Greetings Golfers,

In a few days it will be February. We had weather like this 3 years ago and opened in the middle of March.

So that means it’s already time to purchase our LOYAL PLAYER PACKAGES… same prices as last year – but with benefits (not friends with benefits – I mean golf benefits)… (I used that line last year, but had to use it again).

If you purchase any Package before March 1, you’ll receive a free MGA/USGA Handicap, and a $50 gift certificate.

The Packages come in a variety of sizes: 20 rounds for $760; 40 for $1420; 60 for $2080. Obviously the bigger the Package the bigger the savings. And, you can share them with friends or other people. Click here to visit our online Store and purchase Loyal Player packages.

Also, our tee-sheet is open for reservations. We may be the only course that allows unlimited advance reservations. If you want to play every Saturday morning at 7:00 – go for it! Or, play with the family every Sunday afternoon at 3:00 – it’s yours. Or with your spouse every Monday night at 6:30 … etc. This is a great way to get to play golf when you want to play golf. And, you’re not locked in to the expense of a country club. Country clubs used to be the only option for course access and a quality course. I’m not knocking country clubs. But, for only $1420, you can get 40 rounds of golf AND pre-booked tee times – without expensive down strokes and monthly dues. And we probably have the best Green Keeper in the state. Not to mention a cool Irish Pub, sexy golf carts, and a new driving range system called Power Tee.

I know… I’m getting carried away … I can’t help it.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Last week I attended the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida.

I love the Show – how would I not? I come down to a warm weather area in January, look at all of the newest golf equipment and clothing … and see old friends.

Sure, the Show as changed over the years – what hasn’t? In the 90s it was go-go-go … the golf companies hosted outrageous parties, golf courses brought their whole shop staff … it was fun in boom town.

Then 9/11 hit and accelerated the contraction of an over built market. The Show felt like a morgue for the next few years … few parties, no more staff entourages … deadville.

But then it came back with a surge of youthful energy – new products and companies and a sense of resurgence.

This Show was different. I couldn’t figure out why. It was relaxed. Not manic like the 90s nor depressed like after 9/11 nor like the young hip last few years … but rather confident and friendly.

I think I know why – golf people are figuring out that the secret to success is finding and catering to a niche golf market. Being everything to everyone doesn’t work. Sort of like restaurants – I’m terrified when I look at a menu and it has seafood, Mexican, Italian, ribs, sandwiches, gourmet French. Italian, and Greek … I know it will all be bad. You can’t be everything to everyone. Golf has been trying to do that … and it hasn’t been working.

The operators who are surviving and even thriving, are the ones who get it. They get their market and zero in on it.

Sometimes hard times bring out the best in people and make them have to get out of their comfort zone and grow up. Pain isn’t fun – but it can be a powerful tool if used to improve and figure things out.

The game of golf is going to come out of this slump better than ever.

Can’t wait for spring!

Cheers,

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

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Greetings Golfers,

Whoever thought January would become Football Month? But it has – now with the college playoff system and of course the NFL Playoffs. I remember when the college season ended on New Year’s Day and the NFL Playoffs ended in December.

So, in the January football spirit, have you seen that show on ESPN about the Manning family? You know, Payton and Eli Manning, and their father Archie. I didn’t know about the older brother Cooper.

Do you remember when Archie played for the Vikings? He was at the end of his career, and didn’t play much … but I was fired up when he came here.

Obviously, they’re an amazingly athletic family. But that’s not why I recommend the show. Archie and his wife Olivia were all about the art of raising a family. They never pressured the boys about playing sports – Archie wouldn’t play catch unless they asked. The main thing the parents emphasized was to “be a good guy”.

How cool is that? To be a good guy. Not to be a super star. Or a super person. Not to be someone we can’t be. Not about success. But to be a good guy. Imagine if everyone was a good guy. It’d be a pretty nice planet.

Sounds like a pretty good New Year’s Resolution.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

It’s not exactly golf weather. But, it’s pretty good weather for reading … especially golf books.

Just picked up 3 golf books at a used book store – think I got pretty lucky. One book – “A Woman’s Golf Game” made my wife very happy. We once owned it, and I’ve been accused of its disappearance. So anything after that was gravy.

And the other two are good gravy. I’d already owned one – “Dr. Golf” by William Price Fox. The book is ridiculous, but really funny. Dr. Golf is the stuffy, old, blue-blooded owner of mythical Eagle-Ho golf sanctuary. He responds to golf questions like a Dear Abby … the questions are inane and the answers are really absurd. Not everyone thinks it’s funny – aforementioned wife is one.

The other book is hard to find and is a real treasure – “The Short Way To Lower Scoring” by Paul Runyan. Runyan was THE master of the short game. In 1938 he beat Sam Snead in the PGA Championship (match play) 8 and 7. Snead drove the ball at least 50 yards past Runyan – I’ve read sometimes it was 100 yards. But Runyan used the short game as a weapon – not to save strokes, but to gain strokes.

In fact, Runyan once computed that on shots within 4 feet of the green, he averaged 1.97 shots to get it in the hole. Meaning he averaged better than getting it up and down – he chipped in more often than he left himself 2 putts.

Will this reading help my golf game? Maybe – maybe not. But it’s better than being outside.

Cheers,

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