You’ve probably heard about the PGA/USGA initiative TEE IT FORWARD. Normally I’m not a big fan of this kind of stuff – usually it’s some gimmick to get people to play golf… gimmicks usually aren’t a great way to get people to do anything.

But, this TEE IT FORWARD is pretty smart. And I mean smart in the sense of Common Sense. Is it really fun to play golf when the course is too long for you? Isn’t it common sense to play at the right length?

A few years ago while at the PGA Show in Orlando, some of us played hooky from the Show and played golf. We’re not Tour players – but we’re still Golf Pros – so we’re decent players, and we played from the white tees. The guys in front of us and behind us played from the black tees… and they were terrible… but, they were going to “play all of the golf course”.

How smart is that? Should they also hit the ball into every hazard to “play all of the golf course”?  I thought the goal of golf was to have fewer strokes, not more strokes. But I guess if you’re shooting 125, you’re too good to play off the white tees.

Obviously if you can’t chip or putt, you’re going shoot a million even if you play a shorter length… but, why not at least give yourself a chance?

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You know that saying “Hot enough for ya”? … I like to act as if it’s a serious question … sort of take my time and then respond with “Yes, it is hot enough for me – thanks for asking” …

Yeah … I’m losing it. I’ll blame it on the heat.

I’m pretty good at blaming. Golf is great for us blamers. I’m always getting screwed by bad bounces, loud noises, wind, slow play, sweaty hands, unfair greens … the list goes on and on …

But, I can take slow play off that list for one day. We’re resurrecting FastPlayFriday for July 27. Not FunPlayFriday … I mean the original … the real deal … FastPlayFriday.

As you recall, the Front Nine must be played in under 1:55 or you will be removed from the golf course. We will be awash in Rangers and Starters. The heat will be no excuse for dilly-dallying around … in fact, the heat should be a major incentive for fast play.

Hope to see you soon. Can’t wait to ask if it’s: “Hot enough for ya?”

Cheers,

Tom Abts

Greetings Golfers,

Spent the weekend in Austin, TX. Wasn’t hot enough in MN, so needed to get some Texas heat. Though it was ridiculously hot, Austin is very cool. Great food, great music, just generally a good vibe – almost bought a “Keep Austin Weird” hat.

Did buy a hat – a Barton Creek golf hat. Played their semi-famous Fazio Canyon course. It was fun, it’s a good resort and a very good golf course … but, I’m getting jaded in my old age … it was just too typical. Let me make a leap: While watching the Irish Open on television last week, the announcer commented that he liked the swing of one of the young players “It’s old-fashioned … not one of those modern, assembly line swings”.

What I’m trying to say is that too many golf resorts remind me of these modern, assembly line golf swings – they’re good, but they don’t have enough personality. In fact, I think these resorts try to make sure that they don’t have a personality – they may be well run, but they feel like an efficient factory. I want personality … a good personality … maybe these resorts are afraid that they might have a bad personality, so they go for no personality.

Well, Austin still has a great personality. I used to go there a lot in the ’70’s and loved it … always kept it on my list of livable cities. Even though it’s changed from a town to a city, it’s kept its unique vibe. Thank God.