Author: graubergerkyle@gmail.com

Greetings Golfers,

Tomorrow is our 26th Annual Ranger/Starter Meeting.
About 15 years ago at this meeting, I introduced sort of a mission statement. It was called the 3 C’s – Communication, Courtesy, and Commonsense.

It was not a rule book. It just emphasized the need for our staff to use their head. One of our Rangers wanted more signs telling people what not to do. I explained that’s why we have Rangers and not signs. Too often signs are scolding – people don’t play golf to be scolded.

And I don’t want our Rangers scolding people. That’s why the 3 C’s matter. If the Rangers communicate in a courteous way and use common sense … no one gets scolded. Do we need Rangers to keep play moving? Yes. And do we need Rangers to offer assistance if needed. Yes. Signs can’t do those things.

The 3 C’s are at the heart of all service businesses. Robots and signs can’t substitute for a Courteous person with Commonsense who is a good Communicator.

You’d get a kick out of our interview process. Basically, it’s all about the culture of Deer Run GC. If they don’t get it, they don’t get hired – no matter how wonderful their resume may be.

The three C’s – it’s not rocket science … but it’s vital for a good customer experience.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

We will be officially open as of 10:30am today, March 29, 2017.

How official was that?

We’re ready. The course is in good shape … excellent shape for being March in Minnesota. The cool Power Tee range is ready to be used. The Pro Shop already looks great. The Pub is stocked up with a full mix of tap beers and other necessary food and drink.

And … wait until you see the new silver EZGo golf carts.

And … Senior rates for everyone all day, everyday until May.

See you soon,

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

Greetings Golfers,

During the off-season I read a lot of golf sites and even get into quite a few “discussions”. At the end of February I bid farewell until November. But, every now and then I take a peek … and it kills me not to respond.

Some of the sites are full of golf instructors whose ideas of the golf swing are unbelievably technical. I almost said absurdly or ridiculously instead of “unbelievably” … I’m trying to be nice.

However, one site went completely the other way yesterday – they basically said that nothing matters – “just swing”. What???? Maybe you can “just swing” if you already have a great swing or are a one-in-a-million natural golfer … but for most people that is insane advice. That would be like telling someone who’s trying to learn a new language to just speak it.

Of course much teaching in golf – or anything – has become too focused on breaking it all down, instead of understanding the fundamentals and finding a natural way to incorporate those fundamentals into a golf swing.

Obviously the pendulum swings back and forth with every idea and concept … but right now I believe that golf has gone goofy in both directions.

Ironically, the leader of the technocrats – Homer Kelley – once said “You can be in all of the correct positions and still miss the ball”. Yes. The emphasis needs to be on contact. How to make contact and what proper contact really is.

Just because golf instruction has gotten too technical doesn’t mean that anything goes. To me, I’m very accepting of “weird” swings as long as they get the job done. They work because the player has found a consistent way to make good contact and control the ball.

Work on chipping and half-wedge shots. That’s the best way I know of to learn proper contact.

Don’t get obsessed with reading golf sites.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Today is the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.

As most of you know, this is the first time the tournament has been played since Arnie passed away last fall.

The first round scores weren’t great – even Orlando has been hit with cold weather. Speaking of cold weather … obviously my prediction of opening our course today was wrong … probably by a week. So we’re shooting for Friday, March 24 … wish us luck.

Back to the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Local boy – Tim Herron – shot even par 72, which was a very good score on a cold, windy day. Tim won the tournament in 1999. This has always been a big tournament, but is especially big this year because of the memory of Arnie. I cannot emphasize enough how much Arnie did for golf. The PGA Tour would probably not be a big deal if it wasn’t for Arnold Palmer.

So, of course all of the big names in golf are in Orlando to pay their respects to the man who made their unbelievable lives possible. Wrong. Everyone in the golf media is making excuses for the big names who are not attending Arnold’s tournament. Maybe those media types want to maintain their relationships with the no-shows … or maybe they really don’t think it’s a big deal to honor Arnold Palmer. Either way is wrong and disrespectful.

I meant to write about Arnie’s grip. Though he had a funny looking swing – he had a great golf grip. And he also had a great grip on the game of golf … because he had a great grip on the importance of people. Ironically, his “grip” has been lost on many people who should understand.

Let’s hope that the weather warms up and Tim Herron wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Spring is almost here. St. Patrick’s Day is next Friday, March 17. And the first day of Spring is Monday, March 20.

Obviously the weather lately has been crazy. Every year we seem to open the course at the same time the ice goes out on Lake Minnetonka. We don’t plan it that way, it just falls like that. Well, we’re tentatively planning on opening next Friday … will we be serving green beer? Maybe. But for sure we will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day – especially if it’s 57 degrees as the Weather Service is predicting.

It’s always an early Spring when we open before the Masters. They’ve had such unusually warm weather in Augusta that they’re worried the azaleas won’t be in their normal blooming colors for the tournament. What players do you think will be “blooming” at the Masters? I think this might be Rickie Fowlers year … he’s been hitting it great and putting really well. You have putt well to win the Masters. What’s happened to Jason Day’s putting? Is his back affecting his putting? I don’t think Rory is putting well enough to win it. Henrik Stenson hits it great but … he can’t putt well enough to tame Augusta National. What’s happened to Patrick Reed? He looked like the best player in the world at Hazeltine last Fall during the Ryder Cup. He’s been brutal so far in 2017.

How’s your game? Are you ready to tee-it-up here next Friday? Some courses have already opened – did you play then? Did you get away this Winter for a few rounds?

I’ve been swinging a “fan” type of practice club and the Orange Whip. Of course I’m convinced that my swing is stronger … I’ll find out after we open. But if I’m not longer, I’ll blame it on the wind and wet fairways.

I love Spring. I just hope the weatherman is right and we can open the golf course.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Before last week’s PGA Tour event in Florida, Ricky Fowler switched to a shorter shaft on his driver. He won the tournament by 4 shots.

Bigger isn’t always better. Years ago, Nike came out with a shorter shafted driver with 13 degrees of loft. I bought a bunch for the Pro Shop. The Nike rep (at the time) was an old friend and tried to talk me out of it. I never liked Nike … they’re just a marketing company who doesn’t make anything … but, they were onto something with those drivers.

Obviously, smaller isn’t always better either. Better is better … and has to do more with proper proportion. A super short shaft is as foolish as a super long shaft. Or a super big clubhead vs a super small clubhead.

Let’s keep going with this: A really long golf course or a really short golf course? Too many courses were built way too long because of the Bigger is Better attitude.

And, quality is a factor that shouldn’t be ignored. For example: a huge plate of bad food or an average plate of good food? Sounds obvious, but it happens all the time … people get fooled by the Bigger is Better propaganda.

It’s always a balance … quantity or quality? But, how much quantity vs how much quality? Down South I can play golf at some really cheap courses – but they aren’t even worth playing they’re so bad … yet, some resort courses are so expensive that they’re not worth it either. But again, those are personal choices. I try to find what I like at a price that seems reasonable. Usually it’s not a “great deal”, but it’s what I like and not too much money where I feel ripped-off. It feels fair. What a concept!

The attitude of always trying to get more than what you paid for, probably leads to the Bigger is Better thing. And of course, there are people out there to take advantage of that greedy attitude … it gives them a way to sell stuff you really don’t want, because it’s “such a good deal”.

I’m finally learning to get what is right for me – not just letting someone sell me a “good deal”.

Looks like Ricky Fowler figured it out … bigger isn’t always better.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Do you remember that scene in “Scent of a Woman” when Al Pacino says “How’s that for cornball?” Well … I’m a cornball. I get moved pretty easily and I love inspirational stories … cornball.

Last Saturday was as inspirational as it gets. I was invited to give golf lessons to Disabled American Veterans at the Marine Base at Parris Island, South Carolina. It was a beautiful day and packed with DAV guys and their families and volunteers.

I’d been complaining all week about my sore neck and screwed-up elbow. Sometimes we need a wake-up call. I saw a half-paralyzed guy hit drives with one arm like a machine – he never missed – and the paralyzed side was his GOOD side … he had to learn to swing with his weak side! Another guy swung from a special golf cart … and killed it with a half-swing just using his arms! I could go on and on … it was amazing!

We’re they complaining? None of ’em. They’d learned not to take anything for granted … they were fun, friendly, grateful, and into it.

If that can’t make you a cornball … nothing can.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Information. We all want information … to be “informed”. How can we make good decisions if we don’t know what’s going on?

I just finished reading “Propaganda” a book written in 1928 by Edward Bernays – the nephew of Sigmund Freud. Bernays praises propaganda … in fact, he uses propaganda to defend propaganda!

Here’s what he says about the use of propaganda “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in a democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”

Sounds pretty sinister to me – but not to Bernays … he thinks it’s great! His theories and ideas have been used by business, government, and education ever since. He was known as the “father of public relations”.

Isn’t there a big difference between education and propaganda?

Isn’t that why our First Amendment includes freedom of speech and freedom of the press?

As Lincoln said “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. But, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”.

Why am I so ramped up about all of this? Well, I’m on some golf sites that argue about golf instruction. Some guys believe that there should be only one method of golf instruction. Wow. I believe in certain golf swing fundamentals – but there are many ways to get there … and many ways to teach.

Same with running a golf course. Was at a meeting yesterday with some smart people about helping golf owners to survive and thrive. Hospitality emerged as the biggest need … and probably most abused. The corporate operators who own many courses emphasized training. I – representing single courses – emphasized hiring. That makes sense … the big guys want a blank slate … little operations like Deer Run don’t want robots – we want natural “people persons”.

But, no matter how it’s spun, golfers need to learn certain swing fundamentals … and golf operations need to make sure that they have great hospitality. Propaganda can’t change either one of those.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Ten years ago on Super Bowl Sunday, it was -20 degrees in Minnesota. Today, 5 days after Super Bowl Sunday, it might hit 50 degrees in Minnesota.

You better be thinking March golf in Minnesota.

Speaking of the Super Bowl … how crazy was that! And how unbelievable have the recent major championships been in the world of sports?

About a month ago, the NCAA Football Championship game was as amazing as this year’s Super Bowl. Clemson winning with one second to go in the game … really?

And just a few months ago, the Chicago Cubs won maybe the most exciting World Series of all time. I say maybe, because the Twins-Braves Series in 1991 was as good as it gets … and, I actually remember the 1960 World Series when Pittsburg beat the Yankees on a walk-off home run in game 7.

The next big sports thrill is March Madness … last year’s championship game was mind-boggling also … remember Villanova winning on a last second shot?

Don’t forget about golf … how good was the Ryder Cup?

The next big golf event is the Masters. I love all of the Majors … but the Masters is my favorite. Can it live up to all of the other incredible sports championships of the past year? Wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

So Tiger Woods withdrew after the first round in Dubai. Supposedly he had back spasms that wouldn’t relax. He also shot 77 – that probably added to his lack of interest in playing the second round.

As you’ve heard me say before … I’m no lover of this modern golf swing with all of the emphasis on body positions and resistance. No has ever swung the club better than Sam Snead, and he played very well into old age. Everyone talks about Tiger catching Jack’s record of winning Majors … but catching Snead’s record of winning tournaments is even more unrealistic.

Jason Day – the current number one player in the world – is also dealing with back problems … and he’s a kid!

Many years ago Tommy Armour was the best golf instructor in the world – he emphasized good foot work and good hand action. Good footwork is what allows the body to wind-up (pain free) and gets the body back in position on the downswing to hit the ball with the hands. The human body hasn’t changed since Tommy Armour gave golf lessons.

Last week when when I was in Orlando, I was talking to an old friend who has moved to North Carolina. Joe was a good player in Minnesota and has done well in Carolina PGA events. He was telling me that he just came back from a seminar about how to putt with your back muscles – he was pretty impressed. I asked Joe why he thought that he’d been a good player over the years … he said “I’ve got good hands”. So I asked why he would want to quit using his hands and putt with his back muscles. I then asked how old was this putting guru – he was a young guy.

Nothing wrong with being young … but he’s all about hypothetical. He hasn’t been around long enough to see what works. Real science tests the hypotheses.

While at the PGA Show, I met the inventor of the Orange Whip. While he’d been caddying on the Tour, he noticed that they all seemed to have the same swing … not the same body action. Their swings seemed to have the same timing of swinging the clubhead. So he invented this whippy shaft with a big orange ball at the end of the shaft. He had me swing it back and forth, and use my feet to keep my balance so I could keep swinging without stopping.

Mister Orange Whip is really on to something.

I wish Tiger Woods and Jason Day and everyone else would stop working on this modern swing and just start swinging an Orange Whip … and start chipping and putting with their hands.

How can you putt with your back muscles?

Cheers,

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