Greetings Golfers,

Uniformity and diversity. Don’t worry, I’m not ready to take on that subject as to regarding our society. That gets into the old battle between culture and civilization, etc. This is just about golf.

As you probably know, Top Golf has recently opened in Brooklyn Center. And, I’ve heard from reliable sources, that the Brooklyn Center operation is setting records.

Is Top Golf good for golf? Is it even golf? I haven’t been to a Top Golf … it sounds like a huge cocktail lounge that has golf hitting areas. What’s wrong with that? Will it host the U.S. Open? Of course not. Top Golf does not affect the purity of pure golf.

Uniformity. Golf needs enough uniformity to be understood as a game. The USGA has done a pretty good job of doing that with their rules and handicap system. That uniformity allows people to play golf against each other, or in leagues, or in local, state or national championships. I think that’s a good thing.

Diversity. Golf does not have to always be played according to the USGA rules and handicap system. When I play my weekly game Down South, we play a Stableford, and we adjust our handicap every week to how we played the week before. And, we have own set of “local rules”. We aren’t playing in the U.S. Open (though two of the guys have played in U.S. Opens). We’re just some old guys having some fun while playing mediocre golf for a few bucks.

Golf instruction needs enough uniformity so that golfers learn the fundamentals. But, golf instruction needs enough diversity so that it allows for different body types and capabilities.

I believe that most golf courses are too uniform. They try to be everything to everyone. Not a good formula for success. We all know the restaurants that have everything on the menu: Steaks, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Seafood, French, BBQ, etc … you know it’s all bad. We need golf courses to be diverse in the sense of not all being the same. A golf course should know its unique market – just like a good restaurant knows who it is.

Is Top Golf, golf? Sure. Is a cotton-candy stand at the State Fair food? Sure. Would I want to eat all of my meals at the cotton-candy stand? About as much as I would want to play all of my golf at Top Golf.

We need a balance of uniformity and diversity.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

I gave a lesson yesterday. No, not at an indoor range … but in my office at the Clubhouse.

How can that work? Well, most people need help understanding the golf swing. Few people just have a minor flaw that needs to be detected at the range and then fixed. You can play good golf with a bad golf swing. You can’t play great golf with a bad swing. Great golfers have less margin of error. A little problem can mean the difference between 68 and 72. Their “little problem” isn’t why someone else is shooting 95.

So let’s talk about what most of us need to understand and work on. Tour players have already mastered it and are working on how to maximize efficiency in their golf swings so they can be the best in the world. Most of what they are working on are the worst possible things for amateur players.

Tour players have unbelievably good short games because they have unbelievably good hands. They also are amazing at trouble shots and weird lies and stances. That’s not because of their golf swing – it’s because their hands can do anything with a golf club.

Amateur players need to develop their hand action. Then, the swing is a simple motion that is used to hit the ball with good hand action.

Here’s an analogy: If you’re hammering a nail, the hammer  head needs to hit the nail squarely. Just a little bit off doesn’t work. Imagine if the hammer was the length of a golf club. Pretty tough to hit the nail on the head. Then, imagine swinging that long hammer behind your head and hitting the nail squarely. That is the real reason why golf is difficult.

So, while learning to hit the nail with a full swing … wouldn’t you start with little swings and little hammers, and then work your way up? Same with golf. If you can’t consistently hit solid chip shots, how can you expect to consistently hit solid full shots?

This winter, practice chipping in your house. Get really good at it. Then practice hitting one handed chips. Use your dominant hand. If/when you’ve mastered that hand, then use your other hand.

Back to the hammer analogy. If you can’t hit the nail squarely … the problem is not your hip action. The body can be used to maximize power and efficiency. But, the body cannot hit the ball.

Train your hands. In the warmth and privacy of your home.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com