Greetings Golfers,

I’m not a believer in the perfect golf swing. The dream that you can achieve a perfect swing that basically takes over and plays golf for you is not what you want.

Instead, I believe in developing a swing that allows you to hit the shots you need … and is right for your body and temperament.

Definitely not a one-size-fits-all type of swing.

One of my favorite writers – former Israeli Professor Jacob Talmon – said this about people’s desire for a perfect society “The longing for it may in a sense be, the inability to face the fact that life is a perpetual and never resolved crisis.”

Substitute “life” for “golf” in that sentence and I think you have the same desire for the perfect golf swing.

Now, I edited Professor Talmon’s quote … he said “it may in a sense be cowardice and laziness … “. His quote is a little harsh … but it’s probably true. We do want life to be easier … we do want golf to be easier. We want success to be easy. Just get up on the tee … hit the “perfect swing button” and boom – a 300 yard drive in the middle of the fairway. Then again, press the button and … an iron shot 3 ft from the pin.

But that’s not reality. Golf (as he said) “is a perpetual and never resolved crisis”.

Reality is cause and effect … actions have consequences.

Removing that is not a good thing. We’ve all seen spoiled kids who never have to deal with the consequences of their actions … it’s not pretty … and it usually doesn’t turn out very well for them as they get older.

And the reality in golf is that you have to deal with every situation. And if you don’t deal with it well … your next shot will be even more of a challenge.

That’s why you need to be able to hit a variety of shots and from a variety of lies. That’s what the game is all about … how to navigate your way around the golf course. And you need a variety of tools to do it. Not one swing.

You need diversity – not uniformity.

People are different. Some will easily take to putting … or long driving … or flop shots … low draws, etc … that’s a good thing. A standardized robotic swing would probably minimize their natural talent. But they do need to learn shots that are not natural for them. Golf demands a variety of shots. They need to hit the golf course prepared. Doesn’t mean mastery … just good enough so they aren’t screwed.

Learning to hit different shots fixes swing flaws … naturally. This winter is a great time to work on hitting different shots. And it makes practicing fun.

As the ad said “Try it – you’ll like it”.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers, 

I’m getting a lot of questions regarding the Holiday Passes and our Annual Christmas Sale.

Unfortunately, we will not be having our Christmas Sale.  We just can’t do it and comply with the COVID restrictions. Hopefully, we can next year.

Speaking of next year … the Holiday Passes do not expire next year. In fact, they have no expiration. And no restrictions – they can be used on any day: weekdays and weekends. However, this offer ends on December 20.

These are the packages:

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf with carts, no restrictions: $260 
(savings of $44)

Happy Eight– 8 rounds of golf with carts, no restrictions:  $500 
(savings of $108)

Cheery Twelve – 12 rounds of golf with carts, no restrictions: $740 
(savings of $172)

Tubular Twentyfour – 24 rounds of golf with carts, no restrictions:  $1,420
(savings of $404)

Purchase your packages online HERE and we will mail them to you,

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

Abraham Lincoln had a lot of great quotes. One of my favorites is this: “I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time”.

For this week’s blog, I want to write about too many things … it would be a rambling mess if I just let loose.

So – following Abe’s advice – I’ll try to keep it short.

I want to talk about the Masters … and Dustin Johnson’s swing … and course design … and the difference between “swingers” and “hitters”.

As usual, the Masters was fantastic. Though I’ve never been a big DJ fan … I’m glad he won. He’s lost some real heart-breakers in Majors … and being #1 in the world comes with intense expectations … his victory just seemed right.

DJ is #1 because he does everything well: hits it far and straight … hits his irons close … and has a great short game. His swing is not classic – he’s what I would call a “hitter”. Hitters are punchers – like boxers. If you’re going to punch someone … you’d use your right-hand and shift your weight back & forth … more weight shift than body-turn … you’d have more “smash factor” than “arm speed”. If you’d slap someone really hard … you’d use the back of your left-hand and turn more than shift your weight … and have more “arm speed” than “smash factor”.

I’m sure you can see the analogies to being a golf “hitter” or “swinger”.

Here are the giveaways to DJ’s “hitting” action: he closes the club face on his backswing and is shut at the top. Lee Trevino did the same thing. He just wasn’t as big and strong and flexible as DJ.

That action works because he is young, strong, and very flexible. If he wasn’t as young, strong, and flexible as he is … he wouldn’t be a very good player … much less #1 in the world. If you want to copy his action, you’d better have those same qualities.

However … even if you’re old, weak, and stiff … you can be a hitter on short iron shots and chipping and putting. But, on longer shots – especially a driver – you need to be a swinger.

DJ’s action works on long shots because he’s a physical freak. Most of us need both actions – hitting and swinging – because we aren’t Dustin Johnson.

Practice swinging your driver with your left-hand only. And rotate the club face open on the back swing … and then close it on the downswing through the ball to the finish. That’s how to learn to hit a baby draw that starts right and falls left.

Practice chipping with your right-hand only. And don’t flip your wrist or rotate it. Keep your wrist flexed backwards as you make contact … and keep it flexed after you hit the ball.

Abe just tapped me on the shoulder. I have to wrap this up. I’ll talk more about these subjects over the Holidays. In the meantime …

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

For many of us, this year has seemed unreal. Of course we’ve tried to make the best of it … but, I’ll admit that I’ve felt “off” all year … until Monday night.

What happened Monday night? … for me, it was “Live at the Masters” … seriously. I just felt comfort … that life was back to normal.

I think I know why … it’s that Jim Nance saying “A Tradition Unlike Any Other”. The tradition of the Masters is a welcome anchor when you’re feeling lost at sea.

That’s why we need traditions. Sure, we need to change and grow … but we also need roots and things to hold onto … especially when life gets weird.

Well, the Masters isn’t weird. It’s stable. It’s always played at Augusta National. It prides itself on traditions like the Champions Dinner. Watching the Masters is like coming home. Ahhhh.

We won’t be seeing azaleas … but the fall colors will be stunning. And the golf course will be perfect. It may be wet – rain is predicted – and the grass will be a little grainier than in the spring.

Softer and grainier may play into the games of high ball hitting bombers such as Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson … and of course Bryson DeChambeau.

But, don’t count out this year’s PGA champion – Collin Morikawa. He’s only 23 … with a great game … and a great brain. I love his interviews. He’s the real deal.

Last year’s Masters – won by Tiger Woods – was one of sports greatest comeback stories – maybe the greatest.

Great tournaments are a tradition at the Masters. Every year seems like the best one ever.

Maybe that’s why the Masters is … “A Tradition Unlike Any Other”.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

Last week, the world lost everyone’s favorite James Bond – Sean Connery. Actually, his full name was Thomas Sean Connery. You can never have enough Toms … especially when it comes to golf: Old Tom Morris, Tommy Armour, Tom Watson, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Kite, Tom Lehman, Tom Nicklaus, Tom Palmer, Tom Woods, Tom Mickelson, Tom Ballesteros, Tom Norman, Tom Fowler, Tom McIlroy, Tom Koepka … the list just goes on and on.

Well, Tom/Sean Connery was a golf fanatic. In fact he became a member of the Royal and Ancient and played in a lot of club tournaments on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Of course he did … he was a Scotsman. And he kept that Scottish brogue throughout his 60+ year acting career.

No matter what role he played … he was cool. And he was especially cool as 007. You need to rewatch the movie “Goldfinger” … it’s fun and hilarious. The best scene in the movie is when Bond plays golf with Goldfinger and his caddie Oddjob.

Connery had a good golf swing … you can see it in “Goldfinger”. He partnered with Hale Irwin to win the 1996 Lexus Challenge with a 21-under par total of 123.

Like a lot of us, he became obsessed with golf. In his own words: “I began to take lessons on a course near the Pinewood film studios, and was immediately hooked on the game. Soon it would nearly take over my life. I began to see golf as a metaphor for living, for in golf you are basically on your own, competing against yourself and always trying to do better. If you cheat, you will be the loser, because you are cheating yourself.”

How good was that? Spoken like a true Tom.

R.I.P.

Tom Abts

GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub