Greetings Golfers,

The great Ben Hogan said: “ The bridge between address and the start of the swing is the waggle. Don’t groove your waggle. It takes INSTINCT to plan and play a golf shot, and your preparations for each shot must be instinctive.”

That’s coming from the guy who is often thought of as golf’s first “machine like” player.

Though Hogan worked unbelievably hard on developing his golf swing … and was very scientific in the process … he played golf with instinct and intuition.

According to PSYCHOLOGY TODAY: “Until about a hundred years ago science wasn’t even aware of the role of our unconscious, but studies now show that only 20% of the brain’s gray matter is dedicated to conscious thoughts, while 80% is dedicated to non conscious thoughts.”

We need both reason and instinct to make the best possible decisions.

Of course it’s good to have information to play your shot such as yardage and wind and turf firmness … but you also have to figure in that “gut feeling”. You’re not just a robot winding-up to hit shots to exact yardages.

So, Hogan talks about the “waggle”. How many of you waggle? How many of your golf partners waggle? The waggle has become a lost art.

Many years ago in college while watching the Phoenix Open with a girlfriend … she thought that Tom Watson was just getting rid of some nervous energy when he waggled. I tried to explain that he was actually trying to feel the shot with his waggle.

When I went to the Ryder Cup a few years ago, I couldn’t believe how rigid and stiff the players looked before they hit their shots. Straight back posture with no body movement and no waggling of the club. Very machine like.

What if baseball batters stood like statues in the batters box? Or if tennis players stood like statues before they served?

A few minutes ago I read that Dustin Johnson needs surgery on his left knee. Hmmmm. Maybe like Tiger Woods? How many knee surgeries did Tiger have?

The goal of playing golf like a robot is misguided. Start to play using your gut instinct. And, work on your waggle. I’d even recommend using your body as part of your waggle and to initiate your golf swing like Sam Snead used to do.

Snead played great golf into his 80s. And basically played everyday of his life – surgery free!

Hogan knew what he was talking about.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

While standing on the edge of a green … could you with an underhand toss, roll the ball close to the pin?

Probably. But it’s not automatic. You have to judge correctly and then throw it how you planned. And if it didn’t turn out ok … you’d know if it was judgement or execution … or both.

It’s really the same thing with a chip shot. You’re using the club instead of throwing it with your hand.

The point that I’m trying to make … is that you’re in control of where the ball goes either with your throw or using a golf club.

However, when I play golf with people, they seem to think that if they make a good swing that the ball will go where it should. I played with a guy who hit every shot left and he asked me what was wrong. I asked him to try to hit the ball at the right side of the fairway. He looked confused. I said “Can you throw a ball at the right side of the fairway?” He said he could. So I told him to do the same thing with his golf club.

Golf shots are a result of swing path and club face. Your swing is just a means to control path and face. This might sound obvious … but I don’t think most golfers understand it. From what I see and hear … they think if they make a good swing that the ball flies in the correct direction and goes the correct distance.

I would like to see people go to the range and try to hit shots to the 100yd sign with every club in the bag. They need to learn to be in control of the golf club – not make a perfect golf swing.

A good golf swing makes it easier to be in control of the golf club. But the goal is to be able to control the club to hit the ball where you want it to go.

Hitting a golf shot should be similar to throwing a ball. A good pitching windup and motion doesn’t throw the ball.  It helps … but a catcher throws pretty well from the crouch.

The golf swing doesn’t hit the ball for you. You do.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

We all know the saying: “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

It can mean a lot of different things. Someone intends to do the right thing, and does nothing, but feels that’s enough. Or, they did something that turned out to be a disaster though it was well intended.

I give credit for well intentions. That saying almost seems like an excuse not to have good intentions.

Fairly often I read an obituary of a “wonderful” person who was committed to “great causes” … though the obit states that they were cruel to employees and family members. That the “ends justifies the means”. Ugh. Do you buy that? I sure don’t.

Shouldn’t it be both? Good intentions and good works? I don’t trust one without the other.

Or the sweethearts who “just want to help” … while they interfere where they’re not wanted and make things worse and insult people in the process.

Are those really good intentions? I don’t think so. It’s just a power trip disguised as good intentions.

The longer I live, the more I’m convinced that Narcissists are the enemy of the human race. They really don’t care about what they do to other people. We have a sign on the #1 tee box that says “No sunflower seeds”. I played with the Mens League yesterday and empty shells were all over the place. It’s really fun to pick up with my hands gross shells from someone’s mouth. A Narcissist will rationalize that the seeds are natural, etc … but, if they get on the green, they get rolled into the putting surface … not conducive to a smooth surface. Or, playing at a slow pace … it’s their “right” to slow up everyone else’s round.

Some people claim a lack of awareness. Hmmm. So, it’s not bad intention? But, isn’t a lack of awareness a lack of intention? And isn’t a lack of intention/awareness just Narcissism?

You  know how you can feel if someone wants to play well … or not play well? Their intention paves the way to a round from Heaven or Hell.

So here’s my saying: “The road AWAY from Hell is paved with good intentions and good deeds”.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? While playing golf?

Jack Nicklaus has said that the song “Georgy Girl” won a million dollars for him because it kept him in the right rhythm when playing golf. Hmmm.

Golf instructors used to recommend humming a waltz while you played … especially the “Blue Danube”.

Many years ago while playing a State Open qualifier, a guy in our group kept singing the title song from the movie “Shaft”. It got pretty annoying … he would sing as he was setting up to drive … and then hold-up the club and say “Shaft – right on!” But, it must of worked … he was the qualifying medalist.

About 10 years later this same character went on one of our Mens Club winter golf trips to San Diego. To the tune of “Georgy Girl”, he would sing “Hey there, Yogi Bear”, much to annoyance of our foursome. But, it worked again … he shot 67. While flying back to Minnesota – I (of all people) – read in the airline magazine the story about Nicklaus and his success with the song “Georgy Girl” … I couldn’t believe it.

Unfortunately, I’ve had songs that I hate stuck in my head before I play golf … and it’s usually a bad omen.

Obviously a fast beat could be trouble. Probably best is an easy melody … with a light-hearted tone. Heavy and depressing is not a plus … golf can do that on its own.

Nicklaus said that he would hum “Georgy Girl”. Sounds like sage advice … most playing partners would probably prefer humming over singing.

“Right on”!

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

How excited are you about the FedEx Cup?

If you’re a Tour player, it’s probably pretty exciting … because of the opportunity to win a lot of money.

I don’t know about you, but that’s not why I watch golf.

In fact, that kind of hype makes me not want to watch … it’s just annoying and gets in the way.

Too many promoters think “more is good”. Better is good. Too often, more is not a good thing.

We host a lot of golf events – most are charity fund raisers. Too often, the event leaders ruin the event with too much stuff going on. Don’t get me wrong – these are well meaning people … however, when they lose focus of what makes a successful event, it gets ugly.

The same concept applies with most things. A lack of focus and too many moving parts are usually a recipe for failure.

Maybe little kids are excited by non-stop stimulation. But, even they get annoyed with nonsense. Is the FedEx Cup nonsense? Well … it’s sure not the Masters.

I realize that the PGA Tour is a business. But the Tour has a good product … they don’t have to cheese-it-out. A lot of people want to see the best players on the planet play golf – especially at a cool venue.

And, their new schedule is driven by their fear of competing with the NFL. Again, they have a good product … they shouldn’t be running scared. People respect guts and integrity.

Golf’s four Majors are the backbone of professional golf. They should be spread-out so they set a natural rhythm for the golf season. The rest of the Tour events should then fit in around the Majors, with an ebb and flow that gives the golf season meaning and structure. It shouldn’t feel like it’s run by P.T. Barnum.

However, the Tour does have one incredible tournament that should be hyped-up … Q School. Once-upon-a-time … you could take a shot at qualifying for the PGA Tour. The ultimate Rocky story of sports. How did these marketing “geniuses” not take advantage of this rags-to-riches story?

The golf season should end with a Major – the PGA Championship. It should be match-play and they would have a genuine end-of-the-year champion. Not a FedEx champ.

And, over the Winter, they should televise Q-school … play it in Hawaii. Then start the season with that crazy Waste Management tournament in Phoenix.

By the time the golf season would hit the Fall … the NFL would be scared!

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

The other day on PGA radio, two college golf coaches were talking about the Open. They focused on Brooks Koepka looking at his watch while JB Holmes was taking forever to hit his shot. They both agreed that Brooks was the bad guy for showing his displeasure.

So, Holmes is guilty of ridiculously slow play … and Brooks is the bad guy for pointing at his watch? Really?

One of the coaches even said that Holmes doesn’t want to play slow, but just can’t help it. What – he’s a victim of himself for slow play? It’s asking too much to be ready to play a golf shot?

In my own little world I have to deal with the same thing. Not only with slow play, but any sort of bad behavior. If our Rangers or I confront a slow group that’s ruining the round for everyone behind them … we’re the bad guys – not them. When someone drives their cart on the edge of the green and we tell them not to – we’re the bad guys. When people are rude to our staff and we say that’s not acceptable – we’re the bad guys.

How did this happen? I’m glad that people have freedom and rights. But, they don’t have the right to do whatever they want without consequences. Having rights is not the same as a license to do anything. We also have the right to tell people to do the right thing … or not play here anymore.

Sadly, for some people expulsion is the only thing that they understand. I wish the TOUR had the guts to do the right thing. Obviously JB Holmes will not do the right thing. Brooks Koepka is not the bad guy. The PGA TOUR should step-up and risk being the bad guy because it’s the right thing to do.

As Edmund Burke said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Obviously, Holmes’ slow play isn’t evil. But, the TOUR has a responsibility to its players and fans to do the right thing. Somehow “doing the right thing” now means allowing everyone to do anything. So cowardice has become a virtue?

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

We all know that golf is frustrating. But I think what is most frustrating is not knowing where the ball is going and not knowing why or how to fix it.

No matter how you swing, the shot is a combination of club face and swing-path. Sure, the movements of your body affect the face and especially the path … but no matter what, your shots are a result of face and path.

To get a handle on this concept, it’s best to test this out at the chipping green. The chipping motion is so short that not much can get in the way of face and path.

If the club face is open at contact, the ball will go high and right like a slice. If the face is closed at contact, the ball will go low and left like a hook.

So, if you want to play a low, running hook chip-shot, you need to send the ball on a path right of the hole so that it come back to the hole.

Conversely, if you want to play a high, soft cut chip-shot, you need to start the ball on a path left of the hole.

Full-shot hooks and slices are just bigger versions of these two shots.

Obviously, it gets trickier with a full swing.

On the backswing, many people take the club back to the outside and put themselves in a position to slice the ball. If you take the club back with your right-hand in control, you most likely will take it back outside and up. If you take it back with your left-hand in control, you most likely will take it back to the inside and low … leading to an inside-out swing path.

But remember, the path alone doesn’t control the shape of the shot … the club-face especially does. I believe it is easier to rotate the club-face closed with your left-hand. Try it and see. And, I believe it is easier to open up the club face with your right-hand.

So, practice chipping with your left-hand in control on the backswing … and also in control as you hit the ball while rolling over your hands to close the face and hit a low, running hook.

And, practice chipping with your right-hand in control on the backswing … and in control as you hit the ball while sliding the club-face under the ball to give you a high soft shot that will spin right like a slice.

After you get the feel of those two distinct shots while chipping … go to the range and try those same shots on your full swing.

Then you will know how to shape your shots. And you will know why your shots go left or right … and why they spin like a hook or a slice.

Will this knowledge end your frustration on the golf course? Have you ever had the putting yips?

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

I love the Open. Not sure I love it as much as the Masters … but maybe. It’s old-school golf – a game of angles … not raw power. If you think you can just bomb it, find it and then wedge it on the green … you’re in for a long day.

Ironically, the best driver in the world had a very long day. He’s also the local lad and the most talented player that I’ve ever seen. I saw Sam Snead play, but he was in his 60s …so I really can’t compare. Oh yeah, I’m talking about Rory McIlroy.

When he was only 16, Rory set the course record at Royal Portrush with a mind-boggling 61. So yesterday – 14 years later on the same golf course – Rory shot an ugly 79 with an 8 on the first hole.

We all know that golf is a cruel game and no one is exempt from its fickleness and disaster holes. However, Rory is in his prime and playing the Open at his home course. How can this happen?

Don’t get me wrong … I really like Rory. He seems like a guy you’d like to play golf with, hang-out with, or have as your neighbor. Fun, friendly, kind, and trustworthy. A great guy.

But, yesterday’s 79 was a nightmare. Obviously, the pressure on him has been unimaginable. But I’ve thought all year that he’s had the wrong attitude for success. In every interview, he’s talking about how each Major is nothing special, just another golf tournament. Well, that’s not true. Trying to pretend things are not what they are is not healthy. Facing things head-on is healthy.

Of course we can make the argument that golf isn’t life or death. I get it. But, Rory does want to win those Majors – especially the Masters and the Open when it is in Northern Ireland – especially at Royal Portrush.

As usual, Brooks Koepka is hanging around the lead. I wish Rory would adopt Brook’s attitude for Majors. Koepka relishes the pressure. And he faces it head-on.

Golf is not a game of la-la-land. Especially played on those Open courses. This is as good as it gets.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

A week ago today, the Tour boys were playing the second round of the 3M tournament in Blaine. The course was wet and loaded with water hazards … the young guys who could hit it high and far were taking over the leaderboard.

On Sunday, two rookies from California were in the final group – Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa. They both needed to eagle the 72nd hole to win tournament. Wolff eagled and Morikawa’s eagle putt just missed. Who are these guys!

Matt Wolff is only 20 years old. Playing for Oklahoma State, he won the NCAA tournament about 7 weeks ago. Not only is Wolff a ridiculously good player, he also has a very unusual swing. Even before winning the 3M … he was the subject of constant swing critique on golf internet boards.

In an era of video, golf swings had become much more robotic than in the past. Maybe the recent era of Trackman numbers allows unique swings if the numbers are better. Whatever the reason, Wolff’s swing brought back memories of “flawed” swings like Miller Barber, Eamon Darcy, Calvin Peete, Doug Sanders, and Larry Nelson. Those were all great players who made a “weird” upright move on the backswing.

Jim Furyk makes a similar move and gets the club back in the slot every time. To me, getting the club into the slot is the point of the golf swing. Also, a move that starts the swing so that it can get down into the slot is also a priority. Wolff does both. He initiates his backswing with a big turn of his hips towards the target, then rebounds with a backswing that goes almost straight up and “crosses the line” at the top. I love it. That initial hip move is athletic and gets him going. That position at the top allows him to pull the club DOWN into the slot. He can not come over the top with that move.

Those two moves are heresy to the modern swing. Old school golfers used to rock left and then rock back right to initiate their backswing. Sort of like a pitcher rocking forward to get the windup going or a tennis player rocking on the serve. At the Ryder Cup I couldn’t believe how rigid the players looked.

Hopefully Wolff’s success will free up a bunch of golf swings and instruction. I’m not saying Wolff’s swing is for everyone. Lot’s of people are more comfortable with a flatter swing with less movement … that’s great as long as they can get the club into the slot. There are many ways to swing the golf club as long as it gets back into the slot.

Well, the 3M tournament definitely got into the slot. What a debut! And its champion also got his first victory. I think we’re seeing the start of a new superstar.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

The summer edition of MINNESOTA GOLFER magazine arrived the other day. The cover was “ SEIZE THE SUMMER: Golf, Gaming and More Near Moose Lake”.

My Father-in-Law had a cabin up in Moose Lake and later retired there full time. So one summer while visiting, they talked me into playing in the Moose Lake Shortstop. Years ago, golf “shortstops” were a big deal and held at small town golf courses all over Minnesota.

Back then (way back then), I was young and cocky and thought winning the Moose Lake Shortstop would be a walk-in-the-park. Wrong. The locals had a lot of very good players, and other good players came over from The Range and Duluth. I was in for a big surprise.

The format was typical – play 18 holes on Saturday which would qualify you for your matchplay flight on Sunday. What amazed me was the Calcutta – held after the steak dinner on Saturday night. Those were the years of cigarette smoking and serious drinking. I could barely see through the haze as the emcee auctioned off the Championship flight. Some misguided, not-sober woman bought me for $2,000 … that was serious money.

The locals were fun and friendly and took me on the tour from the clubhouse to the Muni and then to a bar on Sand Lake. One of the golfers owned the bar so he kept it open all night as we imbibed and shot pool and partook in assorted craziness. Remember, I was young then.

Shortly after I got back to the cabin, I had to go to the course for my 6:30am match. They were only 9 hole matches, but on no sleep they were exhausting. If you kept winning, you would play in the final matches later in the afternoon. It was usually hot (August) and yours truly could barely walk. Adrenaline can only do so much.

Though most years I played in those late afternoon matches, I never won the Moose Lake Shortstop. Some of the losses were painful … but the memories are delightful. I was just up there for the 4th of July and ran into some old friends. In fact, I still see some of the guys around town and wish that we play golf.

Those were great times. I’m glad the MINNESOTA GOLFER magazine featured The Moose on its cover. They still host the shortstop every August … though it wasn’t mentioned in the article, I highly recommend it!

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub