Greetings Golfers,

Today is the last day.

Give the Gift of Play: Rare and Exclusive Deer Run Golf Club Holiday Special Available online until December 20th (click here).

Dynamic Duo – 2 rounds of golf plus cart, no restrictions: $120 (save up to $18)

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $200 (save up to $76)

Get your Group On – 8 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $360 (save up to $200)

Gift cards and envelopes are ready for you to personalize and sign.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

(This post might become my Holiday standard. It got so many comments last year that I have to repeat it.)

When I was 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. At Deer Run 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 forever – 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 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.

Many years ago I read that Jack Nicklaus said he made a point of looking at people during conversations at parties. I’ve tried to that every since … there’s nothing worse than talking to someone who’s always looking around for someone more interesting than you are.

That’s my advice for holiday parties.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Time is running out!

Give the Gift of Play: Rare and Exclusive Deer Run Golf Club Holiday Special Available online until December 20th (click here).

Dynamic Duo – 2 rounds of golf plus cart, no restrictions: $120 (save up to $18)

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $200 (save up to $76)

Get your Group On – 8 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $360 (save up to $200)

Gift cards and envelopes are ready for you to personalize and sign.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

So the USGA is making a rule change to make the game more fair. If the ball moves on the putting green by wind, etc … or if you accidentally move the ball … it’s not a penalty.

I’m pleased … but not excited. They were the ones who made the goofy rule in the first place.

I do appreciate their attempt to use common sense and make golf more fair. But the definition of fair is not the same to everybody. In fact, it’s probably at the root of much political and philosophical debate.

You all know the saying “Life’s not fair”. I agree with it. But, I don’t agree with using that saying as a license to not be fair in your dealings with people. Nature is unfair – a tornado might hit your house but not your neighbor’s house – life’s not fair. Your neighbor might hire you and your brother to help him clean up his yard. You might do more of the work and he might pay you both the same amount – that’s not fair. He has a right to not be fair – but now you know what kind of a person he is, and probably not someone to do business with.

As to the Rules of Golf. Of course I think they should be fair. But, I think there should only be a rule, if a rule is needed to play the game. For example: if the point of golf is to hit a ball from the tee box to the bottom of the hole on the green … there needs to be rules to define the game – such as you hit the ball with a club only (you don’t throw it) … and you need a rule to continue the game if you lose your ball.

I think the fewer rules, the better. By adding rules to make it more fair is misguided and arrogant … and complicates the beauty of the pure simplicity of the game.

Civilized society is based on the rule of law – not the whims of rulers. But more laws doesn’t mean a better and more civilized society. I hope the USGA is just beginning to start overhauling the rule book. Tyranny can come in many forms – not just a tyrant. A mob can be a tyrant. And an organization can be a tyrant – even if it’s well intended.

Cheers,

Tom

P. S. We’re still selling Holiday Passes – click here to view more information.

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

Greetings Golfers,

Golf is in the news with Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

You all know that Tiger is playing his first tournament in 15 months. And Jack made the news by declaring that the longer golf ball is responsible for all of the golf course closings in America.

Are these two news items related? I think so … but you’ll have to bear with me.

First off, Woods had a bizarre opening round. He was 4 under par after 8 holes … but finished the day at 1 over par (73). The leaders tore it up. J.B. Holmes shot an 8 under 64,  Hideki Matsuyama shot 65, and Dustin Johnson shot 66. Those are very good scores. So I looked at their scorecards and those leaders demolished the par 5s … that’s really how they got so far under par.

Jack Nicklaus was the first player to really over-power golf courses. Nicklaus knew because of his length, that the par 5s were par 4s for him … so he was all ready 4 under par before they teed-off. Thus, there was no reason for him to take any risks on the other holes. If he could play par the rest of the holes, he would be 16 under par after 4 rounds and probably win the tournament.

Woods took Nicklaus’ model and ran with it. Drive it far and putt great.

So now, there’s a bunch of young guys playing power golf. The PGA Tour loves it … and they’ve built their courses to reward the bombers and punish the shorter, precision players.

But, building recreational courses at PGA Tour length doesn’t work very well – they’re just too long. Jack seems to think that because of the length of the Tour bombers, older classic courses aren’t long enough … so that new balls have to be invented to play at different length courses. I’m not making this up … If it sounds pretty convoluted – it is.

I know you’re probably getting tired of me beating this drum … but I have to say it again. PGA Tour golf and recreational golf are two different games.

The PGA Tour has become a bombers’ game. Jack and Tiger led that charge. Can Tiger keep up with the young bombers? If he can’t, he won’t catch Jack’s record.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Maybe it’s the format of the emails… but, whatever the reason may be, I’m getting a lot of questions about our Annual Christmas Sale.

So, this should clear up things: The Sale is this Saturday, December 3 at the Clubhouse. The hours are from 9am – 3pm. Everything is 50% off. Everything. Even balls, clubs, and shoes which have very little mark-up in the first place.

Of course we want some winter revenue. But we also want to sell everything and start totally fresh next year. And, believe it or not, we enjoy giving you a great deal. What makes the Sale fun is that we have really good stuff left over. Cool clothes, hats, gloves, bags, etc. A smart way to Christmas shop… and a reason to buy stuff for yourself.

We are also selling the Holiday passes. We originally intended the passes to be purchased as Christmas presents. But people got wise and figured out it’s a great opportunity to set themselves up golf-wise for next year.

As always, we will be serving Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, coffee, Baileys, Kaluha, Irish whiskey. It’s more than a Sale… it’s Christmas party.

See you Saturday,

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

Greetings Golfers,

The weather forecast is that the unseasonably warm weather is over, and that winter will be coming in to Minnesota.

Well, winter is a good time to work on your golf swing. One of the internet golf instruction groups I’m in is always battling about golf swing theories. In fact, the leader of the group believes that golf instruction should all be the same. I believe in certain fundamentals, but I also believe that there is value in different teaching methods and different swing theories. And that not all people relate to the same swing ideas or to the same instructor.

I played earlier this week with an old friend and one of his friends. This old friend of mine has really become a good player. He’s learned a few fundamentals that have given him a solid swing and he’s also learned how to chip and putt. His friend – on the other hand – had a very poor idea of the golf swing. He mostly valued hitting it far. There’s nothing wrong with hitting it far, but not if it comes at the expense of control. It’s pretty hard to play good golf if you can’t control the golf ball.

This friend of my friend, lined-up way right of his target and then came way over-the-top to pull the ball back at the target. That move feels very strong – but that over-the-top move caused him to hit terrible shots … sometimes far … but usually way left or right.

I see the same few problems over and over at the range and the golf course:
* Most people line-up right of their target.
* Most people try to scoop the ball up in the air.
* Most people squeeze the golf club.
* Most people’s left thumb is on top of the shaft instead of on the the right side of the shaft.
* Most people lift the golf club on the backswing instead of swinging it back low and slow.
* Most people swing flat-footed instead of using their feet.
* Most people don’t release the golf club.

Good golfers have a good golf swing. Sounds obvious … but it gets lost in the process of hitting the ball. It’s supposed to be a golf swing. The club needs to be gently held in the fingers so it can be swung. And the body needs to move so that the club can be swung – much like throwing a ball. And the club needs to be swung at the target from the inside-out. That means you have to line-up left of the target to swing out at the target.

Hopefully that helps your understanding of the golf swing. Looks like we’ll have some time to practice – indoors.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Give the Gift of Play: Rare and Exclusive Deer Run Golf Club Holiday Special Available at our infamous Holiday Sale December 3rd or online until December 20th (click here).

Dynamic Duo – 2 rounds of golf plus cart, no restrictions: $120 (save up to $18)

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $200 (save up to $76)

Get your Group On – 8 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $360 (save up to $200)

Gift cards and envelopes are ready for you to personalize and sign.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

This week we got a new leader – I don’t mean Donald Trump … I mean Jay Monahan. On Monday, the PGA Tour appointed Monahan their new commissioner. And also this week, the PGA of America has a new President – Paul Levy.

Leadership should never be underestimated. They say that a group gets the leader they deserve … but a powerful leader can transcend the group and carry it to new heights.

What would be “new heights” for the PGA Tour? I think a simplified and more likable Tour. The former commissioner – Tim Finchem – brought a lot of money to the PGA Tour and its players. But … I think it needs to be more than a money machine. There are too many tournaments. And what is the deal with this winter season? The 2017 season should start in 2017 – not now … that’s just goofy and greedy. Why not start the season with a bang instead of a whimper? Maybe have the Waste Management Open in Phoenix as the opener – imagine how that could jump start the season!

And the PGA Tour should be more transparent with its discipline of players. The fans don’t really know why someone is suspended. I understand why the Tour wants to be squeaky clean for its corporate sponsors … but the players need to be real human beings to really connect with the fans.

What about the PGA of America? They have to realize that their members are in the hospitality and recreation business. They are not a localized version of the PGA Tour. Yes, club golf pros need to be good golfers – but they especially have to be good with people. PGA Golf Professionals need to be able to wear many hats – teacher, player, merchandiser, manager, etc – but they especially have to be passionate about finding ways to share their love of golf.

Hopefully, Messrs. Monahan and Levy are up to the task. Healthy organizations need good leadership – even golf.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Wednesday was a big day for sports fans. The 7th game of the World Series was as good as it gets. And – for Vikings fans – Norv Turner resigning is as good as it gets.

I wanted the Cubs to win because of the 108 year drought … and I really like their manager – Joe Madden. But, I actually liked the Indians more – I liked their style of play more than the Cubs. And the 1-0 game played on Saturday night was as good a baseball game as I’ve ever seen – a genuine work of art.

Sports are chess on a field using physical talents. But, they aren’t just X’s and O’s. The X’s and O’s guys presume all of the players to be equal – thus their schemes seldom work. The games are chess … but based on using strengths or exploiting weaknesses. Both of the World Series managers got it. But, Norv never got it. Norv took over the Viking’s offense after the bye week – when they were 5-0. Norv believed that new quarterback Sam Bradford was finally ready to run Norv’s “genius” offense. Norv’s brand of offense is definitely offensive – in the disgusting sense of the word offensive.

Norv’s X’s and O’s strategy doesn’t work with the Viking’s depleted offensive line. So rather than find ways to work around a weak O-line, Norv stayed with his “strategy” and then used the usual blame on “execution”. Mind boggling.

I’d go so far as to say the biggest problem we have in our society is trying to run everything the way that Norv does. Years ago I worked for a GM that smugly stated that he wanted all of our employees to be able to do each other’s jobs. And I said, “Really? You mean that the bookkeeper will give golf lessons, the superintendent will drive the beverage cart, the cook will run the Pro Shop, the GM will maintain the course, and the Pro will do the books?”

Contrary to modern thought – people are not blank slates. People are different. I think people should strive to be well-rounded (as I wrote a few weeks ago). But people are different from each other. Thank God! And people should find their strengths … and not be set up to fail … they should be set up to thrive.

And a good manager or coach should design their strategy to utilize people’s strengths and to minimize their weaknesses.

It will be very interesting to see how the Vikings do from now on.

Cheers,

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