Greetings Golfers,

So next Friday – a week from today – Tiger and Phil will be battling it out in what is being hyped as “The Match”.

Next Friday is also called “Black Friday” … the biggest shopping day of the year.

Though I’ll probably be staying home (I definitely won’t be out shopping) I’m not sure I’m going to partake of “The Match”. The more I’ve read about it, the less I want to watch it. I guess they’ll be doing stuff like giving odds on the shots (?) … and Phil and Tiger will be even “challenging” each other during the round with side-bets.

I get it. They want it to seem like a match between “the boys”. Supposedly Tiger and Phil have been working on one-liners because they’ll be mic-ed up for the “trash-talking” that is supposed to be a big part of the entertainment.

It probably won’t be worse than those Skins Games … which I used to watch after Thanksgiving … but at least they weren’t on Pay-Per-View.

Since I’ve got your attention about televised golf … let’s talk about the PGA TOUR. The 2019 season has already started. It started a week after the Ryder Cup. All sports have stretched their seasons – but this is ridiculous.

Here’s my vision:

Start the season in January at the Phoenix Open. It’s a crazy event – sort of like the Ryder Cup. Would be a fun way to jump start the new year. Then go on the normal West Coast swing, finishing up with the big ProAm event at Pebble Beach. After that, head east to Florida, and then to Augusta for the Masters. The Majors are still the main events in golf – no matter what the TOUR tries to do. Don’t fight it – maximize it. The PGA Championship should not be moved to May. The Players Championship is great and like a 5th Major – keep that in May. Then during the Summer, work around the US Open and the British Open. That’s what matters. Then end the season in September. Not with the FedEx Cup. No one cares. The season ending tournament should cap off the year with a champion. The PGA Championship used to be match-play. It should be. It would be a great Major if it were the final tournament and crowned a champion who beat the best head-to-head. What a way to end the season. And end it.

Leave the Fall for silliness like “The Match”. They used to call the off-season the “silly season”. It still is.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

People always ask me what I do in the off season. Not meaning work-wise, what do I do with all of my free time?

Well, I just lead the life of Riley. Things just wrap-up on their own … and then when next season begins, it just runs itself.

Not so much.

Like most things, the real work is behind the scenes.

Football players don’t just show-up and play in the games. They practice and prepare all week. And the best ones practice and prepare all year long. And I’m talking about the players. The coaches are also planning and strategizing all year … and creating new schemes.

Last Sunday, Vikings’ Head Coach Mike Zimmer was asked if seeing other teams use his coverages and pressures is frustrating of flattering? Here’s what he said: “They’ve been stealing our blitzes for a long time, and are stealing our coverages now. It’s like the old thing, everybody copies you if you’ve been good. So then you’ve got to change up and do other things. The whole game is about making adjustments.”

A good coach like Zimmer is like a good army general. They have a well thought out strategy, yet are ready to make needed adjustments. Those adjustments are a result of walking through many different scenarios … he’s not just winging it.

The better the strategy, the more it is simple and clear. Simple doesn’t mean simple-minded. Rather it is the result of a lot of work and a lot of planning. Overly complicated anything is in need of work to become clear.

Abraham Lincoln said it so well. At the end of a long letter, he apologized and said “ I’m sorry I wrote such a long letter. I didn’t have time to write a short one”.

Perfect.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

We’re closed for the season. We had a good year, despite the weather. I don’t want to complain – we didn’t get hit by a tornado or a hurricane or get flooded out – we just had a very late start, followed by unusually hot, humid weather … and then a pretty nasty Fall. Hopefully, we’ll have a mild Winter, an early Spring and a perfect weather year – just like Camelot.

Speaking of magical places … did you see our flower gardens this year? They were ridiculously beautiful. A young man by the name of Paul Bickel is responsible for the stunning beauty.

People constantly ask me if Paul would do their gardens or consult with them. No. This is not a job for Paul – this is a labor of love. And it’s a lot of labor! And even more love!

Fortunately, Paul had help this year. Another Deer Run neighbor – Martin Teal – stepped up and assisted Paul in the planting and tending of his magnificent gardens.

Paul’s gardens are a result of a strong vision and a lot of work. It’s not just plant the flowers and see what happens. A lot of weeding is involved. And careful watering. They need constant attention and tending.

Gardens are much like a culture. They’re fragile and beautiful, but can easily die and/or be taken over by weeds.

The key to civilization is the word civil. People have to grow up and be better than rude, whiny, demanding brats. They have to evolve into flowers. Then a culture or civilization can be a beautiful garden.

I believe the point of the physical world is to represent your soul. Ugly art, ugly architecture, ugly landscapes, disturbing music … all represent an ugly soul. Or just basic functionality in those areas represent a weak soul.

Mr. Paul Bickel has a beautiful soul.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

I can’t stop thinking about the hospitality that we encountered everywhere throughout Spain. Then it hit me … their culture highly values hospitality. So much so, that the customers are as gracious as the staff.

Real hospitality only works when it’s a two-way street.

If it’s not a two-way street, then it’s a master-slave relationship … that’s not genuine hospitality.

The reason “please” and “thank you” are so important is that is signifies respect … that it’s not an order.

Those “little things” are actually huge … it’s what makes relationships work (or fail). Broken marriages and broken companies are usually a result of a lack of respect for the “little things”.

At Deer Run GC we are very fortunate. Our customers treat our staff with respect. They do the “little things”. And it shows. In fact, it shows in the latest READER’S CHOICE AWARDS in Tee Times magazine. Every year in the October issue, Tee Times post the winners and top 5 vote getters in a variety of categories for the public golf courses in Minnesota.

This year, Deer Run got first place in:

*    Best Golf Experience

*    Best Hospitality

*    Favorite Course For A Tournament

*    Favorite Clubhouse

We also placed in the top 5 in:

*    Course in the Best Condition

*    Best Greens

*    Best Pro Shop

*    Best Value

Wow! I know … that’s pretty crazy. But, I know what drives all of it – Hospitality.  And … Hospitality is a two-way street. If our customers are not respectful people, our unique Deer Run thing doesn’t work.

Just like Spain. It’s a two-way culture of respect.

So…to all of you – THANK YOU.

You should be as proud of these awards as we are.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

I’m writing to you from Barcelona. I’m not much of a world traveler – if I was, my portfolio would be pretty slim. But, I find different cultures really interesting.

We haven’t played golf. This is a family vacation with a tight schedule … golf is not on the agenda.

Yesterday, we were in San Sebastian, and our tour guide told me that the locals love golf. That is Basque country and she was very proud of her Basque heritage. (Look up Basque and RH Negative blood when you need something to liven up your imagination). Our tour was of restaurants. This is the land of tapas … you can go from place to place grabbing a delicious little bite with a glass of beer or wine and make a meal into quite an adventure.

The Spanish are adventurous people. A picture of a 16th century military sea captain is looking at me while I write this. But, they’re not stuck in the past. Madrid is very modern and huge – I think it’s the second largest city in the EU. And my first impressions of Barcelona is that it is even more modern than Madrid. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I worry that the modern world is becoming too much the same. I hate seeing typical American fast food restaurants and stores over here.

The people are very friendly. There is an innate kindness mixed with naturally good manners. I hope to meet some locals and talk about politics. Certain regions in Spain want to break off and become their own country. Not sure that my family wants to be associated with me if I find such conversations. I don’t get crazy during such talk, but some people get really wound-up and the political becomes personal. I just want to hear their views and learn about what’s going on.

At least I’ve stopped singing songs from “Man of La Mancha” – the play about Don Quixote. I’m not much of a theatre guy, but I love “Man of La Mancha”. How can you not love cornball songs like “To Dream the Impossible Dream”?

Maybe not if you’re traveling with a guy who doesn’t stop singing.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We’ve all heard Lord Acton’s famous quote.

But is it true? I think that power reveals. Same thing with money. I don’t think that money and/or power change people … I think they reveal who people really are. Even in little ways. Some people act “nice” … but give them power over a waiter and they become nasty. They’re revealed.

When people all of a sudden make a lot of money, or get power, or win awards, etc … I usually give them some time to bask in the glow. I get it. But, they need to come back to Earth. Otherwise I don’t want to deal with them.

Power. The word even sounds strong. It’s an effective tool in golf … and life … but needs to be in control. Power that’s out of control is dangerous for everyone around it … and can be disastrous for the user. In golf and life … out of control power can put you out-of-bounds.

However, power used wisely and with a well-intentioned vision can make it a better world. But, it can’t be self-serving.

A leader has to do what is best for the group he is leading. Very often that means saying no. The group members are going to try to do what is in their best interest (or so they think). But if what they want to do is bad for the group … the leader has to stop it.

For example, if a player on a team is only concerned about his stats, the coach has to redirect his focus. A team player needs to be focused on doing what is needed to win. Or the coach needs to find a new player.

The coach needs power to make that happen.

A player can not have more power than the coach.

A hierarchy is not a bad thing.

Power is not a bad thing.

Power can be used for good.

Abuse of power is a bad thing.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Everyone loves to talk about the golf swing. But no one talks about how to use a golf club.

Here’s what I mean: a driver doesn’t look like a wedge … that’s because they are used in different ways.

A driver off a tee is more of a “swing”.

A shot using a wedge is more of a “punch”.

Clubs are designed for different purposes … and used in different ways. Too many people think that they need to learn a perfect “golf swing” … and then they just plug it in and use it for every shot. Wrong. You have to think of a golf club as a tool to use … such as a hammer or a screwdriver … and use the right tool for the right shot.

For example: if your ball is sitting in a divot, a driver isn’t going to be very helpful. But a wedge, with its loft and sharp leading edge, can be used to beat down on the ball and punch it successfully out of a divot.

If your ball is sitting up on a tee and you try to punch it with your wedge like the divot shot … you’ll miss the ball or pop it weakly up in the air.

Too many people use their driver like a wedge and take divots with their driver.

Too many people use their wedge like a driver and top their wedge shots.

A driver swing is longer, slower, more of a sweep, and has more club-face rotation.

A wedge shot is shorter, quicker, more of a steep punch, and has no club-face rotation.

Those are the two basic ways to use a golf club … and every other shot is a variation of the two.

Putting is even a combination of the two shots. Short putts are more of a punch (like Brandt Snedeker) and long putts are more of a swing (like John Daly).

The worse your lie and shorter the shot – more of a punch.

The better your lie and longer the shot – more of a swing.

The clubs are made differently for a reason. They need to be used in the way that they were created. Golf is about shotmaking … not a “perfect golf swing”.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Time does fly. Seems like yesterday the Ryder Cup was being played at Hazeltine. Well, that was two years ago. The 42nd Ryder Cup begins play today at Le Golf National in Paris.

As we did in 2016, Edina CC PGA Professional Extraordinaire Marty Lass and I are having our own battle. We switched teams this year – Marty has the USA and I’m advocating for the Europeans. Marty has the floor:

WHY TEAM USA WILL WIN THE RYDER CUP …

This Ryder Cup will again provide some great golf as both teams are seriously loaded with talent. In the middle of the golf season, I was thinking that maybe the Europeans held a slight edge, but now I believe that has changed. With the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup winding down, it appears that most of the Americans are playing some really good golf, and the top players on the European team the same. However, here are the difference makers that will influence the outcome in the favor of the Americans …

1.) CAPTAIN’S PICKS. The four American captain’s picks (DeChambeau, Mickleson, Woods, and Finau) are playing much better than the four European captain’s picks (Stenson, Poulter, Casey & Garcia). I think the top 8 on both sides are playing well, but the captain’s picks will determine who will win this Ryder Cup.

2.) EXPERIENCE. There are only 3 ‘rookies’ on the American squad. Furyk didn’t have to make his captain’s choices because they had Ryder Cup experience. Thomas Bjorn had to.

3.) DAVID DUVAL. Duval was recently named as an Assistant Captain, replacing Tiger Woods. Duval tells it like it, no sugar coating, as an analyst for the Golf Channel, he might see things a little different than other Assistant Captains. He has fire in his belly and will certainly provide some strong verbal messages if the Americans fall behind.

4.) THE VENUE. I don’t think I’d call playing in France much of a ‘home course’ advantage for the Europeans. With no French golfer either playing or as an Assistant Captain on the team, some of the spark might be missing.

5.) THE AMERICAN MARSHALS. This group of Minnesota-based super fans (led by my friend and PGA Professional Jeff Drimel), will go to France, and lead the cheers for the Americans. These are the guys who wear the Viking horns, hockey jerseys, and make it fun for everyone around them.

6.) TIGER WOODS. ‘Nuff said …

Bravo Marty! Well said … here’s my rebuttal:

WHY THE EUROPEANS WILL WIN THE RYDER CUP …

This is not 2016 when Team USA had the better horses. This Euro team is loaded. Justin Rose is the No.1 player in the world. And they have 5 players who have won Major Championships.

Not only are European players more accustomed to match play, but they are also more familiar with this golf course.

I’m going to keep this short and to the point:

*    Talent wise – even

*    Match play – advantage Europe

*    Golf course – advantage Europe

*    Home field crowd – advantage Europe

I’m an American. I do not enjoy picking the other side. And, I’m especially frustrated with the current state of Minnesota sports. I would love Team USA to win the Ryder Cup. Team USA is very talented and Tiger Woods is hot. The matches will be exciting and fun to watch.

But – sorry Marty – the Ryder Cup will not be coming home with the Americans.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Every golf course wants to have good greens. Golfers can put up with some poor conditions … but bad greens can really take the fun out of golf.

I want greens that are healthy and the ball runs true. Splotchy greens with thin grass and thick grass can be pretty frustrating.

I also like fairly level greens. Not just flat as a pancake … but sensible slope that rewards a shot hit to right part of the green … and gently punishes a shot hit to the wrong area.

Over the years, the speed on the greens has greatly increased. For some golf clubs it’s become a status symbol to have ridiculously fast greens.

It seems to me that a green has a natural speed. That if you rolled a ball with your hand, you would expect it to roll a certain distance. If it stopped rolling too soon … the green is too slow. But, if the ball just keeps on rolling … it’s obviously too fast. Shouldn’t the goal to get ball to roll at the correct speed? This obsession with speed doesn’t make sense.

Better is better. Faster doesn’t mean better.

In the 1930s, Edward Stimpson invented the Stimpmeter to measure greenspeed in feet of roll. Stimpson was worried that the greens at the 1935 U.S. Open had become too fast.

A green that Stimps at 10 seems to be at a pretty fair speed. Not too fast and not too slow. The average PGA Tour stop is about 12. The last few U.S. Opens have been about 14. And, a lot of golf clubs try to keep their greens in the 12-14 range … how is that fun? Do they think that they’re big-time because their greens are ridiculous? Might as well grow the rough to 6 inches too. I guess they hit the ball as well as Hogan did in his prime … and need a real challenge. Must not be any fun shooting 65 every time at their home course.

Actually, I’ve noticed the opposite scenario. It’s the guys who can’t break 90 at their club who want to make it so hard that visitors shoot a million when they play their course. As Alister McKenzie said when someone proudly told him that no one had broken 80 at their club “What’s wrong with your golf course?”

Golf should be a pleasure … frustrating … but mostly a pleasure. Good greens rolling at the right pace are definitely part of the pleasure.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Bryson DeChambeau was just announced as a Captain’s Pick to be on this year’s Ryder Cup team. He’s won the last two PGA tournaments … making him a pretty obvious choice.

As most of you know, Bryson is the guy with the mechanical looking swing … and the “Einstein” of the PGA Tour. He’s very analytical and scientific and believes that he has found a better way to swing the golf club.

Maybe he has. But, I think the real secret to his success lies in the development of his hand-eye coordination. A few years ago, I wrote about the book “Whole Brain Power” by Michael Lavery. Lavery and I corresponded, and he told me about coaching Bryson and that he had “awesome results”. Lavery wants his students to bounce golf balls on the heads of hammers – even sledgehammers – with both hands. Also, to hone our penmanship with each hand. DeChambeau is his prize student.

The other day Bryson talked about how he got obsessed with ping-pong and bought a robot to practice against. Seriously. Don’t underestimate DeChambeau’s hand-eye coordination. I believe he could be an excellent player with almost any valid type of golf swing.

However, the combination of his absolute belief in his method and his exceptional hand-eye coordination (plus he’s a young, strong guy) makes a formidable golfer. Watch out – he could keep winning.

Do I recommend his style for everyone? No. Is it worth learning about and trying it out? Sure … if you have the time. I don’t think he’s found the secret to golf with his scientific ideas. But, I think he has found the secret to golf in this way: total belief in his technique combined with fantastic hand-eye coordination … and youth!

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com