Greetings Golfers,

Live! From Orlando, Florida – the PGA Golf Show!

Well, not exactly “live”, I’m writing this on Thursday night and you’ll get it on Friday morning. But hey – it’s a pretty good opener.

My favorite part of the Show is talking to the people who are passionate about what they do. There’s the guy who built a ‘magic” putter in his garage and can’t wait to tell you all about it. Then, there’s Rick Martin who’s been designing beautiful shirts forever (he founded Fairway & Greene) and now has a new company – he’s still really into it. Or Martin Dingman … or … Scott Barber … these are the guys who’s name is the company and they couldn’t be more passionate about what their doing. Or the crazy guys at Bogey Pro (passionate and crazy).

After the first day of the Show, some of us sat around the lobby of the Rosen Hotel solving all the world’s problems and the problems of the golf biz. I’ll only share our solutions to solving the problems of the golf biz … I’m saving the solutions to solving the world’s problems for a world-wide press conference later today.

Here’s what we figured out about the golf business: it’s not about initiatives and wide arching plans … those of us running golf courses have to be passionate. We have to be deadly serious about being passionate about having fun. How ridiculous of a statement is that? But yet, how true!

That’s it … I have to get some sleep and be ready for round 2 of The Show.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

The Holidays are over. I survived, but probably gained 100 lbs. (that’s why I don’t have a scale). Though I don’t know how much weight I gained, I do know that I need to get in shape.

I just read an article about Gary Player. He’s 75 years old and does a 1000 sit-ups every morning … and 1000 push-ups … and swims … and runs stairs … and meditates. Did the article inspire me? Not so much – depressed is probably more accurate. But it did make me aware that I have to start now to get ready for the golf season.

So, are you ready? Are your clubs ready? Regripped, etc. How about you? Don’t go crazy, but maybe a few sit-ups and push-ups would be good. And get those legs in shape – long walks can do wonders.

Hit a few a balls at some of the indoor ranges. And do a lot of chipping. Chip in the house – improve your feel of the club and making contact – that’s the best thing you can do for your golf game.

It doesn’t have to be all hard work. Take a break and watch the PGA Tour on TV. Have you seen the new Rory – Tiger ad? It’s pretty incredible.

Hope you’re inspired.
Cheers,

Tom Abts

Greetings Y’all,

I’m down in South Carolina doing research for the betterment of golf, and also for the golfers of Deer Run Golf Club. You can thank me later.

For example, a few days ago, I gave a lesson to a young SC golf pro. Just because he’s a better player than I am, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t ask for my help. Do you think that Tiger Woods’ teachers are better players than he is? And just because he’s a better player, that doesn’t mean that you and he don’t have the same problems.

Back to my lesson. This talented young man was lining up right of his target. With that set-up, either he can make a good swing and hit the ball right of his target, or he can come-over-the-top and pull the ball at his target. This is not conducive to consistent, good shots.

Here’s another example of my sacrifice for the betterment of the game and DRGC: Yesterday, I played golf with a good friend and noticed he was lining up right of his target. Because we weren’t playing for any money, I kindly pointed out the error of his ways (his alignment).

Lining up right of the target is very common. People think that they should line up their feet at their target. Not so. They should line up their feet left of their target. You need to line up enough left, so that you have enough room to swing out at your target. You heard me – swing OUT at your target.

You’re welcome. I’ll continue on my road of sacrifice.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Did you ever read Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy? I’m reading the sequel: The Kingdom of Shivas Irons.

Murphy was/is a maniac. A golf maniac and just a bottom line eccentric guy in search of meaning and spirituality. He’s probably now in his 80’s, grew up around San Francisco, majored in Philosophy at Stanford, and founded the Esalen Institute.

Remember the scene in Caddyshack when Chevy Chase wears the blindfold to hit shots and then has Danny try it while Chevy is advising him to “be the ball?” Well, they were making fun of Golf in the Kingdom. And how about Bill Murray in the same movie, talking about caddying for the Dalai Lama? Murphy was the guy who brought the spiritual side of golf to the mass market.

But in 1908 – way before Michael Murphy’s books – Arnold Haultain wrote The Mystery of Golf. Haultain says, “There is no other game in which these three fundamental factors – the physiological, the psychological, and the social or moral are so intimately combined or called into play”. Wow. That’s pretty out there.

Yeah, golf is out there. It is spiritual/mystical. And Murphy and Haultain were right – the mystery is an essential part of the game.

Golf is a fun game. We’ve always emphasized that at Deer Run. But it’s also a mystical experience. That’s why our new image captures the original Scottish/Celtic magic. Take a look at www.DeerRunGolf.com/2013.htm

Cheers,

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