Greetings Golfers,

In the early 90’s … Deer Run was cursed with slow play. So, we came up with Fast Play Friday, which put us on the map and changed our culture. We became know as a course that you could play in around 4 hours every day of the week.

The challenge is to maintain that pace when the golf course is continually full from sunrise to sunset. Yesterday, we did just that. We were stuffed all day and it never got over the 4 hour mark for a round of golf.

I don’t say that to be smug or self-congratulatory … I say that to emphasize that it is a result of a culture that has developed and been continued for 20 years.

However, not everyone is acquainted with the nuances of playing golf at a reasonable pace.

So, hopefully without sounding tiresome, here are some tips to keep your round moving at a nice pace:

*    Play from the right set of tees.
*    If walking, don’t travel as a member of a pack all going to each others’ ball – go to your own ball.
*    If riding in a cart, go to the first ball and drop off the first player with a few clubs … then the other player goes to their ball.
*    Begin reading the green and lining up your putt as you walk to the green.
*    Get off the green after you putt … and write down the scores at the next tee box.
*    Keep your putter in your hand when you get to the cart and put it in your bag at the next tee box when you take out your club to use on the next hole’s tee box. Same thing with your driver – don’t put it in your bag until you’ve driven to your next shot.
*    Be considerate about lost balls. If it’s obviously way in the jungle, don’t waste your time. And don’t ask your playing partners to waste their time looking for your lost ball – they should be going to their next shot.
*    Don’t hunt for golf balls when playing golf.
*    Save your funny stories for waiting situations such as second shots on par 5s.
*    Don’t use a long set-up routine … it doesn’t help your game and is just annoying.

I hope those help. Golf should be fun and relaxing – not a race track. But, slow play is not fun and relaxing – it’s frustrating for your playing partners and the people behind you.

A 4 hour round is not “fast”. It’s equivalent to driving 60 mph on the freeway.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You seldom hear golfers talk about footwork. The modern swing emphasizes “the core”. Over the years, emphasis on hand-action and footwork has been almost eliminated.

Swinging a golf club is a lot like throwing a ball. Football announcers love to analyze the footwork of quarterbacks. Good footwork puts the quarterback into position to throw the ball. Same with the golf swing. Good footwork puts you in position to hit the ball with your hands.

Jackie Gleason had a bad “core” but he had great hands and footwork and was an excellent golfer. I’d take him as a playing partner over the gymnast with the great core.

Sam Snead had the best golf swing of all time … and probably had the best footwork.

Here’s a fun video about footwork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E_bpACouKU

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

The other night, a young man was in my office talking about his golf game. Nothing unusual about that, but what was unusual was that his friends said that he swings like a Tour Player and can’t break 100. What? And, all of his numbers on Trackman are perfect – launch angle, clubhead speed etc. And he plays like a Pro on an indoor simulator.

But golf is a game that is played outdoors on a golf course.

Here’s a great quote from Bobby Jones: “Golf is played by striking the ball with the head of the club. The objective of the player is not to swing the club in a specified manner, nor to execute a series of complicated movements in a prescribed sequence, nor to look pretty while he is doing it, but primarily and essentially to strike the ball with the head of the club so that the ball will perform according to his wishes. No one can play golf until he knows the many ways in which a ball can be expected to respond when it is struck in different ways. If you think this all should be obvious, please believe me when I assure you that I have seen many really good players attempt shots that they should have known were impossible.”

So what does Jones mean and how does that pertain to our Tour Swing 100 score golfer? You have to train your hands to control the clubhead. That goes for every shot – putting, chipping, irons, driving, bunker shots, etc. Your golf swing doesn’t hit the ball … your golf swing puts you in a position to hit the shot with your hands.

That basic fact has become lost or taken for granted on the modern obsession with developing a perfect powerful golf swing.

Work on your chipping. Become a great chipper of the golf ball. That skill will translate to control of the clubhead on all of your shots.

I told the young “Tour Player” that he needed to develop his hands. I hope he tries to do it … and I hope you do too.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You know how television news has fluff “feel good” features? Well, this is my turn.

I’m always hearing horror stories about entitlement attitudes and rude behavior from all age groups – but especially about kids. How about hearing a different version? In the last few weeks, we have hosted a college girls golf tournament, a boys high school golf tournament, and an MGA Super Seniors golf tournament.

During all three golf tournaments, the participants couldn’t have been nicer and more respectful. We’ve received thoughtful letters and emails from coaches and players. After the high school tournament, all of the players walked over and looked me in the eye, thanked me and shook my hand. I asked the coaches if they made the kids do this – they said no and that the kids did it on their own.

The college girl players were friendly, thankful, and respectful. And their coaches were the same way. Even the crotchety old senior guys were fun and thankful and gave our staff a spontaneous ovation … and the next day a few sent warm, grateful emails.

Don’t worry – society isn’t falling apart. Maybe everyone just needs to start playing golf.

Cheers,

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