Greetings Golfers,

Yesterday, my wife asked me what I was going to write about … I said “Chi Chi Rodriguez”. I have no idea why I said that. Haven’t heard his name lately … he hasn’t been in the news … no reason to say that … and I didn’t hesitate – just jumped out of my mouth.

Last week I did read an article about Ben Hogan. It was a reprint of an article from 1970 in Golf Digest written by Nick Seitz. You have to read it. It’s unbelievably well written, and a fascinating portrait of Hogan. I can always read Hogan stories.

Chi Chi said that he played 11 tournaments with Hogan and saw him never miss a green. Now, Chi Chi is a storyteller and a lot of fun … but he might not be exaggerating … Hogan was that good.

And Chi Chi was crazy good … not Hogan good … but unbelievably good. He was about 5’7” and 150 lbs and hit it as far as anybody. And he could get it up-and-down from anywhere. He was made for Tour golf. He could hit any kind of shot and was a showman. He played for the galleries. He’d be in the middle of the fairway with a basic shot to a middle pin … and instead, he’d hit a crazy hook or some type of goofy knock-down shot just for the fans. And of course he was known for his bolero act after he’d make a putt.

I’m sure that not all of the other Tour players appreciated his act … or wanted to be paired-up with him. However, normal tournaments on the Tour are not the same as the Majors. The Majors are about pure golf. They’re about testing the best players in the world.

Whereas, the Tour is about good players touring around the country putting on a show – a golf show. Of course the galleries want to see their heroes play great golf … but it’s not the US Open.

Chi Chi had success on the Tour – he won 8 times – but he really did well on the Senior Tour. Probably because the Senior Tour was less serious than the PGA Tour. Also, Chi Chi aged well – at 60, he looked and moved like a 40 year old.

Talk about not having a modern robot swing! You have to check out videos of his swing. And his interviews. He’s a bright, thoughtful, charming fellow.

And, check out that Hogan article. You can’t just watch Netflix and “Tiger King” every day.

Take care,

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 you’re in Minnesota … you aren’t playing golf. At least not on a golf course.

Besides playing, there are other ways to get your golf fix if you’re cooped-up indoors: movies and books.

Here’s a pretty standard list of good golf movies. Just because it’s pretty typical doesn’t mean it’s a bad list. You’ve probably seen most of them … but they’re all fun to watch again. Here they are – no review or comments:

• “The Greatest Game Ever Played”
• “The Caddy”
• “The Legend of Bagger Vance”
• “Follow the Sun”
• “Caddyshack”
• “Dead Solid Perfect”
• “Seven Days in Utopia”
• “Happy Gilmore”
• “Bobby Jones: The Perfect Stroke”
• “Pat & Mike”
• “Tin Cup”
• “Tommy’s Honor”
• “Miracle on the 17th Green”

It’s certainly not an all encompassing list … but it’s a pretty good variety of dramatic, funny, biographical, historic, and magical.

Speaking of magical … my list of golf books starts off with a magical, mystical look at golf:

• “Golf in the Kingdom”
• “The Match”
• “A Good Walk Spoiled”
• “A Course Called Ireland”
• “The Dogged Victims of Inexorable Fate”
• “Down the Fairway”
• “Doctor Golf”
• “Who’s Your Caddy”
• “The Complete Golfer”
• “Final Rounds”
• “Scotland’s Gift – Golf”
• “Golf Between Two Wars”

Hopefully, you can get some fresh air and exercise … even without playing golf. And while you’re indoors … you’ll have books and movies to keep your golf juices flowing.

Take care,

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,

What a week!

Obviously, everyone and every business has to be careful and smart.

Golf courses are open in some states … and closed in others. Not to be self-serving, but I could see golf clubs close their clubhouses, yet keep their courses open. It would be easy to maintain a safe distance while playing golf … and keeping the flagstick in the hole and giving 3 foot putts would eliminate most of the risk. Courses could disinfect the carts and people could ride solo or walk. Set-up payment at a table outside … and another table for canned beverages, etc.

People need something to do … and people need fresh air. Golf could be a very good thing during this crisis.

And golf is a good thing, not just during a crisis. My favorite golf course architect – Alister MacKenzie – was a former doctor. MacKenzie claimed that he did more good for people as a golf course architect than as a doctor.

Here’s a quote from the great man “One of the reasons why I, ‘a medical man’ decided to give up medicine was a firm conviction of the extraordinary influence on health of pleasurable excitement, especially combined with fresh air and exercise. How frequently have I, with great difficulty, persuaded patients who were never off my doorsteps to take up golf, and how rarely, if ever, I have seen them in my consulting room again.”

These are not normal times. We all need to be cautious and considerate and aware of what is going on.

Take care,

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,

Bryson DeChambeau gained a bunch of weight over the Winter and is driving the ball 18 yards farther than last year. I also gained a bunch of weight over the Winter and am driving it 1/2 a yard farther than last year. I guess Bryson was also lifting weights and adding muscle. I rested on the couch and added much needed padding instead.

However, DeChambeau is not a great player because of his girth … he has great control of the club with his hands. Like many Tour players, he’s a star at ping-pong. Seriously. He and Kuchar and Mickelson and most of those guys are wizards with a ping-pong paddle.

As you know, the key to success in ping-pong is controlling the spin of the ball. Basically, there are two types of spin: Topspin and underspin.

Same with golf. A hook is topspin … and a slice is underspin. And, it’s the same hand-action. Most golfers don’t think that they’re good enough to control the ball with spin. They are. Those same golfers probably think they’re good enough at ping-pong to control the spin. If you can do it at ping-pong … you can do at golf.

Think of your clubs as just ping-pong paddles with really long handles. Take your sand wedge and hit little chip shots with the ping-pong concept. Try to give it topspin and watch it roll out. Give it underspin and watch it go high and stop. Keep doing it until you feel confident you have control. Then start trying it with the rest of your clubs – especially your driver. The driver is made for the topspin/hook shot. You tee it up high … and then hit on the way up like a ping-pong shot. You’ll get rid of the slice forever.

Don’t worry about the mechanics of your golf swing. Learn to control the face of the golf club. It’s just a version of a ping-pong paddle.

As your reward … if you master how to control the ball with your golf club … you can then copy Bryson DeChambeau and gain weight (with no guilt) so you can hit it farther.

Sounds like the best of both worlds.

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 good is this weather? 64 on Sunday? Here in Minnesota?

Well, we deserve it. The past few years were brutal.

We normally have our annual Ranger-Starter meeting the last Saturday in March. Looks like we’ll have to move it up … because … we’re planning (hoping) to open the last week of March.

Every year, the theme of my big speech at the meeting is the three C’s:

• Courtesy
• Communication
• Common-sense

That’s Rangering and Starting in a nutshell. In fact, it’s what the service industry is all about.

Every morning I read the Daily Stoic – “Ancient Wisdom for Everyday Life”. This week is about the four main virtues of Stoicism:

• Wisdom
• Courage
• Temperance
• Justice

No matter how advanced as a society we get, we don’t become too evolved for the Stoic’s four main virtues. And, no matter how advanced our golf operation gets, we don’t become too evolved for the three C’s.

Life seems to always go back to the basics. Get the basics right and most things work pretty well.

Same with your golf swing. Now is the time to review the basics.

Hope to see you on the course … in March!

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,

As you’re reading this, I’m probably driving through the state of Georgia. I love driving – that’s not a problem – but I threw my back out – that is a problem.

The other day, I was trying some new moves with my golf swing. You’re right (I can read your mind) … I was being stupid. Obviously I’m not young … and shouldn’t try to swing like a youngster.

Speaking of youngsters … how likable is Viktor Hovland? … the kid from Norway who won last weekend. Sure, he’s smiley … but it’s not fake … he has an attitude that just gets a kick out of life.

Golf is a game. Though Tour players are making money at golf … it’s still just a game.

The other day, Brooks Koepka opened up in an interview. He’s more interesting than I realized. Koepka talked about how much he loved golf, but not the “stuffiness” (his word). He just wants to play golf at country clubs and yet not follow their codes.

I get it. However, it’s their club. They can insist on those things. It’s not how I would run it … but if I’m a guest, I respect their rules and codes.

The problem is that golf has become tied to that scene. It doesn’t have to be like that.

However, I’m not advocating anarchy. I’m not a fan of foot-golf and all of the other goofy variations that arrived as golf was trying to “grow the game”. The changes don’t have to be extreme. In fact, golf just needs more variety of atmospheres … especially in the middle between super stuffy and goofy.

How about casual AND respectful? Is that so difficult to achieve? How about basic standards of dress and behavior, mixed with a friendly atmosphere?

I think that’s what Koepka meant. And this Viktor Hovland seems to embody it.

Well, those are young guys – both in their 20s. I like their attitude and ideas. And I like their golf swings. But … I shouldn’t try to swing like them. The game of golf can be played many ways … it doesn’t have to be painful or stuffy.

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,

Last Sunday, standing on the 10th tee at Riviera CC, Harold Varner III was tied for the lead of the Genesis Open. Usually, televised golf tournaments cover the leaders – especially their important shots. Well, Harold cold-topped his drive off of #10 and proceeded to make double bogey. Unfortunately (shockingly?), CBS did not show Mr. Varner’s brutal tee-shot. I don’t mean that they didn’t show it live-action … they just didn’t show it … though they did refer to it.

While at home, we were bouncing back-and-forth from the tournament on CBS to the Senior tournament on the Golf Channel. And, like most other Sunday tv golf viewers … we were dozing off throughout the afternoon.

However, I definitely would have wanted to see a leader of a PGA Tournament cold-top a tee-shot. I like Harold Varner … that’s not the point … but most of us enjoy seeing the best in the world almost whiff … especially if they’re in the lead and really trying. It’s not like watching a guy about to miss the cut and just chop-it-around on his last hole … this was serious playing.

That gave me an excuse to write about golf tv coverage. I was thinking about doing it anyway … because it needs to be talked about. I’m sure that it’s tricky covering the action … players are all over the course … and things can change quickly. That’s not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about how uninteresting it is – not the golf – but the commentators. That’s why everyone’s sleeping. But, it doesn’t have to be like that.

The other night, my wife and I were laughing about quips from a former golf pro – he’s one of the funniest people we’ve ever known. Then, she brought up another retired golf pro who should have been a stand-up comic. Both of these guys have that really dry sense of humor … with great timing. That got me thinking … probably the funniest people I know are or were golf pros. I’m talking club pros – not tour pros. I’m not saying that every golf pro is funny … but I think that the majority are … and that golf lends itself to humor. The old guys that I play with down here in SC are hilarious. I don’t mean that they’re hardy-har-har guys … they’re just funny.

They say that stand-up comedy is the hardest thing to do on the planet … you’re up there totally naked. Same with golf … you’re standing there over that shot all alone … you better be able to deal with it … because you are going to hit bad shots … just like Harold Varner.

So, why do networks hire dull guys to be the broadcasters … or are they muzzled? Either way … it’s not good. I don’t want a comedy show … I just want the same kind of commentary that I’m used to on the golf course … or afterward in the pub.

If they want to change the format … I know a bunch of guys they should hire.

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 morning, Tim Herron will be teeing-it-up on the Champions Tour – the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida. Tim turned 50 last week, so he’s now a senior player.

This can’t be true. I still think of him as a little boy who used to play in the evenings with my parents … he was probably already a better player then than they were.

Yes, Tim was a “natural”. He comes from a long line of excellent players. But, he worked at it harder than he gets credit for … maybe not Tiger Woods hard … but definitely devoted.

And that’s a good thing. Tim didn’t sell his soul to be the best player in the world. He still lives in Minnesota and is a devoted family man. Life is about choices … we can’t “have it all” despite what the culture says. Our time is limited – we have to choose.

Tim has chosen to market his unique personality. His tweets and LumpCo ads are hilarious. This is a guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously – take a look at this video announcing his transition to the Champions Tour: CLICK HERE.

How good is that? Ya think golf needs Tim Herron? The nature of golf is individualistic. You’re not performing for judges with rating numbers – like at a diving competition. The only numbers that matter are on the scorecard. So, you don’t have to be young and buff and humorless … you can be the opposite and shoot low numbers … if you can play golf.

Tim can definitely play golf. He won 4 times on the PGA Tour, was on the winning 1993 Walker Cup team, finished 6th in the 1999 US Open, and is in the top 100 of the PGA Tour’s Career Money Winners. 

And, he’s about to add to that number. His game is ready for these “old” guys. He can still hit it far and has always been a great iron player with soft hands around the green. As always, it comes down to putting. He’s always been a good putter. However, he claims that he went through a bad putting spell in high school when he listened to the advice of a guy who told him to practice putting one-handed with each hand. I disagree – it was marvelous advice and probably the real reason he became such a good player. In fact, that guy should take all of the credit (he also writes perfect blogs).

On a more serious note … Tim is a great guy and we’re all very proud of him. Some of our staff – Lori & Ketti – are in Naples to cheer him on. That Chubb trophy would look good in our clubhouse. Here’s a quick video of Tim practicing at Deer Run GC … it’s pretty inspiring … probably the reason he’ll win. CLICK HERE.

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,

During a round last week, I putted poorly on the front nine. So, I decided to finish the round by putting with whatever club I used hitting into the green. So I mostly putted using my hybrid, 7 iron, and wedge. After the round, I told my brother that I putt worse with my putter than any club in my bag. He was kind and just nodded.

A few days later, I read a fascinating article about Brad Faxon helping Rory McIlroy with his putting. Faxon told Rory to meet him with his putter, sand wedge, and 5-wood at the putting green. Then, Rory had to putt three times with each club to a hole about 8 feet away. Rory made only one with his putter, made two with his wedge, and all three with his 5-wood.

Reading this was spooky … very similar to what I just experienced. And what Faxon said to Rory really resonated … “It needs to be instinctive.”

I’d gotten so mechanical that I could hardly putt. I was pretty good with long putts … just took a quick look and just knocked it up there. But with makable putts, I’d get crazy and over-think what to do. Nothing was natural or instinctive. And it showed … my putting was not good.

We’ve all seen basketball players make shots off-balance with a defender in their face … and then miss an easy free-throw at the line. Golf is like a constant free-throw. You have to initiate the shot. You’re not moving around and reacting. Putting is especially like a free-throw … especially the short putts you expect to make. That’s when it’s easy to get too mechanical and stiff.

Arnold Palmer would bring out a trunk-full of putters before he played to see which one “worked”. Lee Trevino said that a new putter worked because it made his hands more sensitive … that he wasn’t used to it. However, Ben Crenshaw used the same putter forever.

A confident putter is a good putter. But, it takes courage to do something when you’re not confident. Don’t get down on yourself when you lose your confidence … rather, admire yourself for having the courage to do it without confidence. The dishonorable thing is to quit.

I just put a new grip on my putter – not a putter grip – instead I put on a normal club grip. And I’m going to grip it with my full-swing grip – not the typical reverse-overlap putting grip. Will it work? Probably for awhile. Then I’ll start to get in my head again and have to find something new.

This was meant to help. If you don’t have putting “issues” … laugh this off. If you do too … send me what works for you!

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,

Sunday is the Super Bowl. I actually remember Super Bowl I. And I especially remember Super IV … when the Vikings lost to the Chiefs. I won’t even talk about the Vikings’ other Super Bowls.

Back to the Chiefs. I like their Head Coach Andy Reid a lot more than their Super Bowl IV coach Hank Stram. Reid is a genius and Patrick Mahomes is crazy good. Sports are about strategy as much as physical skill. However, strategy isn’t just Xs and Os … that type of strategy only works if everyone is the same ability. Strategy is really about knowing your strengths and weaknesses … and knowing your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses … and then knowing how to capitalize on that knowledge.

I had a friend who was really good at strategy. He took up tennis after college and had terrible strokes. But, he was quick and had good hands. He knew that he couldn’t rally with good players, so he never gave them anything to hit or get into a rhythm … so he just lobbed and dinked the ball around the court. He beat some good players and a few club pros. This character also won the intramural wrestling championship at a big university. He wasn’t a good wrestler or in good shape. But he was a master staller and stayed away from the mat … he always got to his feet and avoided wrestling. Do you remember

Muhammed Ali’s rope-a-dope? That’s how this guy played sports.

Golf is all about strategy. Are you trying to hit shots like you’re Tiger Woods? Think about it … on a par 71 course like Deer Run … if you make 9 bogeys & 8 pars and 1 birdie … you shoot 79. That’s bogeying half the holes! Why are you trying to birdie every hole? You know you can par the par 5s … just par half of the par 4s, and par half of the par 3s. Just don’t be dumb on the hard par 4s and 3s. If you can drive the ball in play and chip pretty decently … you can break 80. I didn’t say bomb it off the tee and stuff your iron shots – that’s how you break 60.

Heard a great line the other day … this guy hit a mediocre shot, turned to me and said “I can do better … I just never do.”

It’s funny because we all get it. For too many of us, our golf strategy is based on hitting our best shot every time.

Sunday, these two football teams had better mix-it-up … maybe not rope-a-dope … but they need to be clever.

Maybe my Vikings lost 4 Super Bowls because they over-achieved just to get there. But at least they got there.

We all want to score well. We keep score when we play sports. We’re not practicing. I’m not saying to play every round like it’s the US Open … rather, just use your head and be honest with yourself … then you can strategize.

Let’s see who can strategize on Sunday.

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