Greetings Golfers,

Maybe it’s the format of the emails… but, whatever the reason may be, I’m getting a lot of questions about our Annual Christmas Sale.

So, this should clear up things: The Sale is this Saturday, December 3 at the Clubhouse. The hours are from 9am – 3pm. Everything is 50% off. Everything. Even balls, clubs, and shoes which have very little mark-up in the first place.

Of course we want some winter revenue. But we also want to sell everything and start totally fresh next year. And, believe it or not, we enjoy giving you a great deal. What makes the Sale fun is that we have really good stuff left over. Cool clothes, hats, gloves, bags, etc. A smart way to Christmas shop… and a reason to buy stuff for yourself.

We are also selling the Holiday passes. We originally intended the passes to be purchased as Christmas presents. But people got wise and figured out it’s a great opportunity to set themselves up golf-wise for next year.

As always, we will be serving Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, coffee, Baileys, Kaluha, Irish whiskey. It’s more than a Sale… it’s Christmas party.

See you Saturday,

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

Greetings Golfers,

The weather forecast is that the unseasonably warm weather is over, and that winter will be coming in to Minnesota.

Well, winter is a good time to work on your golf swing. One of the internet golf instruction groups I’m in is always battling about golf swing theories. In fact, the leader of the group believes that golf instruction should all be the same. I believe in certain fundamentals, but I also believe that there is value in different teaching methods and different swing theories. And that not all people relate to the same swing ideas or to the same instructor.

I played earlier this week with an old friend and one of his friends. This old friend of mine has really become a good player. He’s learned a few fundamentals that have given him a solid swing and he’s also learned how to chip and putt. His friend – on the other hand – had a very poor idea of the golf swing. He mostly valued hitting it far. There’s nothing wrong with hitting it far, but not if it comes at the expense of control. It’s pretty hard to play good golf if you can’t control the golf ball.

This friend of my friend, lined-up way right of his target and then came way over-the-top to pull the ball back at the target. That move feels very strong – but that over-the-top move caused him to hit terrible shots … sometimes far … but usually way left or right.

I see the same few problems over and over at the range and the golf course:
* Most people line-up right of their target.
* Most people try to scoop the ball up in the air.
* Most people squeeze the golf club.
* Most people’s left thumb is on top of the shaft instead of on the the right side of the shaft.
* Most people lift the golf club on the backswing instead of swinging it back low and slow.
* Most people swing flat-footed instead of using their feet.
* Most people don’t release the golf club.

Good golfers have a good golf swing. Sounds obvious … but it gets lost in the process of hitting the ball. It’s supposed to be a golf swing. The club needs to be gently held in the fingers so it can be swung. And the body needs to move so that the club can be swung – much like throwing a ball. And the club needs to be swung at the target from the inside-out. That means you have to line-up left of the target to swing out at the target.

Hopefully that helps your understanding of the golf swing. Looks like we’ll have some time to practice – indoors.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Give the Gift of Play: Rare and Exclusive Deer Run Golf Club Holiday Special Available at our infamous Holiday Sale December 3rd or online until December 20th (click here).

Dynamic Duo – 2 rounds of golf plus cart, no restrictions: $120 (save up to $18)

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $200 (save up to $76)

Get your Group On – 8 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $360 (save up to $200)

Gift cards and envelopes are ready for you to personalize and sign.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

This week we got a new leader – I don’t mean Donald Trump … I mean Jay Monahan. On Monday, the PGA Tour appointed Monahan their new commissioner. And also this week, the PGA of America has a new President – Paul Levy.

Leadership should never be underestimated. They say that a group gets the leader they deserve … but a powerful leader can transcend the group and carry it to new heights.

What would be “new heights” for the PGA Tour? I think a simplified and more likable Tour. The former commissioner – Tim Finchem – brought a lot of money to the PGA Tour and its players. But … I think it needs to be more than a money machine. There are too many tournaments. And what is the deal with this winter season? The 2017 season should start in 2017 – not now … that’s just goofy and greedy. Why not start the season with a bang instead of a whimper? Maybe have the Waste Management Open in Phoenix as the opener – imagine how that could jump start the season!

And the PGA Tour should be more transparent with its discipline of players. The fans don’t really know why someone is suspended. I understand why the Tour wants to be squeaky clean for its corporate sponsors … but the players need to be real human beings to really connect with the fans.

What about the PGA of America? They have to realize that their members are in the hospitality and recreation business. They are not a localized version of the PGA Tour. Yes, club golf pros need to be good golfers – but they especially have to be good with people. PGA Golf Professionals need to be able to wear many hats – teacher, player, merchandiser, manager, etc – but they especially have to be passionate about finding ways to share their love of golf.

Hopefully, Messrs. Monahan and Levy are up to the task. Healthy organizations need good leadership – even golf.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Wednesday was a big day for sports fans. The 7th game of the World Series was as good as it gets. And – for Vikings fans – Norv Turner resigning is as good as it gets.

I wanted the Cubs to win because of the 108 year drought … and I really like their manager – Joe Madden. But, I actually liked the Indians more – I liked their style of play more than the Cubs. And the 1-0 game played on Saturday night was as good a baseball game as I’ve ever seen – a genuine work of art.

Sports are chess on a field using physical talents. But, they aren’t just X’s and O’s. The X’s and O’s guys presume all of the players to be equal – thus their schemes seldom work. The games are chess … but based on using strengths or exploiting weaknesses. Both of the World Series managers got it. But, Norv never got it. Norv took over the Viking’s offense after the bye week – when they were 5-0. Norv believed that new quarterback Sam Bradford was finally ready to run Norv’s “genius” offense. Norv’s brand of offense is definitely offensive – in the disgusting sense of the word offensive.

Norv’s X’s and O’s strategy doesn’t work with the Viking’s depleted offensive line. So rather than find ways to work around a weak O-line, Norv stayed with his “strategy” and then used the usual blame on “execution”. Mind boggling.

I’d go so far as to say the biggest problem we have in our society is trying to run everything the way that Norv does. Years ago I worked for a GM that smugly stated that he wanted all of our employees to be able to do each other’s jobs. And I said, “Really? You mean that the bookkeeper will give golf lessons, the superintendent will drive the beverage cart, the cook will run the Pro Shop, the GM will maintain the course, and the Pro will do the books?”

Contrary to modern thought – people are not blank slates. People are different. I think people should strive to be well-rounded (as I wrote a few weeks ago). But people are different from each other. Thank God! And people should find their strengths … and not be set up to fail … they should be set up to thrive.

And a good manager or coach should design their strategy to utilize people’s strengths and to minimize their weaknesses.

It will be very interesting to see how the Vikings do from now on.

Cheers,

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