Greetings Golfers,

Have you heard the rumor about Rory McElroy signing with Nike for $250,000,000 for 10 years?

Wow. That’s pretty serious. I’ve never been a big Nike guy. They’ve always seemed a little too slick for me. But, Rory is definitely not Mr. Slick. Rory seems to be a nice, down-to-earth Irish kid. He’s the the perfect new face for golf. Young – but seems like an old soul … not afraid to speak his mind – but not arrogant … from Ireland so Europe loves him, and America relates to him because English is his native tongue.

Oh yeah – he can really play golf. His golf swing is crazy good – it’s perfect – but not rigid or mechanical. And he’s a shot maker. And he can putt. That sort of talent combined with his personality – I can see why Nike would offer him the farm.

This is very good for golf. When a major sports player like Nike decides to make a such power move, it’s a signal that they believe in the future of golf. Maybe, the merger of Rory and Nike can produce the best of both worlds – old-fashioned warmth and realness, combined with modern energy and innovation.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Am writing this while watching the St. Louis – San Francisco playoff game. Last week after the Yankees beat the Orioles, I complained to a friend about the Yankees. He said “You have to tip your hat to the Yankees – they win every year.” Really? They have by far the highest payroll in baseball every year … must be a real challenge to win with an all-star team.

A good baseball swing is a lot like a good golf swing.

People are always telling me that their baseball/softball swing screws up their golf swing. Again, I want to say “really?” but I won’t/don’t. The golf swing is just the baseball swing going after a really low pitch.

Watch how major league hitters use their legs. Before the pitch, they’re moving around in the batter’s box. When the pitch is delivered, they pull in their outer leg to wind-up, then shift their weight forward by taking a step with the outer leg as they hit the ball with their hands.

Same with the golf swing – start your wind-up by shifting your weight to your back foot, then start your down swing by shifting your weight to your front foot as you hit the ball with your hands. Old-school golfers used to jump-start their golf swing by rocking their weight to their front foot so they could then rock back to their back foot. That move helped them wind-up with a natural rebound motion. Good baseball batters do the same thing with their outer leg.

If the St. Louis Cardinals win this playoff series, we’ll have a Tigers – Cardinals World Series. Am I the only one who remembers the 1968 Tigers – Cardinals World Series?

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Because I work in the golf biz, people are always telling and emailing me golf jokes and videos, etc. Like most things, some are good and some aren’t so good (that’s being nice).

But I just got a link to a video that’s fantastic. It’s on the European Tour website and it’s about magic. A magician is hanging around the practice area before a tournament and plays tricks with the golfers while they show him trick golf shots. The vibe is fun and relaxed – which I find amazing before a tournament… and the magic performed by the magician and golfers is even more amazing.

You get a feel for how ridiculously in control of the golf ball these Tour players are. Their hands are so in tune with the club that they can do anything.

I’ve been trying not to talk about the Ryder Cup, but I have to. Early in the contest, the Americans seemed to be having fun – and they were winning. During the singles matches, they seemed to me to be freaking out – especially on the last few holes. Golf is about keeping loose. The adrenalin rush that helps so much in other sports, is usually a disaster in golf.

Oh, I almost forgot … the video is http://www.youtube.com/everyshotimaginable

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I’m writing this from an airplane … the woman across the aisle is lying down across all three seats with her bare feet hanging into the aisle while she’s clipping her nails. I’m not making this up. Before takeoff, the stewardess had to threaten to take away her cell phone because she was yelling on it.

Would you want her in your foursome? Maybe she could shave her legs while riding in your cart.

Was in Connecticut for a wedding. Stayed a couple of days to drive around New England. It was beautiful.  But, Fall in Minnesota is just as beautiful. In fact, I think the drive down the Mississippi River is very similar to the drive through New England.

Can’t believe that it’s almost October. And the weather is still fantastic. Our Fall rates start on October the Oneth. Same as in April … Senior rates for everyone – All day – Every day.

Hope you get out to see the leaves change and don’t forget to play golf.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

This is the final tournament of the FedEx Cup. The winner of this event at East Lake GC will probably win the 10 million dollar FedEx payday. Really – that’s true. And, the winner of the tournament itself wins over a million.

I love sports and people are entitled to making the money they earn (if it’s legal) … but this is getting crazy. I remember when in the off season, Vikings sold real estate or Twins sold cars … can you image that happening nowadays?

The sense of entitlement is what bugs me. These walkouts are hard to sympathize with. Am I on the side of the owners in these battles?  Hardly. It just seems crazy that a sporting career is usually pretty short and that the players would sit out a year because they “need” more millions.

Next week is the Ryder Cup and they play for pride and love of country – there is no paycheck. Let me know which Cup tournament you think is more exciting.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You know how when you haven’t seen a kid for a few years, you can’t believe how much they’ve changed in so little time. If you haven’t seen that kid in over 20 years, then it’s really mind blowing.

Well, our staff (Bennett Lang) found a bunch of old Deer Run GC photos yesterday and put them on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf . Most of the photos are over 20 years old. I forgot what the original clubhouse looked like: pre-pro shop, pre-porch, pre-major remodel… wow!

We were once a sleepy, little golf course way out west in the town of Victoria. Then the housing boom came along and all of sudden Victoria became one of the western suburbs. And over those years, Deer Run GC grew up from a baby to an adult. The baby pictures are especially hilarious.

For some of us, the trip down memory lane is nostalgic. For others, it’s a glimpse into the unknown history and beginnings of this unique place. Enjoy.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

One of the fun things about my job is that I wear so many hats. During college I waited tables and tended bar, so that helps with overseeing our Pub. And, one summer during college I worked on a golf course grounds crew. So I know a little about what our staff does outside.

What I mostly know is that I should stay out of the way. Our grounds Superintendent – Barry Provo – is one of the best in the state. It’s amazing what he does … it’s half science/half art. He has incredible knowledge and incredible feel – pretty nice combination.

So, when Barry says that it’s best to aerate the greens in October (Oct. 6) – I agree. He wants the greens to “perk”. Do I really get what he’s talking about? … not so much. But do I trust him? Totally.

Thus, during the month of September, our greens are still perfect. Our greens have been magnificent all year and I’m glad that we can keep them smooth as long as possible.

Sorry – no excuses about your putting for the next month.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Did you watch the Viking’s game last night? I know it’s only preseason, but it doesn’t look good. I’ve been a fan since their first season in 1961 and have suffered through all of it. The four Super Bowl losses in the ’70’s were painful and the NFC Championship game loss to Atlanta in 1999 was a killer. But the NFC Championship loss a few years ago to New Orleans did me in.

So this Winter, when it’s so cold outside that my dog won’t even go out to go to the bathroom … I’m going to lounge on the couch and watch Vikings football. But, this Fall, when it’s the last mild days of the year … I’m not going to sit inside and watch the ViQueens.

I remember about five years ago when we were having a beautiful Indian-Summer weekend and had zero golfers. Everybody was at home watching the Twins and/or the Gophers and/or the Vikings. The Twins were playing the Yankees in the Playoffs – that was real enjoyable (if you like to hit yourself in the head with a hammer). The Gophers were 4-0 because they’d whooped such powerhouses as Slippery Rock University and the College of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Thank God for Fall golf. Don’t waste these upcoming weekends torturing yourself by watching the local sporting teams – save that misery for Winter. Come on out and join me on the tee box.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Played golf yesterday with two good friends – it’s our annual round and I really look forward to it.

The night before we played, I woke up to what I thought was a burglar. Wrong – it was a bat. So, I grabbed a tennis racket and went off after him. It not that easy to swat those guys – it’s like trying to hit a 100 mph knuckle-ball. After about half-an-hour of swinging like a mad man, I finally got him and went back to bed.

When I got up in the morning, I could barely move my right arm. My shoulder’s been goofed-up for a long time and the “bat attack” pretty much finished it off.

Well, I had to play golf later that day – Thank God for pharmaceuticals and Killians beer.

See, I believe that the golf swing is fundamentally a throwing motion. Imagine that you’re on the first tee and you’re going to throw your club down the fairway. You’d probably take a normal golf stance, shift your weight to your back foot as you wound up to throw, then shifted your weight back to your front foot as you threw the club sidearm style at the fairway. That should be your golf swing.

Winding up to swing should be as natural as winding up to throw. Unwinding to swing should be as natural as unwinding to throw.

You control the shot by controlling the club-face.

So back to the round of golf. It was pretty tough to make much of a throwing motion with such a sore arm. But as I said … I had some “help” and got the ball around the golf course better than I expected.

I hope we don’t have a nest of bats – my arm can’t take it.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

Greetings Golfers,

Last week I talked about how the crazy heat of this Summer was gone and that it feels more like Fall. Yeah, we talk about the weather up in Minnesota – how do you not? It controls what you do. Think you’re going to play pond hockey this weekend? Probably not.

Weather determines your culture and lifestyle. Northern cultures are more disciplined than Southern cultures – I didn’t say better (don’t go crazy) – they have to be more planning oriented. Do you think the people who settled Minnesota just horsed around all Summer? Not the ones who made it through the Winter.

But sometimes those cultures go overboard and never stop planning and working for the future. Goal setting is great – but always living and planning for the future is not so great. Sometimes we Scandahoovians (I’m a quarter Norwegian) need to loosen up and have some fun.

So, next Friday – August 24 – is the final FunPlayFriday of 2012. We’re keeping the theme a secret… in fact for some people involved in the planning, it’s even a mystery. So, look for the usual assortment of ridiculousness: Liquor served on many tee boxes by charming hostesses, gelato, golf lessons, massages, an all-day buffet lunch, and other delights to get you out of your nose-to-the-grindstone existence and having fun like you’re on vacation at one of those island resorts.

You know what I’m saying… Labor Day is almost here.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional