Greetings Golfer,

It’s not fun admitting when you’re wrong. I didn’t think that T. Woods would come back to the top after his “accident.” In fact, I publicly said so in a newspaper column.

So here it is: I was wrong about Mr. Woods. Why did I make such a brash statement in a newspaper? Well, I thought that Woods was a front-runner. I didn’t think that he had the fortitude to pull himself up from a hard fall. He’d been a star ever since he was a kid – on the Mike Douglas Show as a 2 year old – and won everything as a junior golfer.

He then won 3 US Amateur Championships in a row and took the PGA Tour by storm as a professional. But for all of his success, he seemed to only win tournaments that he was leading after the 3rd round. He was not known for coming back from behind.

But, he has come back from behind – with his golf game. He has won 6 of his last 20 tournaments, and 3 of 5 in 2013.

Will he top Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors? Who knows? But he will beat Sam Snead’s record of 82 wins.

Is Woods a likable guy? I don’t think so – but he has been good for golf – especially tv ratings. Is he arrogant and disingenuous?  That’s your call. But he has more guts and fortitude than I thought – have to give credit where credit is due.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Last year at this time (March 15) we were open.

That was crazy – happens about once every 20 years. Normal opening for us is around April 5 – which is what we’re shooting for this year. That’s only 3 weeks away.

So while we’re getting the Course, and the Shop, Clubhouse, Restaurant, Carts, Events, and Leagues ready to go … you need to get your golf house in order, too.

How are your clubs doing? Your golf shoes? Balls? Bag?
Golf swing? Flexibility? Attitude?

I’m pretty fired-up. Watched the Doral on the tube last weekend. How good was that Leaderboard? How about Tiger’s putting?

We’re selling rounds of golf at a discount – known as our Loyal Player Packages – it’s a good deal. As you know, we’re not discount central – we can’t be … not if we want to provide a good product. We have the ground-breaking mission of providing a good product for a fair price. That’s why we’re still in business and still have a nice place.

Enough talk of economics. The golf season is a blink away. Let’s get ready.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Did you know that Lord Tennyson was referring to his golf game? Well, maybe not his… but that’s how I feel about mine.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s still worth the heart-ache to keep playing golf. Some people get older, or hurt, or whatever… and decide that it’s not worth playing anymore because they can’t play as well as they used to.

I played a lot of golf this winter. Was it razor sharp? Hardly. Was it frustrating? Golf – frustrating? Naw… never. Of course at times it was frustrating – but most of the time it was a gas… and worth it.

Years ago we had a dog named Woody. I was ridiculously attached to Woody. When he died… I almost died – it was beyond heart-breaking. I told my wife that we could never have another dog – I couldn’t go through that again.

But, a few months later… she started sending me pictures of puppies. Well, you know what happened… we got Harvey. Just a few minutes ago, I looked at Harvey sleeping in his bed – he’s almost 9 years old. I know that I’ll probably out live him, and I don’t how I’ll deal with it… but, it’s still worth it.

Golf, dogs, love, getting old… it’s all worth it.

Lord Tennyson was a wise man.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You know how people always say that golf is like life? I agree, and we could make a million analogies. But the golf swing is also like life – here’s my latest analogy:

When I swing well, I loosen up my hold on the club… I don’t overreach on the backswing… I’m in control and relaxed at the top… I drop the club into position so that I can go after the ball… I accelerate the club through the ball into a long follow-through… and finish the swing in balance – poised and relaxed.

It’s the opposite with my bad swing. That’s when I squeeze the club… overreach on the backswing… am out of control at the top… panic and start the downswing too soon, which puts me in a poor position to hit the ball… so then I decelerate into a weak hit with a short, ugly follow-through… and obviously an off balanced, defeated finish.

You think that doesn’t sound like life? OMG. When I’m trusting life – I hold it gently… when I’m not – I’m too tough on everyone and the world, I micro-manage, I squeeze the joy out of living. Then instead of reaching back to do what I need to do… I overreach and take on too much – which leads to panicking, and then rushing, and then being too out of position to accelerate through my goal. Thus leading to not following through, and a defeated finish.

How about staying relaxed, trusting, not overreaching, being steady and relaxed at the top, dropping into the right position to accelerate through your goal, and then following through so you can end up with a beautiful finish?

You don’t think understanding your golf swing can help you understand your life?

Cheers,

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