Greetings Golfers,

I can’t stop thinking about the hospitality that we encountered everywhere throughout Spain. Then it hit me … their culture highly values hospitality. So much so, that the customers are as gracious as the staff.

Real hospitality only works when it’s a two-way street.

If it’s not a two-way street, then it’s a master-slave relationship … that’s not genuine hospitality.

The reason “please” and “thank you” are so important is that is signifies respect … that it’s not an order.

Those “little things” are actually huge … it’s what makes relationships work (or fail). Broken marriages and broken companies are usually a result of a lack of respect for the “little things”.

At Deer Run GC we are very fortunate. Our customers treat our staff with respect. They do the “little things”. And it shows. In fact, it shows in the latest READER’S CHOICE AWARDS in Tee Times magazine. Every year in the October issue, Tee Times post the winners and top 5 vote getters in a variety of categories for the public golf courses in Minnesota.

This year, Deer Run got first place in:

*    Best Golf Experience

*    Best Hospitality

*    Favorite Course For A Tournament

*    Favorite Clubhouse

We also placed in the top 5 in:

*    Course in the Best Condition

*    Best Greens

*    Best Pro Shop

*    Best Value

Wow! I know … that’s pretty crazy. But, I know what drives all of it – Hospitality.  And … Hospitality is a two-way street. If our customers are not respectful people, our unique Deer Run thing doesn’t work.

Just like Spain. It’s a two-way culture of respect.

So…to all of you – THANK YOU.

You should be as proud of these awards as we are.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

I’m writing to you from Barcelona. I’m not much of a world traveler – if I was, my portfolio would be pretty slim. But, I find different cultures really interesting.

We haven’t played golf. This is a family vacation with a tight schedule … golf is not on the agenda.

Yesterday, we were in San Sebastian, and our tour guide told me that the locals love golf. That is Basque country and she was very proud of her Basque heritage. (Look up Basque and RH Negative blood when you need something to liven up your imagination). Our tour was of restaurants. This is the land of tapas … you can go from place to place grabbing a delicious little bite with a glass of beer or wine and make a meal into quite an adventure.

The Spanish are adventurous people. A picture of a 16th century military sea captain is looking at me while I write this. But, they’re not stuck in the past. Madrid is very modern and huge – I think it’s the second largest city in the EU. And my first impressions of Barcelona is that it is even more modern than Madrid. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I worry that the modern world is becoming too much the same. I hate seeing typical American fast food restaurants and stores over here.

The people are very friendly. There is an innate kindness mixed with naturally good manners. I hope to meet some locals and talk about politics. Certain regions in Spain want to break off and become their own country. Not sure that my family wants to be associated with me if I find such conversations. I don’t get crazy during such talk, but some people get really wound-up and the political becomes personal. I just want to hear their views and learn about what’s going on.

At least I’ve stopped singing songs from “Man of La Mancha” – the play about Don Quixote. I’m not much of a theatre guy, but I love “Man of La Mancha”. How can you not love cornball songs like “To Dream the Impossible Dream”?

Maybe not if you’re traveling with a guy who doesn’t stop singing.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We’ve all heard Lord Acton’s famous quote.

But is it true? I think that power reveals. Same thing with money. I don’t think that money and/or power change people … I think they reveal who people really are. Even in little ways. Some people act “nice” … but give them power over a waiter and they become nasty. They’re revealed.

When people all of a sudden make a lot of money, or get power, or win awards, etc … I usually give them some time to bask in the glow. I get it. But, they need to come back to Earth. Otherwise I don’t want to deal with them.

Power. The word even sounds strong. It’s an effective tool in golf … and life … but needs to be in control. Power that’s out of control is dangerous for everyone around it … and can be disastrous for the user. In golf and life … out of control power can put you out-of-bounds.

However, power used wisely and with a well-intentioned vision can make it a better world. But, it can’t be self-serving.

A leader has to do what is best for the group he is leading. Very often that means saying no. The group members are going to try to do what is in their best interest (or so they think). But if what they want to do is bad for the group … the leader has to stop it.

For example, if a player on a team is only concerned about his stats, the coach has to redirect his focus. A team player needs to be focused on doing what is needed to win. Or the coach needs to find a new player.

The coach needs power to make that happen.

A player can not have more power than the coach.

A hierarchy is not a bad thing.

Power is not a bad thing.

Power can be used for good.

Abuse of power is a bad thing.

Cheers,

 

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

Everyone loves to talk about the golf swing. But no one talks about how to use a golf club.

Here’s what I mean: a driver doesn’t look like a wedge … that’s because they are used in different ways.

A driver off a tee is more of a “swing”.

A shot using a wedge is more of a “punch”.

Clubs are designed for different purposes … and used in different ways. Too many people think that they need to learn a perfect “golf swing” … and then they just plug it in and use it for every shot. Wrong. You have to think of a golf club as a tool to use … such as a hammer or a screwdriver … and use the right tool for the right shot.

For example: if your ball is sitting in a divot, a driver isn’t going to be very helpful. But a wedge, with its loft and sharp leading edge, can be used to beat down on the ball and punch it successfully out of a divot.

If your ball is sitting up on a tee and you try to punch it with your wedge like the divot shot … you’ll miss the ball or pop it weakly up in the air.

Too many people use their driver like a wedge and take divots with their driver.

Too many people use their wedge like a driver and top their wedge shots.

A driver swing is longer, slower, more of a sweep, and has more club-face rotation.

A wedge shot is shorter, quicker, more of a steep punch, and has no club-face rotation.

Those are the two basic ways to use a golf club … and every other shot is a variation of the two.

Putting is even a combination of the two shots. Short putts are more of a punch (like Brandt Snedeker) and long putts are more of a swing (like John Daly).

The worse your lie and shorter the shot – more of a punch.

The better your lie and longer the shot – more of a swing.

The clubs are made differently for a reason. They need to be used in the way that they were created. Golf is about shotmaking … not a “perfect golf swing”.

Cheers,

 

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com