Greetings Golfers,

Our Men’s League played yesterday. Even though it officially started weeks ago, yesterday was the first nice Thursday of the year.

Not only was the weather nice, but the league was nice – it’s a bunch of great guys.

Why am I writing about it? Well, golf course Men’s Leagues are not always nice. In fact many moons ago, we at Deer Run probably had the largest Men’s League in Minnesota – over 400 members. Was that league nice? Yeah … in its early years.

But as time went by and the Men’s League grew into a giant, it also grew into a monster. Was it made up of all bad guys? Not all. It was mostly good guys. But over time, the culture changed. It didn’t evolve – it devolved. They thought that they ran Deer Run GC and that they had a license to do whatever they wanted.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t find a demanding sense of entitlement very charming. Their attitude, shenanigans, and fistfights weren’t very cool.

So – they got the heave-ho. You can only imagine the reaction. I knew it would be hostile … but it was beyond that – the reaction just proved why it had to go.

The golf world is very small. That winter – while at the PGA Golf Show in Orlando – I had PGA Pros from all over the country come up and congratulate on pulling the trigger. Everyone had horror stories of nightmare Men’s Leagues.

That was a different Men’s League. Our present Men’s League is fantastic.

Thanks guys.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I brought my dog Harvey to the vet yesterday for his annual check-up. Harvey hates going to the vet. In fact they have to muzzle him for the whole experience.

Is it worth it? Probably. I’m a risk/reward guy so I’m always weighing everything. Does he need those shots and the drawing of blood for those tests? Did dogs survive on their own before veterinarians?

Golf Instructors are like swing doctors. Does every golfer need an annual check-up? Did golfers play good golf without lessons?

I think both forms of doctors have to know their craft and understand their client. It’s not one size fits all. The good ones can be very helpful… but the bad ones can be dangerous.

Credentials aren’t always everything. I was at a golf swing clinic recently that was conducted by a famous swing doctor. He’s famous because he works with Tour Players. How much doctoring do Tour Players need? And are Tour Players’ swing mechanics relevant to the average golfer? I commented during the clinic that I’m a believer in trying to make students into old Volvos instead of highly tuned Maseratis. The old Volvo can sit out all winter and start right up in April. And the Volvo needs minimal maintenance to keep running. Can the old Volvo beat the highly tuned Maserrati in a race? Hardly. Can the Maserati sit out all winter and start-up in April?

Were my comments appreciated? Not so much. This swing doctor liked me about as much as Harvey likes the vet. I was hoping someone would put a muzzle on him – I think he wanted to bite me. And he probably wished that I’d been muzzled before the clinic.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I got a tweet the other day that said “A good coach will make his players see what they can become, rather than what they are.” It was a quote from the old Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian.

Football talk in May? Yeah, the first round of the NFL Draft was last night. I think the Vikings took two good players. But – I wanted Johnny Manziel. Do you remember Fran Tarkenton? I think Manziel is another Tarkenton.

The NFL Draft is fascinating. Is it a science? Hardly. Sure, the draftees go through all kinds of tests – but how good a player is can’t be measured by statistics. That even goes for golfers. The other night they were showing Jordan Spieth’s PGA Tour stats – they were pretty average – but he’s ranked in the top 10 in the world.

Success depends so much on intangibles such as attitude, instinct, and creativity. Some people thrive on pressure – most don’t. And you can see it at the highest levels – not only in Little League. Some people want the ball when the game is on the line. Can you teach that? Can you coach that? Sort of.

It gets back to the difference between a manager and a leader. A leader inspires people to be more than they think they are – to be who they want to be. But people have to be open to inspiration. Some people thrive on bringing everybody down. Those NFL teams have to make sure not to draft those guys.

The winning organizations do more than draft good physical specimens. They have a culture of optimism and inspiration. They do things right. They don’t cut corners. They don’t think short term.

Why is that so rare? Because it’s easier to take the easy way out. Pick the guy with the stats rather than use your gut – that’s always safe. Don’t lead with vision and inspiration and optimism – no, manage by fear and intimidation… and develop a culture of blame.

Every organization has a culture – a football team, a business, a golf course. It’s not all about stats.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

This is my yearly rant about the rain – but it needs to be said every May.

Did you ever see the episode of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM when Larry accused the weatherman of manipulating the weather reports so he can have the golf course all to himself?

Did you also know that episode was based on fact and that all weathermen manipulate their weather reports to keep people off the golf courses?

Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit… but not much.

Bad weather makes news. Bad weather keeps everyone tuned in. Gee, how did we survive before Doppler Weather reports?

Make your tee times dependent on your schedule – not the dubious reports of the weatherman. And, if it’s too nasty of weather – just cancel. Or, try it out and if it’s not fun, come inside for a raincheck, refund, etc. We’re not trying to take advantage of you trying to play golf in bad weather. I’ve heard of golf courses that won’t give rain checks if you play one hole – that’s real fair. We’re not like that. We’ll do whatever is fair. And, we’ll err on the side of getting you on the golf course. That’s what we do. We want people to play. We don’t do all of this work just so people can drive by and say “What a beautiful golf course.”

You’re under no risk making a reservation to play golf. And you’re under no risk trying to play if it looks like rain.

Try it – you’ll like it.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

This week the Tour is playing in New Orleans at the TPC and last week they played on Hilton Head Island at Harbour Town GC. Both golf courses were designed by Pete Dye.

Dye has been known as Dyeabolical. A few years ago, Time magazine had an article about the 10 toughest golf courses in the world, and 3 of them were Dye designs.

Dye was born in 1925 and started designing courses when he was 35. He’d been a star insurance salesman and a hotshot amateur golfer … but sometimes golf can cause a mid-life crisis. But for Dye, 35 was not mid-life. He’s 88 years old and still designing golf courses.

Do I like his courses? Sometimes. I love Harbour Town. It’s not tricked-up, the holes are attractive and make sense, and it rewards the good ball-striker. The fairways are narrow and need well placed drives – usually slightly curved into the landing zones. The greens are tiny and reward good shots – not just good putts. Some of the well known “stars” who just bomb it off the tee and then find it somewhere, and then manage to get it on a huge green and putt well … they usually avoid Harbour Town.

But some of his courses are goofy. And he was the guy who started the fad with railroad ties in bunkers. I much prefer his courses in the Southeast to his courses in the West.

Probably the most famous hole in golf – hole #17, the par three island green at Sawgrass is a Pete Dye design. And I think Sawgrass is actually a pretty fair golf course. But golfers are crazy. Many years ago I got paired-up at Sawgrass with a guy from Chicago who told me that he played Sawgrass whenever he was in Jacksonville. He then opened the side vents of his golf bag and told me that he was ready for the round – the vents were stuffed with about 100 golf balls. After 9 holes he went into the clubhouse and refilled his bag.

That’s not my idea of a good time – but this guy smiled and laughed all through his round. Dye wanted his courses to be a challenge – and they are. Some are fair – some aren’t.
But it’s always fun to watch how Tour players deal with the challenges Dye presents. I’m already looking forward to the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Did you watch “Mad Men” the other night? It was the first episode of their final season, and people complained it was boring.

I didn’t think it was boring. Maybe the soap-opera stuff wasn’t exciting, but that’s not why I watch it. I love the inside look at Madison Avenue during the ‘60s – how those maniacs were trying to control and expand the markets of post WWII America.

But I especially enjoy watching how those experts at knowing the pulse of America were coming to grips with the cultural upheavals of the 60’s. The main character – Don Draper – can’t understand what’s happening. How can his world of Frank Sinatra and the Ratpack be giving way to the Beatles?

How did the world of golf handle those times? Do you remember Jack Nicklaus growing out his hair? I’m serious – he really did. That’s when you knew the tide had turned.

Every generation rebels and wants to be different from their parents. But the ‘60s rebellion was probably the most radical in American history – even more than the Roaring ‘20s. Probably because of the huge number of “Baby Boomers”, and thus their effect on a democracy and a market-driven economy. The sheer size of the number of Boomers made the normal generational rebellion into a revolution.

So now those Baby Boomers are grandparents. My job is to figure out how to market to the Boomers and their kids.  Hopefully both generations like Stairway/Fairway to Heaven.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Here’s a bunch of random questions:

• Is Adam Scott the best player in the world?

• Is Tiger Woods done? Steroids?

• Should Wisconsin have beat Kentucky?

• Did winning the NIT help the UofM?

• Is the Wild a good hockey team?

• Will the Gophers beat Union?

• Will the Twins lose 90 games again?

• Are the T-Wolves hexed?

• Will the Vikings draft Johnny Football?

• Will we have a nice spring?

• Was this the worst winter ever?

• Is Flight 370 in the ocean?

Here’s a statement – not a question – we’re opening the golf course on Tuesday.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Hemingway described courage as “Grace under pressure.” I think that’s one aspect of courage – though that might also describe a certain type of apathy.

I think most of us would describe courage as doing what we should do when we’re afraid to do it. Courage is more about doing what is difficult than maintaining our cool.

Playing golf can take courage. Playing a shot while strangers are watching is pretty scary for most average golfers. And playing to win can be pretty scary for professional golfers.

That’s what makes the Masters so much fun. The back nine at Augusta National is full of risk/reward holes. It takes courage to go for birdie (or eagle) on those finishing holes. And, the winner goes under par on the back nine – playing safe won’t win the Green Jacket.

I’m not talking reckless – that will usually end in disaster. No, I mean the courage to play smart and be aggressive.

It’s sort of the Wizard of Oz. Like the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Lion – you need Heart, Brains, and Courage. Reckless is Courage without Brains.

As for “Grace under pressure” … yeah, I respect that. But courage is doing the right thing when it’s difficult. Hemingway blew his brains out with a shotgun. He was always always obsessed with being cool. When he got older and thought he wasn’t cool anymore… he took a not very courageous way out.

Being courageous is always cool – being cool isn’t always courageous.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I’m a big believer in Common Sense. People like to say that Common Sense isn’t so common anymore, and they may be right.

What I think is taking its place is Conventional Wisdom. They are very different cats. Here’s my analogy: If someone was building a house on a cliff – Common Sense would say that they’re crazy. But, Conventional Wisdom would say “Everyone else is, so it must be ok”. Pretty different ways of looking at things.

This is an article that I’ve wanted to write for many years – but it’s difficult to put it into words.

Ironically, I think Common Sense is like that – it’s hard to put into words. It’s gut instinct – you just know it.

Conventional Wisdom is much easier to quantify – it can be the result of a survey. Your gut might tell you it’s wrong – but the numbers in a survey make it seem scientific. But if a majority of the people in the survey say that the sky is green – that still doesn’t make it correct.

Businesses are too reliant on surveys. A good businessman knows what the customer wants – he’s ahead of the customer. A good politician does the right thing – not run around and read the polls to keep getting elected.

Democracy is a pretty good thing. But mob rule is not a good thing. That’s why we have the Bill of Rights – to protect the individual from the mob.

Unfortunately, Conventional Wisdom can be mob rule. Let’s bring back Common Sense.

Cheers,

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