Greetings Golfers,

The worst thing for a salesman, is to have a reputation as someone who “Over-promises and under-delivers”.

As the world has gotten faster and people move around, it’s become easier for con-men to do their thing. And at the heart of a con, is to tell people what they want to hear – not the truth.

Too much of our political world has become about over-promising. People want to hear what they want to hear … but they should be skeptical if it sounds too good to be true.

Businesses are also guilty of over-promising. Many do it under the guise of “listening to the customer”.

Let’s say that a restaurant tries to please people with what they do well, rather than try to satisfy the whims of everyone. So, they have a limited menu of what they do well … the staff gets it and also provides good service. That’s a nice combination – I can see why they would be successful.

However, what if they vary from their model? Such as: letting people order meals that are not on the menu. Well, it probably wouldn’t taste very good, and would slow-up the kitchen and screw everything up. And, what if they didn’t have someone’s favorite liquor – so they let them bring in their own liquor? And, what if the customers only want to pay for part of a meal? How does that work?

A quality business cannot operate like that. Actually, it’s a lazy and weak way to operate … though it sounds open-minded and accommodating (at first).

I go to restaurants for an experience. Hopefully they provide food and an atmosphere that I don’t have at home. I stay out of their way and let them do their job.

“Too many chefs ruin the soup”. And if every customer becomes a “chef” … a quality product and experience is almost impossible.

Can you imagine what would happen to a public golf course if they adopted those attitudes?

That’s why there are private clubs … so that the members can have more say in what is offered. But, they sure don’t have total say and get everything they want. If they do want everything their way … they’ll have buy a club and be the only member.

Any golf club – private or especially public – that offers everything to everyone … is just “over-promising”.

And, then they have only one option … to “under-deliver”.

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,

“Uncontrolled power is the very devil – in golf or anywhere else.” Words of wisdom from Percy Boomer – probably the wisest golf instructor of all time.

Of course I’m referring to last week’s US Open and Bryson DeChambeau’s amazing victory. As you know, he was the only player who finished under par … and it wasn’t even close – he won by 6 shots.

But the reason for all of the discussion, is that he focused on power – on hitting it as far as he could off the tee … on a course with serious rough.

Commentators keep saying that he defied logic. Just the opposite. His strategy of length, allowed him to hit wedges out of the rough instead of using unmanageable longer clubs. That’s using logic.

So, let’s use logic for your game. Are you a plus 6 handicap Tour player who needs to beat the best players in the world? Probably not. I’m not either. We need to navigate safely around the golf course.

Let me make an analogy to car racing. If you’re going to win a NASCAR race you basically have to keep the pedal to the floor the whole time. If you just drive safely, you’ll get passed continually and never win.

Same with a Tour player. They need to constantly attack the golf course. But remember – these are the best players in the world.

When I play golf … I don’t want to crash and burn. My game is about control. It’s not exciting, but I don’t like making triple bogeys. I don’t want “car accidents”.

Tour players are in control. So much so, that they can keep ramping up the speed – just like a professional race car driver.

When I used to give lessons, very often I took the hard to hit clubs out of my student’s bags. When they complained that I was making it difficult for them to reach par 5s in two shots … I replied that when they were consistently shooting par golf, then we would start working on those clubs.

What separates most players is their short game. Tour players have unbelievable short games. Bryson DeChambeau maximized his power with the strength of his short game. His ability to scramble gave him the luxury of playing super-aggressive golf.

And, the second place finisher – Matthew Wolff – also played aggressive power golf. Wolff also has an unbelievable short game.

If you want to play better golf and shoot lower scores … focus on your short game. If your short game is really good … and the rest of your game is pretty consistent … but a lack of power is your weakness … experiment with a longer driver.

My own bag of clubs is an odd mix. I still use blade irons – I’m not looking for length from my irons … I want feel and control. However, I am using a goofy hot-faced driver with a long, flexible graphite shaft. My swing speed has significantly slowed down over the years. My longest iron is a 6 iron.

For me to try to play power golf is absurd. And it shouldn’t be the focus of most players – even younger players. Control is the name of the game.

Of course I’d like to hit it far. We all want to hit far. I get it.

And, if you don’t really care about your score and just want to whale-away … go for it.

Back to Percy Boomer … out of control power is not a good thing. You can still be aggressive – golf is about strategy and skill. Be smart. Reckless is not smart. But that doesn’t mean to be a wimp.

Take control of your game. That’s what we all need to 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,

This week the US Open returns to Winged Foot (I’m writing this before they play on Thursday). The rumor is that the course is playing very difficult, and that the scores will be high. I heard talk that 8 over par will win.

That’s a big number for the best players in the world.

The 1974 US Open was known as the “Massacre at Winged Foot” … Hale Irwin won at 7 over.

Hale Irwin won 3 US Opens. And he won 45 tournaments on the Champions Tour. His record is crazy good. But do you know much about him? Do you think of him when people talk about golf’s all-time great players?

Speaking of great players, Claude Harmon was the Head Pro at Winged Foot from 1945-1978. He won the Masters in 1948. And, he holds the course record on both the West and East Courses at Winged Foot. To keep himself interested when he played his home courses … he would change his game depending on the wind. One day he would play every shot against the wind … and the next day he would play every shot with the wind … obviously drawing or fading it at will.

No surprise that those Harmon boys became superstar golf instructors.

Butch Harmon wasn’t Phil Mickelson’s instructor in 2006. That was the year that Phil double bogeyed the last hole of the US Open (at Winged Foot) to lose by one shot. It wasn’t pretty. Butch became Phil’s coach in 2007 – probably a year too late.

Can Phil win his coveted US Open this week? He’s 50 years old … so he’s running out of miles … though he doesn’t hit it like a 50 year old. However, Winged Foot is more about control than length.

This has been a weird year. The US Open being played in September? Why not? This year is already upside-down. Maybe this is Phil’s time … could be another “Massacre at Winged Foot”. However, it’s more likely that a Hale Irwin type of player will win – a grinder who hits it straight.

If the winner is 8 over par … imagine what the bad scores will be. They might start wearing full face-masks.

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,

Once upon a time, sports were played for the love of the game. The best in the world were amateurs … the Olympics, the US Amateur in golf and tennis, college sports, etc.

Then, businessmen saw a market … sort of a version of the Barnum & Bailey Circus … and created pro sports.

Professional baseball was the leader of the pack. The NFL, NBA, and NHL didn’t really bloom until the 1960s.

Not surprisingly, in Major League Baseball’s early years, the 1919 World Series was rocked by a betting scandal involving some of the players – the tarnished Chicago “Black Sox”.

When sports are about money instead of honor … cheating scandals are bound to happen.

Professional golf has never been hit with such scandals … it’s not a big betting game for the fans, like it is with the NFL. Probably, more fans care about who wins the Super Bowl because of their bets than the game itself.

Fortunately, most people care about the Masters and US Open for the golf itself, rather than because they are betting on the players.

So, what’s the deal with the FedEx Cup? Does the enormous prize money make you care? Obviously, I can see why the players care … but do you care?

If that’s the motivation … why not just watch people flip a coin to see who wins? I want to watch skill and strategy … I don’t care about how much money they’re playing for.

Even for my own game … I play for the fun and challenge of golf. We all enjoy winning a few bucks or a pro shop chit … but if that’s why we play golf … well, I think that’s missing the beauty of the game.

The love of the game. I hate to see it cluttered up at any level – major league or a friendly round of golf.

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,

Most golfers have heard of Tommy Armour. I don’t mean his grandson – Tommy Armour III – I mean the great man himself, probably the greatest golf instructor of all time.

He was also a big time player. He won the US Open, the British Open, the Western Open … all of the Majors before the Masters.

However, I especially admire his sense of humor. You have to read “How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time”- one of the all time best selling golf instruction books.

And, if you enjoy his writing … you must get “A Round of Golf with Tommy Armour”.

Armour was the rare instructor who knew that golf is more than golf swing. You have to play the game. The golf course is not a driving range … it’s 18 unique holes that have to be navigated with strategy and skill.

We all know average skill-level players who consistently shoot good scores … and some highly-skilled players who seldom score well.

So, in “A Round of Golf with Tommy Armour” he takes you through 9 holes with a fellow named “Bill”.

Bill is an average player who has become so frustrated that he’s decided to quit golf – for good. So, our hero Tommy, convinces him to play one more round … but that Tommy gets to make all of the decisions.

Well, the story is as good as it gets. Thoughtful, insightful, informational, sensible, and likable.

It’s easy to forget that golf is a game. We can get so obsessed with making the perfect swing that we aren’t aware of the challenge that each hole provides. Should we lay-up? Should we play up the left side of the fairway? Is it smarter to try to cut the dog-leg?

Or just simple things like leaving the driver in the bag if you don’t trust it.

Tommy does talk about the golf swing … important thoughts about grip and stance … and why they matter … not just “here – do it”. His whole narrative makes sense. How to swing and how to play … and how to have the right attitude to play well and enjoy the game.

Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

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,

Almost 30 years ago, when Deer Run GC was a baby, I used to give free golf clinics to get people to come out here. We were a funny little place (though charming) out in the country.

Those clinics quickly grew huge (free) … and so I directed those people into our newly formed leagues, giving us a base to build on.

However, these were not the most sophisticated players, and the pace of play was slow. Very slow. One evening I went out to Ranger the Mens League and there were 4 groups on hole #6 … and the pace of play was a fun 3 1/2 hours … for 9 holes! Seriously.

Weekend play was typically 6 hours.

So, a change in culture was needed. Thus was born FastPlayFriday.

The rules were simple: you had to play the front nine in 1:55 or go home. We had Rangers every 3 holes who were keeping me informed via walkie-talkies. If we had a slow group who wouldn’t respond to rangering, I would meet them on #9 tee box and give them the option of going to hole #10 or going home.

The responses were seldom good. Fortunately, I was young and could duck pretty quickly … no one ever landed a punch. Though they tried. When the word got out that we actually enforced fast play … slow players avoided us and fast players loved us.

Now, a four hour pace is not fast – not really. Actually, it should be normal. I equate it to driving 60mph on the freeway. Golf holes are a one-lane freeway. No one has the right to go 40mph and back it up. And no one has the right to go 80mph and run over people. A 60mph pace is just right.

Though we started Fast Play Friday way back in 1997 … it changed the culture and we’ve been 4 hours every day of the week ever since then.

However, last week we had a foursome who played the first 3 holes in one hour … a nice 6 hour pace. By the time they were in the fairway on #4, there were already 3 foursomes waiting on #4 tee. So, I went out and explained the situation to them, and asked them to catch up to the group in front of them (who was already on #6).

They were agreeable and promised to catch up.

Well, they never got closer than 2 holes behind and finished the front nine in 2:20 … obviously, a 4:40 pace. Not acceptable. Not fair to everyone behind them in this unnecessary traffic jam.

When I talked to them again on #11 tee box, they got hostile. They believed they had a “right” to play at their own pace. I explained that they paid for a slot on the golf course … not the whole golf course. If they wanted to play at whatever pace they wanted, they could rent the course for the day – but it would be a very expensive round of golf.

So, I went back to the Clubhouse and got enough cash to refund their round … which I offered to do on #12 tee box. Then they went crazy.

However, they also sped up. Finally. Not to do the right thing … but to make me look bad. Now their goal was to play as fast as possible and then claim at the end of the round that they weren’t slow.

So, they finished in 4:20 and couldn’t wait to jump all over me. Of course they lied about how fast (or slow) they played the front nine … now they were motivated – motivated to be the victims in this ridiculous situation.

Obviously, if they hadn’t been talked to … they would have played in at least 5 hours. The only reason they made it in 4:20 was they were racing after hole #12 to make me look like a jerk.

They weren’t motivated earlier about unfairly backing up the course … they paid their green fees and felt entitled to play at any pace … even if they wrecked the round for everybody behind them.

Then of course they tried to bait me … attacked me personally to get me going. I have to keep it professional. It can’t be about me – no matter what they say. I have to do what’s best for DRGC. And that means standing up for the golf course – not letting people abuse it … and yet not get sucked into their petty and personal attacks.

So, 30 years later … the fun never stops. But actually, this kind of stuff is pretty rare. Most people get it, and realize that they are sharing the course … that they didn’t rent it all day only for themselves.

And, I haven’t had anyone take a swing at me in years!

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,

Golf is infinitely worthy of discussion. We could talk golf swing forever – the concepts, the nuances, the technical aspects, etc. Or course design – links style, parkland, risk-reward, target golf, etc.

Today, I’d like to talk about the Rules of Golf. One of the things that most attracts me to golf is its purity … its simplicity of concept. Though its nuances are infinite and one of its fascinations … its inherently simple concept is the heart of the game and why it’s so fascinating.

Golf is basically the art of hitting a ball with a stick from a specific area to a hole in the ground. You can’t kick it or throw it … you have to advance it with a golf club.

To give this game a little more definition … you start play from a tee box … and the hole (which is your goal), is on a putting surface. There are many routes to your destination … and many ways to advance the ball. In between the tee box and the green are dangers which are best to be avoided. To steer clear of the danger involves strategy and skill.

And, the same golf course changes everyday depending on the weather. This is a game rooted in reality. It is not played under a dome.

Because it is not a convoluted game and its premise is simple … it’s rules should be simple too.

We’ve already discussed the point of the game – to hit the ball from the tee box, and then again on the golf course, until the ball is in the hole. And it can only be advanced by swinging a golf club.

What other rules are needed? Well, if the ball is lost or unplayable … we need a rule.

What else? Or … why? In an attempt to make golf more fair … more rules ruin the inherent beauty and fairness of the game. Potential bad lies are just as available to everyone … it’s just bad luck to land in one.

Isn’t the point of the game to deal with whatever situation you put yourself into?

That question would lead to a great discussion. And discussing golf is almost as fun as playing 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

Greetings Golfers,

History was made last week in Minnesota golf.  Our own Lori Money was the first woman to play in our state PGA Senior Championship.

I know, I know…she doesn’t look like a senior.  And she doesn’t play golf like a senior.  However, the years don’t lie and she made history.

Obviously, we’re very proud of her.  She’s a great player and a great person…we’re proud that she represents Deer Run Golf Club.

A lot of people think that PGA Golf pros just play golf everyday.  I can’t tell you how many random salesmen call me, and try to warm me up by asking “how was your round today”.  After a long pause of me looking around the room trying to figure out who they’re talking to…I realize it’s not a conference call…and that they mean me.

Most of us are running a business.  We got into the golf business because we love the game.  But, it’s long hours – most courses are open from at least sun-up to sun-down…7 days a week.  And, most of us know that the real work is behind-the-scenes.

Well, Lori does it all.  She’s here all the time and involved in everything…out-front and behind-the-scenes.

She loves to play golf and is an excellent player.  And she deserves to play more golf.

Obviously this has been a crazy year. She’s really stepped-up and made DRGC run well throughout all of the challenges.

Hopefully, next year will go back to normal.  If so, the plan is to give her more time to play golf – at Deer Run and in tournaments.

Then, she’ll make even more history.

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,

“If a puddle of water is made sufficiently muddy, most people will think it’s deep” – Nietzsche.

I like things to be clear. I hate misunderstandings. And I think that’s normal … do you like to be confused?

However, I constantly see and read things that don’t make sense. And, it smells like a con.

Now, I’m not just talking about the golf swing … I’m talking about EVERYTHING. The golf swing is a good example of what I’m talking about. Too often I read or hear ideas about the golf swing that are too complicated. Simple doesn’t mean simple-minded.

The secret to making ideas clear and simple is to prioritize. There needs to be hierarchies…it can’t be level…if it’s all equal and the same…there’s no emphasis.

There needs to be a point.

Years ago I wrote a blog about a guy I went to college with nicknamed “Long Story”. He talked all the time and his stories never ended … because there was never a point … just random, boring information.

The other day a relative and I were having a pretty heavy talk about what’s going on in the world. This relative is bright and loves to believe that answers have to be complicated … the more complicated the more it’s true.

This relative’s reasoning was complicated because everything had the same value … nothing was prioritized. At the end of our discussion, I was accused of being “reductive” … I replied that I took it as a compliment.

“Reduction” in cooking is basically boiling down the sauce. I like to “boil down” things to get to the point.

About 20 years ago, I went to a restaurant in Excelsior to confirm a reservation for a dinner meeting … I just knew that it had been screwed-up (it was). While talking to the new manager – who was babbling and didn’t make any sense … it was obvious that we were the only people in this restaurant – on the lake on a beautiful Summer day.  So I asked him if he had any plans about how to get the place rolling … from behind his groovy glasses and Gucci suit … he informed me that he’d been working on the wine list for the last week.

Hmmmm. You’ll be shocked to know that the restaurant folded a year later and now is an office building. It was one of the best locations on Lake Minnetonka. Well, that wine list chore was pretty complicated … (and important).

Here’s another example of the inability to prioritize.  We have people at the golf course who have such heightened awareness that they notice everything that isn’t perfect.  They notice a dandelion on our 130 acres of land or a paint smear on a range ball.  Unfortunately, their ability to prioritize is not as highly developed.  They take for granted the beautifully maintained 130 aces of land, the clean golf carts, the nice driving range, the slick check-in procedures, etc.

I just described a “nit-picker”. Is that what concerns them? … “nits”???

Our time is limited on this planet. Let’s focus on what matters. Let’s develop priorities.

But maybe the nit-pickers and the people who overly complicate things have the same goal. Maybe they’re the only ones who “get it”. Maybe they like to “muddy the water” to prove how deep they are and that we can’t understand what they “know”.

Well, I don’t buy it.  I want clear and simple and not perfect.  Guess I’m just simple-minded (or as they would say “reductive’).

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,

So, they just announced that the US Open will be played at Winged Foot GC on Sept 17-20.

And, it will not have spectators in attendance. The PGA Championship – which takes place next week – will also be held without fans.

I’m glad those Majors are happening. Looks like the Masters will be held in November. Since I’ll be watching television … I don’t really care if there are spectators in attendance.

Have you watched a televised baseball this year? I haven’t … but I’ve heard that they have fake crowds. Why? I don’t get it. How does that add to the game?

Do you like “laugh tracks” on tv shows? Why would they do that to sporting events?

I think televised sports have a great opportunity to mic up the players so we can hear the game on the field.

And golf should do it too. How good would it be to hear the conversations between players and their caddies?

Hmmm. I don’t think it’s a tough choice between hearing intelligent discussion or people yelling in a crowd. If viewers miss yelling … I’m sure they can invite over some neighbors who just enjoy yelling … then everybody can be happy.

However, I think the live mic thing should not happen at the Majors. The Majors should be as serious as possible … though I think normal weekly PGA Tour golf is more about entertainment.

We all know recreational golfers who think every round they play is the US Open. They might have more fun and even play better if they realized it’s just entertainment.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has said that he remains hopeful to have fans by the end of the year. Well, he does have fans … watching on television. A lot of us would like to hear what’s really happening on the golf course.

This could a great opportunity for televised sports.

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