Greetings Golfers,

The Holidays are over. I survived, but probably gained 100 lbs. (that’s why I don’t have a scale). Though I don’t know how much weight I gained, I do know that I need to get in shape.

I just read an article about Gary Player. He’s 75 years old and does a 1000 sit-ups every morning … and 1000 push-ups … and swims … and runs stairs … and meditates. Did the article inspire me? Not so much – depressed is probably more accurate. But it did make me aware that I have to start now to get ready for the golf season.

So, are you ready? Are your clubs ready? Regripped, etc. How about you? Don’t go crazy, but maybe a few sit-ups and push-ups would be good. And get those legs in shape – long walks can do wonders.

Hit a few a balls at some of the indoor ranges. And do a lot of chipping. Chip in the house – improve your feel of the club and making contact – that’s the best thing you can do for your golf game.

It doesn’t have to be all hard work. Take a break and watch the PGA Tour on TV. Have you seen the new Rory – Tiger ad? It’s pretty incredible.

Hope you’re inspired.
Cheers,

Tom Abts

Greetings Y’all,

I’m down in South Carolina doing research for the betterment of golf, and also for the golfers of Deer Run Golf Club. You can thank me later.

For example, a few days ago, I gave a lesson to a young SC golf pro. Just because he’s a better player than I am, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t ask for my help. Do you think that Tiger Woods’ teachers are better players than he is? And just because he’s a better player, that doesn’t mean that you and he don’t have the same problems.

Back to my lesson. This talented young man was lining up right of his target. With that set-up, either he can make a good swing and hit the ball right of his target, or he can come-over-the-top and pull the ball at his target. This is not conducive to consistent, good shots.

Here’s another example of my sacrifice for the betterment of the game and DRGC: Yesterday, I played golf with a good friend and noticed he was lining up right of his target. Because we weren’t playing for any money, I kindly pointed out the error of his ways (his alignment).

Lining up right of the target is very common. People think that they should line up their feet at their target. Not so. They should line up their feet left of their target. You need to line up enough left, so that you have enough room to swing out at your target. You heard me – swing OUT at your target.

You’re welcome. I’ll continue on my road of sacrifice.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Did you ever read Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy? I’m reading the sequel: The Kingdom of Shivas Irons.

Murphy was/is a maniac. A golf maniac and just a bottom line eccentric guy in search of meaning and spirituality. He’s probably now in his 80’s, grew up around San Francisco, majored in Philosophy at Stanford, and founded the Esalen Institute.

Remember the scene in Caddyshack when Chevy Chase wears the blindfold to hit shots and then has Danny try it while Chevy is advising him to “be the ball?” Well, they were making fun of Golf in the Kingdom. And how about Bill Murray in the same movie, talking about caddying for the Dalai Lama? Murphy was the guy who brought the spiritual side of golf to the mass market.

But in 1908 – way before Michael Murphy’s books – Arnold Haultain wrote The Mystery of Golf. Haultain says, “There is no other game in which these three fundamental factors – the physiological, the psychological, and the social or moral are so intimately combined or called into play”. Wow. That’s pretty out there.

Yeah, golf is out there. It is spiritual/mystical. And Murphy and Haultain were right – the mystery is an essential part of the game.

Golf is a fun game. We’ve always emphasized that at Deer Run. But it’s also a mystical experience. That’s why our new image captures the original Scottish/Celtic magic. Take a look at www.DeerRunGolf.com/2013.htm

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I’m really on a roll. Thirteen years ago, I survived Y2K… and last week I survived the 12-21-12 Mayan prophecy of doom… hope you did too. Now I just have to survive Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve.

Speaking of the New Year, we at DRGC have been diligently at work to bring you an even better DRGC in 2013. Already in the works are plans to provide a variety of tasty, local food and beverages. Look for cool breads, cheeses, meats, beers – even wine – from the area. As you know, this is the trend, and I think it’s great. Everybody’s worried about what they eat. It just makes sense to eat real food. Real butter is better for you than margarine, real bread is healthier than wonder bread … you know what I mean.

Speaking of better. We rebuilt the bunker on hole #16. It turned out better than what we hoped for – it’s really good. Also, we landscaped around the putting green. Probably the best way to describe it is the word “sexy”.

Speaking of sexy… we will have a new fleet of golf carts in 2013. Brand new, metallic red, EZGo carts with bucket seats and all of the toys – too good to be true.

Glad that the Mayans were wrong.

Happy New Year,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Can’t believe that it’s almost Christmas. They say that time goes faster as you get older – but this is ridiculous.

So, let’s slow down and enjoy the Holiday Season. Now is the time to be thankful, thoughtful, warm, and generous.

2012 was a wonderful year. Thank you for your love and support.

Merry Christmas,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I’m reading a fun book called: AMERICAN NATIONS by Colin Woodard. It’s about how America is way more divided than most people realize, and what the roots of those divisions are.

Throughout the book, Woodard is always referring to how areas settled, and that’s why those areas vote the way they do. He’s pretty obsessed with politics. At the end of the book he goes on a wild rant where he “explains” why we’d be better off if the country broke apart – he really hates some parts of the country.

It’s great history and great sociology… I don’t agree with all of it, but I learned a lot, and that stuff really interests me. People really interest me. Why people are different is fascinating. Obviously, climate and natural resources greatly influence how a culture develops. People of different countries moved to similar physical areas in America, and brought their culture with them. The “melting pot” never really melted.

But not only are people different, they’re also similar… of course, but it gets forgotten. We make friends with people we feel comfortable with, and usually that’s on socio-economic ground. That’s understandable – but can be pretty limiting.

Being in the people business, I meet a huge variety of people. I enjoy most of the people I meet – you can’t fake it in my business, you’d be dead after a week. But, there are people I don’t like because they’re jerks (I would use another term, but this is a family column. If fact, I wanted our club logo to be a picture of that term, and have a line drawn through it – “no a-holes”).

How do you define a jerk (or that other term)? It’s sort of like the judge who defined pornography by saying “I know it when I see it”. I think we all know them when we get to know them. Here’s the defining characteristic: we all sometimes act like jerks, but we usually realize it and feel bad about it. The jerk, realizes it, and doesn’t care, or even enjoys being a jerk!

So, America is made up of many peoples. Deer Run welcomes them all – except the jerks.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

A Minnesotan – Donald Constable – just qualified to play on the PGA Tour in 2013. The next morning, the guys on the Golf Channel were making the usual hilarious jokes about having to shovel off the driving range, etc.

Yes, we play golf up here. This is not the movie FARGO. Years ago, when I was a sales-rep, I went to a sales meeting in New York City. When I walked in wearing a suit, some people were shocked. One of the staff actually said that she thought I would look like and dress like a lumberjack.

She probably would have been amazed to learn we have golf courses. In fact, Minnesota has more golfers per capita than any other state. I think we might also have the most boaters per capita. When it gets warm – we get outside.

But, the tundra might be one of the main reasons we have so many good golfers – we have a lot of hockey players. If you’ve spent your winters with a hockey stick in your hands, the golf club feels pretty natural.

Another Tundra-native, Tim Herron played well at the end of the year to finish in the Tour’s top 125 – so he’s fully exempt for 2013.

With the struggles of Minnesota sports teams… it’ll be fun to root for some local boys on the PGA Tour next year.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Have you heard about the USGA banning the belly-putter? The ruling just happened a few days ago, and will go into effect in 2016.

Hopefully this will start a dialog that is long overdue: that different rules are needed for professional golf than for recreational amateur golf.

Major league baseball doesn’t allow metal bats, the bases are 90 feet apart, and the pitching rubber is 60 ft from home-plate. Amateur softball uses metal bats, has shorter distances between bases, and has a shorter distance from the pitching rubber to home-plate. Major League Baseball is for Pros – amateur softball is for fun.

The PGA Tour should have a standard ball and probably standard clubs – at least clubs that have very little variation – the Tour should be a test of skill, not about who has the best equipment. Amateur golf is for fun/recreation. If certain equipment makes it easier and more fun – all the better. Again, the Tour is for Pros – amateur golf is for fun.

Let the dialog begin.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Well, today is the big shopping day – Black Friday. But for me, this holiday is not about shopping, it’s about eating. So, it’s not “Shop until you drop” … it’s “Eat until you drop”.

I know that’s real classy, but what can I say? It’s Thanksgiving – I’m thankful I can eat.

Here’s a nice story. When I was in high school, I was a wrestler. My sophomore year, our first meet was the night before Thanksgiving. I’d cut a ton of weight, and all I cared about was eating again – the match was barely on my radar. Well, I gained 13 lbs over the Holiday weekend and completely disgusted my family… even my grandparents avoided me… you can tell I’m still emotionally scarred.

Hopefully, I won’t gain 13 lbs this weekend. But, I will catch up on my nourishment and football viewing – hope you do, too.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I just bought a book that George Washington wrote called RULES OF CIVILITY & DECENT BEHAVIOR. Why does George Washington fly under the radar? It seems like you only hear about him when you’re in grade school.

So I’ve been doing a little research about the great man. Do you know why he chopped down the cherry tree? Because it was right in front of the 2nd green at Powdered Wig Golf Club, and it kept knocking down his shots. So he took out his 7 iron (a mashie-niblick) and chopped her down. Now you know – as Paul Harvey used to say – the rest of the story.

Seriously, Washington did write a book about manners and etiquette. And if he did play golf, I’m sure he was pleasant to play with (despite his famously short temper). Golf etiquette is necessary to play with each other. If everyone is in each other’s way, the game is no fun and probably dangerous.

Same with basic manners and etiquette in daily life. Laws are not enough to live in harmony with each other. Manners and etiquette are the grease that keeps society smooth. If you live long enough, manners and etiquette should become obvious – common sense.

Washington deserves a major movie about his life. They’re coming out with a blockbuster about Lincoln – why not one about The Father of Our Country?

Cheers,

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