Greetings Golfers,

Time does fly. Seems like yesterday the Ryder Cup was being played at Hazeltine. Well, that was two years ago. The 42nd Ryder Cup begins play today at Le Golf National in Paris.

As we did in 2016, Edina CC PGA Professional Extraordinaire Marty Lass and I are having our own battle. We switched teams this year – Marty has the USA and I’m advocating for the Europeans. Marty has the floor:

WHY TEAM USA WILL WIN THE RYDER CUP …

This Ryder Cup will again provide some great golf as both teams are seriously loaded with talent. In the middle of the golf season, I was thinking that maybe the Europeans held a slight edge, but now I believe that has changed. With the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup winding down, it appears that most of the Americans are playing some really good golf, and the top players on the European team the same. However, here are the difference makers that will influence the outcome in the favor of the Americans …

1.) CAPTAIN’S PICKS. The four American captain’s picks (DeChambeau, Mickleson, Woods, and Finau) are playing much better than the four European captain’s picks (Stenson, Poulter, Casey & Garcia). I think the top 8 on both sides are playing well, but the captain’s picks will determine who will win this Ryder Cup.

2.) EXPERIENCE. There are only 3 ‘rookies’ on the American squad. Furyk didn’t have to make his captain’s choices because they had Ryder Cup experience. Thomas Bjorn had to.

3.) DAVID DUVAL. Duval was recently named as an Assistant Captain, replacing Tiger Woods. Duval tells it like it, no sugar coating, as an analyst for the Golf Channel, he might see things a little different than other Assistant Captains. He has fire in his belly and will certainly provide some strong verbal messages if the Americans fall behind.

4.) THE VENUE. I don’t think I’d call playing in France much of a ‘home course’ advantage for the Europeans. With no French golfer either playing or as an Assistant Captain on the team, some of the spark might be missing.

5.) THE AMERICAN MARSHALS. This group of Minnesota-based super fans (led by my friend and PGA Professional Jeff Drimel), will go to France, and lead the cheers for the Americans. These are the guys who wear the Viking horns, hockey jerseys, and make it fun for everyone around them.

6.) TIGER WOODS. ‘Nuff said …

Bravo Marty! Well said … here’s my rebuttal:

WHY THE EUROPEANS WILL WIN THE RYDER CUP …

This is not 2016 when Team USA had the better horses. This Euro team is loaded. Justin Rose is the No.1 player in the world. And they have 5 players who have won Major Championships.

Not only are European players more accustomed to match play, but they are also more familiar with this golf course.

I’m going to keep this short and to the point:

*    Talent wise – even

*    Match play – advantage Europe

*    Golf course – advantage Europe

*    Home field crowd – advantage Europe

I’m an American. I do not enjoy picking the other side. And, I’m especially frustrated with the current state of Minnesota sports. I would love Team USA to win the Ryder Cup. Team USA is very talented and Tiger Woods is hot. The matches will be exciting and fun to watch.

But – sorry Marty – the Ryder Cup will not be coming home with the Americans.

Cheers,

 

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Every golf course wants to have good greens. Golfers can put up with some poor conditions … but bad greens can really take the fun out of golf.

I want greens that are healthy and the ball runs true. Splotchy greens with thin grass and thick grass can be pretty frustrating.

I also like fairly level greens. Not just flat as a pancake … but sensible slope that rewards a shot hit to right part of the green … and gently punishes a shot hit to the wrong area.

Over the years, the speed on the greens has greatly increased. For some golf clubs it’s become a status symbol to have ridiculously fast greens.

It seems to me that a green has a natural speed. That if you rolled a ball with your hand, you would expect it to roll a certain distance. If it stopped rolling too soon … the green is too slow. But, if the ball just keeps on rolling … it’s obviously too fast. Shouldn’t the goal to get ball to roll at the correct speed? This obsession with speed doesn’t make sense.

Better is better. Faster doesn’t mean better.

In the 1930s, Edward Stimpson invented the Stimpmeter to measure greenspeed in feet of roll. Stimpson was worried that the greens at the 1935 U.S. Open had become too fast.

A green that Stimps at 10 seems to be at a pretty fair speed. Not too fast and not too slow. The average PGA Tour stop is about 12. The last few U.S. Opens have been about 14. And, a lot of golf clubs try to keep their greens in the 12-14 range … how is that fun? Do they think that they’re big-time because their greens are ridiculous? Might as well grow the rough to 6 inches too. I guess they hit the ball as well as Hogan did in his prime … and need a real challenge. Must not be any fun shooting 65 every time at their home course.

Actually, I’ve noticed the opposite scenario. It’s the guys who can’t break 90 at their club who want to make it so hard that visitors shoot a million when they play their course. As Alister McKenzie said when someone proudly told him that no one had broken 80 at their club “What’s wrong with your golf course?”

Golf should be a pleasure … frustrating … but mostly a pleasure. Good greens rolling at the right pace are definitely part of the pleasure.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Bryson DeChambeau was just announced as a Captain’s Pick to be on this year’s Ryder Cup team. He’s won the last two PGA tournaments … making him a pretty obvious choice.

As most of you know, Bryson is the guy with the mechanical looking swing … and the “Einstein” of the PGA Tour. He’s very analytical and scientific and believes that he has found a better way to swing the golf club.

Maybe he has. But, I think the real secret to his success lies in the development of his hand-eye coordination. A few years ago, I wrote about the book “Whole Brain Power” by Michael Lavery. Lavery and I corresponded, and he told me about coaching Bryson and that he had “awesome results”. Lavery wants his students to bounce golf balls on the heads of hammers – even sledgehammers – with both hands. Also, to hone our penmanship with each hand. DeChambeau is his prize student.

The other day Bryson talked about how he got obsessed with ping-pong and bought a robot to practice against. Seriously. Don’t underestimate DeChambeau’s hand-eye coordination. I believe he could be an excellent player with almost any valid type of golf swing.

However, the combination of his absolute belief in his method and his exceptional hand-eye coordination (plus he’s a young, strong guy) makes a formidable golfer. Watch out – he could keep winning.

Do I recommend his style for everyone? No. Is it worth learning about and trying it out? Sure … if you have the time. I don’t think he’s found the secret to golf with his scientific ideas. But, I think he has found the secret to golf in this way: total belief in his technique combined with fantastic hand-eye coordination … and youth!

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com