Greetings Golfers,

Do you remember that scene in “Scent of a Woman” when Al Pacino says “How’s that for cornball?” Well … I’m a cornball. I get moved pretty easily and I love inspirational stories … cornball.

Last Saturday was as inspirational as it gets. I was invited to give golf lessons to Disabled American Veterans at the Marine Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. It was a beautiful day and packed with DAV guys and their families and volunteers.

I’d been complaining all week about my sore neck and screwed-up elbow. Sometimes we need a wake-up call. I saw a half-paralyzed guy hit drives with one arm like a machine – he never missed – and the paralyzed side was his GOOD side … he had to learn to swing with his weak side! Another guy swung from a special golf cart … and killed it with a half-swing just using his arms! I could go on and on … it was amazing!

We’re they complaining? None of ’em. They’d learned not to take anything for granted … they were fun, friendly, grateful, and into it.

If that can’t make you a cornball … nothing can.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Information. We all want information … to be “informed”. How can we make good decisions if we don’t know what’s going on?

I just finished reading “Propaganda” a book written in 1928 by Edward Bernays – the nephew of Sigmund Freud. Bernays praises propaganda … in fact, he uses propaganda to defend propaganda!

Here’s what he says about the use of propaganda “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in a democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”

Sounds pretty sinister to me – but not to Bernays … he thinks it’s great! His theories and ideas have been used by business, government, and education ever since. He was known as the “father of public relations”.

Isn’t there a big difference between education and propaganda?

Isn’t that why our First Amendment includes freedom of speech and freedom of the press?

As Lincoln said “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. But, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”.

Why am I so ramped up about all of this? Well, I’m on some golf sites that argue about golf instruction. Some guys believe that there should be only one method of golf instruction. Wow. I believe in certain golf swing fundamentals – but there are many ways to get there … and many ways to teach.

Same with running a golf course. Was at a meeting yesterday with some smart people about helping golf owners to survive and thrive. Hospitality emerged as the biggest need … and probably most abused. The corporate operators who own many courses emphasized training. I – representing single courses – emphasized hiring. That makes sense … the big guys want a blank slate … little operations like Deer Run don’t want robots – we want natural “people persons”.

But, no matter how it’s spun, golfers need to learn certain swing fundamentals … and golf operations need to make sure that they have great hospitality. Propaganda can’t change either one of those.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Ten years ago on Super Bowl Sunday, it was -20 degrees in Minnesota. Today, 5 days after Super Bowl Sunday, it might hit 50 degrees in Minnesota.

You better be thinking March golf in Minnesota.

Speaking of the Super Bowl … how crazy was that! And how unbelievable have the recent major championships been in the world of sports?

About a month ago, the NCAA Football Championship game was as amazing as this year’s Super Bowl. Clemson winning with one second to go in the game … really?

And just a few months ago, the Chicago Cubs won maybe the most exciting World Series of all time. I say maybe, because the Twins-Braves Series in 1991 was as good as it gets … and, I actually remember the 1960 World Series when Pittsburg beat the Yankees on a walk-off home run in game 7.

The next big sports thrill is March Madness … last year’s championship game was mind-boggling also … remember Villanova winning on a last second shot?

Don’t forget about golf … how good was the Ryder Cup?

The next big golf event is the Masters. I love all of the Majors … but the Masters is my favorite. Can it live up to all of the other incredible sports championships of the past year? Wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

So Tiger Woods withdrew after the first round in Dubai. Supposedly he had back spasms that wouldn’t relax. He also shot 77 – that probably added to his lack of interest in playing the second round.

As you’ve heard me say before … I’m no lover of this modern golf swing with all of the emphasis on body positions and resistance. No has ever swung the club better than Sam Snead, and he played very well into old age. Everyone talks about Tiger catching Jack’s record of winning Majors … but catching Snead’s record of winning tournaments is even more unrealistic.

Jason Day – the current number one player in the world – is also dealing with back problems … and he’s a kid!

Many years ago Tommy Armour was the best golf instructor in the world – he emphasized good foot work and good hand action. Good footwork is what allows the body to wind-up (pain free) and gets the body back in position on the downswing to hit the ball with the hands. The human body hasn’t changed since Tommy Armour gave golf lessons.

Last week when when I was in Orlando, I was talking to an old friend who has moved to North Carolina. Joe was a good player in Minnesota and has done well in Carolina PGA events. He was telling me that he just came back from a seminar about how to putt with your back muscles – he was pretty impressed. I asked Joe why he thought that he’d been a good player over the years … he said “I’ve got good hands”. So I asked why he would want to quit using his hands and putt with his back muscles. I then asked how old was this putting guru – he was a young guy.

Nothing wrong with being young … but he’s all about hypothetical. He hasn’t been around long enough to see what works. Real science tests the hypotheses.

While at the PGA Show, I met the inventor of the Orange Whip. While he’d been caddying on the Tour, he noticed that they all seemed to have the same swing … not the same body action. Their swings seemed to have the same timing of swinging the clubhead. So he invented this whippy shaft with a big orange ball at the end of the shaft. He had me swing it back and forth, and use my feet to keep my balance so I could keep swinging without stopping.

Mister Orange Whip is really on to something.

I wish Tiger Woods and Jason Day and everyone else would stop working on this modern swing and just start swinging an Orange Whip … and start chipping and putting with their hands.

How can you putt with your back muscles?

Cheers,

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