“Love and putting are mysteries for the philosophers to solve. Both subjects are beyond golfers.” Wisdom from the immortal Tommy Armour.

The Greeks had multiple words for love … some say 4, others say 6, and even others claim 8 … whatever the number, they had multiple words for love. That’s because there are different kinds of love, such as romantic love or the love of family or of friends.

Tommy Armour loved golf. His book “How to Play Your Best Golf All of the Time” is probably the best golf instruction book of all time.

I can’t believe how much I love golf. I love everything about it. And I can’t wait to play again. And I can’t wait to get Deer Run GC open to share my love of golf. No other game has inspired such great writing … authors such as Bobby Jones, Bernard Darwin, Herbert Warren Wind, James Dodson, Dan Jenkins, John Feinstein, and many others. Also, I’m on some golf sites that continually argue about the golf swing, the rules of golf, how to run a golf course, and even about the essence of golf. The passion and knowledge and insight on these sites is amazing.

Love. That’s a word we guys never used as kids … it seemed unmanly. But there is nothing unmanly about love. It takes strength to love and be motivated by love. Fear should not be the great motivator. A little fear is healthy and even wise … to be fearless is reckless and idiotic. But love is the great motivator – it can overcome fear, and it can drive the needed action.

I started this essay with a quote about love and putting. Maybe the secret to putting is love … a love of putting. I know that when I putt poorly that I putt from fear – I can’t stand to miss easy putts. Good putters love putting. Their love of putting overcomes their fear of missing.

Maybe we’ve solved the mystery Tommy Armour was talking about.
Cheers,

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