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