Author: graubergerkyle@gmail.com

Greetings Golfers,

As you probably know, many golf courses are struggling – public and private.

And, as you probably know, many people struggle to play decent golf.

I think both situations are related. The problem with both is the idea that one size fits all. Too many golf courses try to be everything to everyone. Sort of like the restaurant that has every type of food on the menu … it’s usually all bad.

Trying to make everyone swing the same way is also a recipe for failure.

Let me make a leap. You know how we’re always hearing about “celebrating our diversity”? Ironically, I think what many people who say that really mean is this – that they can make ALL types of people exactly the same.

I don’t think they like diversity at all. They want to take away the uniqueness of people and turn them into highly functioning robots.

This attitude has spread to all areas of our society.

We’ve become process driven instead of results driven. Process driven takes away creativity and uniqueness. Let people find a new way to get a result. Let people find a unique way to hit a golf ball. Let people find a unique way to run a golf course.

The “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”? I still believe in it. But, that’s the opposite of trying to make everybody the same.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Remember the scene in “Bull Durham” when Crash (Kevin Costner) is telling The Kid (Tim Robins) how to talk to the press when he makes the Big Leagues … that The Kid needs to use a bunch of dumb, bland cliches?

Aren’t people tired of that junk? Whether in sports or politics or business or anything … people are tired of phoniness – they want authenticity.

The former commissioner of the PGA Tour – Tim Finchem – created a product to sell to corporate sponsors by promising it would be squeaky clean. So if the players weren’t living up to the image … their exploits were covered up. How long have they been covering for Tiger? My sources say that this behavior has been going on for a long time.

Now I’m not advocating that players be under the microscope and sports coverage becomes the National Enquirer. But, I would like to see athletes lose the double-talk and cliches and talk like real people.

And I don’t mean that sleaziness or bad behavior is what makes someone real. I just want to know who they really are. And I think this goes hand-in-hand with this modern robotic golf swing. Last week at the Colonial … PGA Tour players tried to hit Hogan’s old clubs with a balata ball. They failed miserably.

Obviously the PGA Tour is not going to make a 180. However, I would love to see a bunch of players talk like real people, not swing like a robot, and not wear this “athletic” clothing … they look like dorks.

Last month they asked Rory McIlroy what is the all-time coolest picture in golf. He said the one at the 1966 Masters of Hogan & Palmer waiting at the tee box smoking cigarettes. Yeah – I agree.

“Bull Durham” was a great movie because the characters were so interesting … bland, phony people are not interesting … golf should figure that out.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

In the early 90’s … Deer Run was cursed with slow play. So, we came up with Fast Play Friday, which put us on the map and changed our culture. We became know as a course that you could play in around 4 hours every day of the week.

The challenge is to maintain that pace when the golf course is continually full from sunrise to sunset. Yesterday, we did just that. We were stuffed all day and it never got over the 4 hour mark for a round of golf.

I don’t say that to be smug or self-congratulatory … I say that to emphasize that it is a result of a culture that has developed and been continued for 20 years.

However, not everyone is acquainted with the nuances of playing golf at a reasonable pace.

So, hopefully without sounding tiresome, here are some tips to keep your round moving at a nice pace:

*    Play from the right set of tees.
*    If walking, don’t travel as a member of a pack all going to each others’ ball – go to your own ball.
*    If riding in a cart, go to the first ball and drop off the first player with a few clubs … then the other player goes to their ball.
*    Begin reading the green and lining up your putt as you walk to the green.
*    Get off the green after you putt … and write down the scores at the next tee box.
*    Keep your putter in your hand when you get to the cart and put it in your bag at the next tee box when you take out your club to use on the next hole’s tee box. Same thing with your driver – don’t put it in your bag until you’ve driven to your next shot.
*    Be considerate about lost balls. If it’s obviously way in the jungle, don’t waste your time. And don’t ask your playing partners to waste their time looking for your lost ball – they should be going to their next shot.
*    Don’t hunt for golf balls when playing golf.
*    Save your funny stories for waiting situations such as second shots on par 5s.
*    Don’t use a long set-up routine … it doesn’t help your game and is just annoying.

I hope those help. Golf should be fun and relaxing – not a race track. But, slow play is not fun and relaxing – it’s frustrating for your playing partners and the people behind you.

A 4 hour round is not “fast”. It’s equivalent to driving 60 mph on the freeway.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You seldom hear golfers talk about footwork. The modern swing emphasizes “the core”. Over the years, emphasis on hand-action and footwork has been almost eliminated.

Swinging a golf club is a lot like throwing a ball. Football announcers love to analyze the footwork of quarterbacks. Good footwork puts the quarterback into position to throw the ball. Same with the golf swing. Good footwork puts you in position to hit the ball with your hands.

Jackie Gleason had a bad “core” but he had great hands and footwork and was an excellent golfer. I’d take him as a playing partner over the gymnast with the great core.

Sam Snead had the best golf swing of all time … and probably had the best footwork.

Here’s a fun video about footwork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E_bpACouKU

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

The other night, a young man was in my office talking about his golf game. Nothing unusual about that, but what was unusual was that his friends said that he swings like a Tour Player and can’t break 100. What? And, all of his numbers on Trackman are perfect – launch angle, clubhead speed etc. And he plays like a Pro on an indoor simulator.

But golf is a game that is played outdoors on a golf course.

Here’s a great quote from Bobby Jones: “Golf is played by striking the ball with the head of the club. The objective of the player is not to swing the club in a specified manner, nor to execute a series of complicated movements in a prescribed sequence, nor to look pretty while he is doing it, but primarily and essentially to strike the ball with the head of the club so that the ball will perform according to his wishes. No one can play golf until he knows the many ways in which a ball can be expected to respond when it is struck in different ways. If you think this all should be obvious, please believe me when I assure you that I have seen many really good players attempt shots that they should have known were impossible.”

So what does Jones mean and how does that pertain to our Tour Swing 100 score golfer? You have to train your hands to control the clubhead. That goes for every shot – putting, chipping, irons, driving, bunker shots, etc. Your golf swing doesn’t hit the ball … your golf swing puts you in a position to hit the shot with your hands.

That basic fact has become lost or taken for granted on the modern obsession with developing a perfect powerful golf swing.

Work on your chipping. Become a great chipper of the golf ball. That skill will translate to control of the clubhead on all of your shots.

I told the young “Tour Player” that he needed to develop his hands. I hope he tries to do it … and I hope you do too.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You know how television news has fluff “feel good” features? Well, this is my turn.

I’m always hearing horror stories about entitlement attitudes and rude behavior from all age groups – but especially about kids. How about hearing a different version? In the last few weeks, we have hosted a college girls golf tournament, a boys high school golf tournament, and an MGA Super Seniors golf tournament.

During all three golf tournaments, the participants couldn’t have been nicer and more respectful. We’ve received thoughtful letters and emails from coaches and players. After the high school tournament, all of the players walked over and looked me in the eye, thanked me and shook my hand. I asked the coaches if they made the kids do this – they said no and that the kids did it on their own.

The college girl players were friendly, thankful, and respectful. And their coaches were the same way. Even the crotchety old senior guys were fun and thankful and gave our staff a spontaneous ovation … and the next day a few sent warm, grateful emails.

Don’t worry – society isn’t falling apart. Maybe everyone just needs to start playing golf.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Here is the Wikipedia definition of Hospitality: “The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers”. I’d agree – that pretty much nails it. And, they list these as synonyms: friendliness, welcome, warmth, kindness, courtesy, generosity, entertainment, and food.

Did you see the word “perfection”? … I didn’t either. In fact, I think if you want to ruin Hospitality, focus on perfection.

That’s because emphasizing perfection is not about emphasizing the atmosphere which is about friendliness, generosity, warmth, kindness, and courtesy.

Usually the focus on perfection is on the stuff and the timetable – not on the atmosphere.

If the host and/or hostess is uptight about the stuff and the timetable … the atmosphere will be ruined. Does that mean that I’m saying the stuff and timetable are irrelevant? Not at all. I’m just saying that they can’t be the focus.

We host a lot of golf events. While working with the hosts, I try to emphasize hospitality. Too often they think that more is more. No, less is more. Too much stuff and too much going on is annoying – not better.

Do you remember going to birthday parties as a kid that had way too much going on and weren’t fun? And yet, the host/hostess was running around with a fake smile saying “Aren’t we having fun?” That’s a pretty sure sign that no one is having fun.

One of our staff members told me about $10,000 high school graduation parties. Sounds to me more about keeping up (or surpassing) the Jones than about celebrating a graduation.

I’m not trying to be hostile … I’m just trying to clear up a fairly important subject. And, guests have a responsibility to be appreciative and grateful. But, the hosts need to be motivated by hospitality rather than getting kudos.

Making people feel welcome is the most important part of hospitality.

Hospitality is a very important part of our lives – business, friendships, family, neighbors, entertaining. Basically it’s following the Golden Rule. I often think that if people just followed the Golden Rule it would solve most of society’s problems. It’s the secret to being a good host … and being a good guest.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Due to popular demand … FunPlayFriday is returning next Friday, the 28th day of April.

Will it be as formal as I just presented the date of the event – not so much. In fact, stuffy is probably not associated with FPF.

The theme is 2017: A Golf Odyssey … the same as this year’s marketing theme … you may have seen the posters or heard the ads on the radio.

Be prepared for an other-worldly day of golf … just like the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Of course we will be serving a variety of spirits on many of the tee boxes. Look for a lively version of “Tang” – the one time favorite drink of astronauts.

Also included in the $75 fee is a buffet luncheon you can attend either before or after your round of golf.

And there will be prizes for best-dressed … the voting is probably rigged, but give it your best astronaut look anyway.

To inspire you, click here for our radio ad – 2017: A Golf Odyssey.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

You know that saying “April showers bring May flowers”? Well, I think for Minnesota it should be “May showers bring June flowers”. We’re about a month north of most of the country. But, a little rain shouldn’t stop your golf plans. Last Sunday the report was for rain – it rained for 15 minutes at 4pm – big deal. Because of this rain phobia inspired by an over active media to heighten the threat of storms, people waste valuable beautiful Minnesota days.

So, every year I send the following:

Did you ever see the episode of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM when Larry accused the weatherman of manipulating the weather reports so he can have the golf course all to himself?

Did you also know that episode was based on fact and that all weathermen manipulate their weather reports to keep people off the golf courses?

Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit … but not much.

Bad weather makes news. Bad weather keeps everyone tuned in. Gee, how did we survive before Doppler Weather reports?

Make your tee times dependent on your schedule – not the dubious reports of the weatherman. And, if it’s too nasty of weather – just cancel. Or, try it out and if it’s not fun, come inside for a raincheck, refund, etc. We’re not trying to take advantage of you trying to play golf in bad weather. I’ve heard of golf courses that won’t give rain checks if you play one hole – that’s real fair. We’re not like that. We’ll do whatever is fair. And, we’ll error on the side of getting you on the golf course. That’s what we do. We want people to play. We don’t do all of this work just so people can drive by and say “What a beautiful golf course.”

You’re under no risk making a reservation to play golf. And you’re under no risk trying to play if it looks like rain.

Try it – you’ll like it.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

How could I not write about the Masters? I love the Masters … maybe not as much as I used to … but on Sunday I may be saying it’s the best Masters ever – it can do that.

Why do I not love it as much as I used to? Because it seems to me it’s losing some of its charm. When I first went there in 1995 it was a life-changing experience – seriously. I wasn’t expecting how casual, and relaxed, and friendly, and intimate it was … I was expecting more of a typical Tour event, and sort of a phony/pretentious atmosphere. I was wrong – very wrong.

In 1995 we rolled in early Thursday morning for the first round. It was crowded, but easy to navigate, and no one seemed rushed. As we walked through the gate, I could see most of the golf course – it basically sits in a bowl. The elevation changes are more severe than they appear on tv. Then as we walked over to the first tee, I knew I was about to experience a unique golf tournament. The Starter was an elderly Southern Gentleman sitting at a table with a rock holding down the tee sheets. He slowly stood-up and announced “Sandy Lyle – driving” then slowly sat down before Lyle hit his tee shot.

It all felt like that. Everyone was courteous, no one was in a hurry. The food stands were even relaxed while they were selling 1$ pimento cheese sandwiches and 75 cent Cokes. Of course we bought folding chairs and parked them right on the 15th tee box – literally right behind the bench that the players sat on. Because 15 is a reachable par 5, the hole got backed up and there were usually 3 three-somes waiting to tee off. Because of the back up, the players turned around and talked to us like we were all at a party. Players were telling jokes, Ben Crenshaw talked to kids, and Jack Nicklaus held court about playing in his first Masters and having the shanks at the range.

On Friday while hanging around the 18th green, I saw a buddy of mine who was repping Arnold Palmer’s line of golf clubs. He insisted that I come over and meet Arnie who was sitting behind the green just talking to people. I argued that I didn’t know Palmer and wasn’t into celebrities. He basically dragged me over while saying that Arnie isn’t like that. So when we got there, I was looking at Palmer’s clubs and admiring his leather grips. He noticed my interest and asked if I also wrapped my clubs with leather grips (which I used to do in those days). Thus began an easy, casual conversation about the art of gripping golf clubs.

Speaking of golf clubs, all of the players were using wooden drivers to shape their shots. And there was no rough. The golf course looked like one big green. A wild shot had nothing to stop it … it would just roll until it ended up in a bad place. Eleven years later when I came back in 2006, there was light rough – not enough to really affect a shot, but enough to stop the ball from endlessly rolling. They said that they “Tiger-proofed” the course, but I think they set it up for him to win. The added yardage weeded out most of the field, and that light rough kept Tiger’s errant tee shots in play.

And in 2006 there were corporate tents. And the crowds seemed massive and unfriendly – a women went crazy because I was smoking a cigar.

I probably sound like a crabby old guy. I might be, but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Of course I still love the Masters and have been fired up all week. I just hope that Sunday is exciting and that the heart and soul of Bobby Jones continues to permeate Augusta National.

Cheers,

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