning proper “controls” that build a reliable swing.

Percy was a very good player, but acknowledged that he wasn’t physically and psychologically strong enough for tournament golf. But his brother Aubrey was, and Aubrey was one of the top players in the world for many years.

Boomer was very open about the difficulties of hitting golf shots under pressure, and he admitted that he rarely hit a solid shot off of the first tee at the club where he was the pro.

Unlike Boomer, I usually hit a pretty solid tee shot off of hole #1 at Deer Run. That’s because I save my choking for the end of the round. For many years now, I can’t finish the last hole with a decent score – gallery or not – it’s almost always ugly.

I think I’d trade with Boomer – I’d rather start bad and finish well. Starting well and finishing bad… not so fun.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Today I have the opposite of writer’s block – I want to write about two things… maybe it’ll work.

First is the British Open – pretty obvious subject. The other is the show “Bar Rescue”… not so obvious.

The Tour Players are talking about how much they love British Open golf – even Phil. Tiger said that normal PGA Tour golf is all about hitting the ball straight up in the air, and that he loves the ground game and shot-making that are necessary to win the Open. Mickelson said the same thing… that he used to hate links golf, but now he appreciates it, and loves hitting low, running shots.

Golf was originally a ground game… but mild weather, and manicured courses turned golf into an air game. The emphasis became about hitting it high, landing it soft, and putting like a freak. Shotmaking became mostly a waste of time – it wasn’t necessary.

But on rock hard fairways with seriously windy conditions – shot-making and strategy become essential. The pot bunkers and rough can be extreme penalties – and not always fair… the lucky bounce – good or bad – may determine the championship.

The lucky bounce won’t save a Bar/Restaurant (how about that segue?)… but the Show’s host – Jon Taffer can save it.

This is already getting too long. I’ll come back to “Bar Rescue” some other time.

So, the Open is the original Major and the world championship of golf. Look for some great shotmaking to “rescue” the champion.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

One of the joys in life are misunderstandings. Maybe not.

We’re always sending out signals, but they can easily be misconstrued and the fun can then begin. But we can’t be so overly sensitive that we have to resolve every perceived slight, yet we do need to clear the air if it becomes obvious that something is afoot.

This clearing of the air can be a very good thing. Usually it leads to a better understanding and a better relationship. I’ve learned that if it doesn’t lead to a better relationship, it’s because one side doesn’t really want a better relationship. They don’t want mutual resolution, understanding, and compromise – they want total victory and someone’s head on a pole.

Thus, all the more reason to try to clear the air. Too often, we just hope the situation will go away. It won’t – it will only get worse. So it’s worth the effort to try to fix it – either it gets better, or you find out that the other person doesn’t want it resolved.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I don’t want to waste my life on grudges and hard feelings. That’s definitely not one of the joys of life.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com