Greetings Golfers,

During the past week I’ve received photos of DRGC from golfers and our staff … they’ve all been magical.

October was gorgeous. Fall at its best is magical. And the “Fall Classic” was magical. How good is the Giant’s pitcher Madison Bumgarner? Do you remember Sandy Koufax? Unfortunately, I remember the ’65 World Series when Koufax beat the Twins in game 7. I think Bumgarner is even better than Koufax.

Well, baseball is over until next year. And golf in Minnesota is almost over. We close it upSunday night. The combination of early sunset (5pm) and morning frost leave only a tiny window available for tee times. And closing gives us the freedom to do some improvements to the golf course before winter comes to town.

This is a time of transition. And a natural time to reflect. I didn’t like Fall when I was a kid – I was a Summer guy. But in my advancing years, I respect Fall and even enjoy it. And I look forward to some time for reflection – I hope you do too.

Happy Halloween,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Last week we went out to dinner with some guys from the Golf Channel. Of course we all ranted about the problems of the golf industry and what we each thought should be done.

During this firestorm, one of the guys handed out bag tags with the “Relaxed Rules of Golf”. These seven “rules” are :
1.) Maximum score is double-par.
2.) Penalties are all one stroke.
3.) Limit ball search to 2 minutes.
4.) Improve unfortunate lies.
5.) Conceded putts allowed.
6.) No equipment restrictions.
7.) Use common-sense.

I like it. In fact I like it a lot. My friends and I usually use pretty similar guidelines when we playgolf. Does this make sense for tournament golf? Of course not. But my usual round is not tournament golf – it’s just recreation played with some buddies for laughs.

Should this be the only way to play golf? Not at all – that’s your call. But for most people it probably is a more enjoyable way to play. In fact the other day, a local retired PGA Pro told me this is how he and his friends play.

Some people may complain that it isn’t “real golf”. Really? Are they the arbitrators of real golf? How about the Scottish shepherds who invented the game by hitting a rock with a stick to win a shot of whiskey? Wasn’t that real golf? Has golf “evolved” beyond that basic game?

I’m not a lover of cutsie golf and all of this stuff to make it “fun”. But I do believe that we’ve gotten way too carried away with the Rules, “Official” Handicaps, the “perfect” swing, ridiculously difficult golf courses, “honors”, lining up putts, knowing exact yardage, etc.

We’ve lost the basic charm of the game – hit a ball with a stick while spending 4 hours with your friends, And having enough common sense and courtesy to make it a really enjoyable experience.

Golf needs to get more back to its roots – not get hung-up on all the peripheral stuff. Good for the Golf Channel.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

I went to the dentist yesterday. I’m a “grinder” – it’s lucky that I still have any back teeth. So while he was trying to repair my broken molars, he talked about his golf game.

Here’s why this is interesting: this dentist has highly trained, very sensitive hands … but, he has no idea how to control the club face when he plays golf.

Most people are so concerned about posture and body movements, that they don’t realize that they need to control the golf club with their hands. In fact, a lot of golf instruction tries to take the hands out of the golf swing.

That’s crazy. I wouldn’t want my dentist trying to control his drill with his shoulders while working on my teeth. In fact yesterday, a good friend/golf sales rep was showing me a new putting grip that took the hands out of the putting stroke – so you could putt with your shoulders. Think about that. Your shoulders?

The “experts” love to say that the hands are not reliable – that you need to swing the golf club with the “big muscles”. Well, I’ve been at dinners whether for business or socially, when I’ve been really nervous. But my hands still worked – I didn’t stab myself in the eye with my fork.

Back to this “big muscle” concept. Do you ever watch those celebrity golf Pro-Ams? The good players are usually the former quarterbacks, pitchers, and hockey players … guys with great hands. If it was really about the “big muscles” – the offensive linemen would be the good golfers – they’re usually not because of a lack of good hand-action and not good at throwing. The golf swing is basically a throwing motion.

So, back to my dentist. After I escaped the chair and could talk … I told him to hit balls with his dominant hand. Your dominant hand will control your golf swing and control the solidness of your shots. I’m right-handed, and I need to develop my left hand more than I have. Two highly trained hands are the goal. But, most of us don’t have that much time. Practice hitting shots with your dominant hand. Start with the putter. Then hit some chip shots with your dominant hand. Then try working your way up to hitting full shots with your dominant hand only.

Is this crazy/wrong? Think about this. When people start missing putts, they go to the left-hand low grip to take their right hand out of the putting stroke. Usually that doesn’t work. So the next step is to go to the belly putter – so they can anchor the putter with their left hand, and then putt with their RIGHT HAND.

My dentist will become a very good player if decides to start practicing hitting golf shots with his hands – especially his dominate hand.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Johnny Miller is a polarizing figure. People love him or hate him. I’m one of the lovers.

I think he’s misunderstood. Let me plead my case. Miller calls it as he sees it – he doesn’t pull any punches. I don’t think he does it to be edgy or interesting … he just says what he believes to be true. And that’s what makes him such a great golf analyst.

Miller is very analytical and insightful. Those qualities helped make him a great golfer. Nobody except for maybe Byron Nelson hit the ball as solid and straight as Miller did in his heyday. Once in a PGA Tournament in Tucson, Miller hit the pin 11 times. Miller really figured out thegolf swing. His instructional videos are the best out there.

Was he a great player? Yes – though his playing ability seems to have been forgotten. His final round 63 at Oakmont CC to win the 1973 US Open is one of the all-time great rounds of golf. A few years later – 1976 – he won the British Open by 6 shots. During that time he dominatedgolf, and that was by beating Nicklaus, Player, Watson, Trevino, and Weiskopf in their prime – not exactly easy pickings.

But that analytical, insightful mind was also his downfall. He’s harder on himself than he is on the players he comments on. And that brutal self-analysis led to putting too much pressure on himself and a tendency to choke. It especially showed up in his putting. He developed a case of the yips that was too painful to watch.

Well this week the PGA Tour is playing at Silverado CC – Miller is one of the owners. Golf has been good to Johnny Miller – but Johnny Miller has been good for golf.

Miller is outspoken. But it is a reflection of his hyper-sensitivity – not a reflection of a being jerk.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Being a life-long Minnesota sports fan, last week’s Ryder Cup seemed all too normal … I’m used to watching my teams lose.

Is it all about winning and losing? No – seriously. Obviously I want my teams to win, but I also like watching great players play their games. But, I need to like my teams even if they lose. Every team has a personality and style of play … and that part is very important to me.

Was the 2014 American Ryder Cup team very likable? Not very. Was Tom Watson a great captain? No. Did he deserve to have Phil Mickleson blast him at the final press conference? No – Mickleson was out of line. I happen to agree with what he said, but to say such things in that situation was very disrespectful. Phil better hope that Watson doesn’t have friends in the Mafia.

As you know, the next Ryder Cup will be here in Minnesota in 2016. Our neighbor Hazeltine National will be hosting the Event. Can I get all of you tickets? Of course … just stop by the Pro Shop, we’ll be giving them out with our tees and scorecards.

Will we be doing fun stuff for the 2016 Ryder Cup? Of course. Will I spill the beans now? Of course not. Will that Fall be crazy because of the Twins led by Molitor or Mientkiewicz playing in the World Series? And the undefeated Vikings led by Coach of the Year Mike Zimmer? And the Jerry Kill Rose Bowl bound Gophers? I’m planning on it.

Fall of 2016 could be the dream season for Minnesota sports fans. We deserve it.

Cheers,

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