Author: graubergerkyle@gmail.com

Greetings Golfers,

A few years ago, I wrote a blog about the show “Bar Rescue”. The point was that what really needed to be changed was their culture. The host – Jon Taffer – could do cool physical makeovers, but the real problem was always much deeper.

A good culture is based on respect. And a culture of respect has to be fought for. And those battles have to be won. If the leaders allow the customers to disrespect the staff, and if the staff is allowed to disrespect each other … a culture of respect cannot thrive. The customers will not be treated with genuine respect … we can all feel the difference.

I’ve taken over a golf internet site. The former administrator gave me the reins because I don’t have an agenda and don’t want to monetize it – I just want a forum to discuss golf. But, people don’t seem to know how to argue without it becoming personal. Yesterday, Harvey Mackay had a great blog about having healthy arguments. He talked about how much he’s learned from being a part of employee arguments. I agree. However, they have to be respectful.

Sometimes we blow it. Especially if we’re passionate about what we’re arguing about. Well, then we need to apologize. Over the years, I’ve noticed a certain type of person who cannot say “I’m sorry” or “thank you”. It goes hand-in-hand. They are “entitled”. How could they ever say “sorry”? … they always had the right to do whatever they wanted. Or say “thanks”? … they always deserved it.

Those are the people who are poison to a healthy culture.

If we really want to get along with other people, we need to be respectful and not “entitled”.

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,

Have you been to a restaurant that has everything on the menu? Italian, Chinese, Mexican, ribs, seafood, French, burgers, sushi, wraps … you know what I mean. They probably once had an identity, but started to lose money and then thought they could be successful by being everything to everyone. Or, maybe they never had a clear vision and just kept adding to their menu in the hope that something might work.

More seldom means better. Better is better. Focus usually leads to better.

Panic seldom leads to good decision making. Usually when you’re in panic mode your mind is racing. Did you see Jon Rahm hit it into the water on #11 on Sunday at The Player’s Championship. You know that his head was spinning. Years ago, Tom Weiskopf said that one sign of choking is making bad decisions.

Panic leads to poor decisions in everything – not just sports. The restaurant that’s losing money and in panic mode is not helping things by overly expanding their menu. The golf course that is losing money and trying to be everything to everyone will end up like Jon Rahm hitting it in the water. Golf has a lot of niches and the secret to success is to know your niche.

Does that mean being different just to be different? Not at all – it means knowing who you are. Remember when Coca-Cola abandoned Coke Classic? They almost folded.  There will always be a market for classic things – especially if what made them classic is continued. Too often, what made a product classic was cheapened because the company thought that the name was enough to fool the public.

I’m all for options. But, I’m also for integrity and quality. And I think most people are too. They may not want the same things … but they don’t want junk.

That famous saying “Know thyself” … also applies to business.

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,

Yesterday was the opening round of the Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass. You know, the course with the island green. The wife of the course architect  is the one who came up with the idea. Alice Dye helped Pete with many projects … but this was her claim-to-fame.

Is it a bucket-list golf course? Probably. But not a must. Most of us have limited time and money, so we have to prioritize. It’s fun to play, and the 17th green is an “experience”.

Some people live for “experiences” … even if they’re not so good. For example, about 25 years ago I played Sawgrass as a single. They paired me up with 2 other single players … ironically, both were from Chicago. I knew that I was off to an odd day when after introducing myself, one of the guys asked if I knew a girl he went to college with from Minnesota – my wife. Seriously.

However, it got even weirder. The other guy told me that he was a sales rep and always played Sawgrass when he was in the area. He must of been successful at sales because it was a pretty expensive round of golf – and I don’t mean just the green fee. He opened the jacket compartment of his golf bag and showed me that it was full of golf balls. You can’t believe how many golf balls were in there. Yet, it wasn’t enough. He refilled after 9 holes. Seriously.

Is it that difficult of a golf course? No. In fact if you’re pretty straight, you’ll have no problem. We played off the standard tees – not the back tees. I’m sure it’s a different course from back there. But, we played the 17th hole – the island green – from the back tees. It wasn’t windy and really wasn’t that scary. Two of us hit the green … I think you know who didn’t.

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,

Everybody is in search of the perfect swing. I get it. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time and energy and thought about the perfect golf swing.

However, a good golf swing can hit a lot of different golf shots. That’s more important than a “perfect” swing. And, a swing that can hit a lot of different shots can usually fix itself.

What do I mean? Well, most people slice or fade the golf ball. There’s nothing wrong with that. Fading is a necessary golf shot. But, if that’s your only shot, you have a problem. You need to be able to hook or draw the golf ball also.

You really need to learn to hit 9 golf shots:

High draw or hook
Medium height draw or hook
Low draw or hook

High straight shot
Medium height straight shot
Low straight shot

High slice or fade
Medium height slice or fade
Low slice or fade

Think about it. If you can hit each of those 9 shots … your golf swing works. And works very well. It might not be pretty. It might not be classic. It might not be modern. But, it works.

Now, I can just hear people saying: “But, I don’t want to learn those shots … I just want to hit it straight.” That’s how you learn to hit it straight. If you can slice it and hook it … you can work your swing into the middle so you can hit it straight. Same thing with hitting it high and low.

Learn how to make the ball spin. It is the same science as ping pong. Giving the ping pong ball top-spin or cut-spin is the same action as a golf club doing hook-spin or slice-spin.

Also, it’s fun. This is how you’ll really understand the golf swing. You need to learn how to control the face of the golf club and the path of the swing. Then different shots make sense.

Maybe you’ll master them all and play golf as a master shotmaker. Or, maybe you’ll find the shot you’re most comfortable with and play it most of the time … and only hit the other shots when you need to.

Or maybe … you’ll learn the secret to the perfect swing … if you do … please let me know!

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 writing this from Mobile, Alabama. Took a detour home to visit an old college buddy. We didn’t play golf, but could have … the weather’s been beautiful. I know … hasn’t been beautiful back home in Minnesota.

We were hoping to have an early start. Over the last 30 years, our normal opening date has been April 4. Last year was by far our latest opener. Obviously, we were hoping the scales would balance and we could open in March. I’d be thrilled for April 4.

No matter how much we want to open the golf course, we never force it. Barry does an amazing job, it’s always in pristine condition … we can’t risk that by opening too early.

The main concern every year is the health of the greens. Bent grass is more sensitive than the grass in your yard. Especially grass cut that short. And, your lawn doesn’t have to be perfect. Our greens do.

What are perfect greens? Firm enough to provide a smooth putting surface, yet soft enough to hold a well struck iron shot. You don’t want a sponge. Sure it could hold shots – even miss-hit shots – but how much fun is it to putt on a sponge?

We want the ball to putt well. That means that the putt rolls out. I think we all have a sense for how far a putt should roll. Greens that are too slow are annoying because the putt never rolls out – it stops too soon. And the other extreme is also annoying – it just keeps on rolling.

To get the greens firm and to roll out at the proper speed is a science … but especially a work of art. Barry has accomplished this at Deer Run GC. Now we need the help of Mother Nature.

I played a few rounds as a walk-up single before I left. Each group left the flagstick in the hole for all putts. It was weird at first … but sort of nice not having to worry about tending the pin. I’m worried about players misusing the new rule by taking it in and out while putting. Talk about annoying – it could be mind-boggling if abused. Maybe we could have a local rule that once it’s taken out, that it stays out until everyone putts out. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Well, I should back in the Clubhouse next week. Drop by if you know any secrets to warm up the weather. Maybe that old saying about March will be true: “In like a lion, out like a lamb”. We deserve 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,

Golf is not all about the PGA TOUR. Most professional sports are about viewing – not playing. I watch the NFL, but I don’t play football. I have some crazy friends who still play hockey … but most of us are satisfied with playing golf.

So, the Tour is not vital to golf. Golf is more about playing the game than following the Tour. However, last week was not good for the PGA TOUR and golf.

The PGA TOUR was originally a winter tour of warm weather states for Northern PGA club pros to make some extra money. These were not rich guys. Television and Arnold Palmer changed everything. It became a tour of professional golfers – not golf professionals.

All professional sports have changed. I remember when MN Twins and Vikings used to have off season jobs such as selling cars or insurance.

Professional athletes were local heroes, but they were seldom rich.

Well, that’s all changed. Professional athletes are rich. The money is unbelievable. And, as we know, with money comes problems. Sure, money solves problems … but it creates other problems. Mainly in terms of perception and responsibility for those who have it.

Just ask Matt Kuchar. Last week, it became public that Kuchar only paid a caddie $5,000 after he won a tournament last fall in Mexico. He won $1,296,000. Normally, a caddie receives 10%. Well, this was a fill-in caddie and they had a last minute agreement.

This blew-up on social media … Kuchar at first defended his action by saying that $5,000 was a lot of money to this Mexican caddie. That did not help. After getting booed while playing in the Tour event at Riviera … Kuchar and his PR team came up with an apology and paid the caddie $50,000.

Perception. Ouch. Golf struggles with a perception as a rich guy game. This did not help.

Then, on Sunday, JB Holmes wins the tournament at Riviera playing a 5 1/2 hour round … 2 holes behind the rest of the field.

Slow play and entitled rich guys. If I’m the PGA TOUR Commissioner … I’ve got work to do.

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,

My wife and I have been watching one of those shows about lawyers. What makes it work (for me) are their conversations. They always make their point in a clear, simple way. And, back and forth. I don’t mean in the court room … I mean in their daily dealings with each other. I know, I know … it’s television … no one can really do that, at least not consistently … but it’s fun to watch.

Simplify, simplify. It’s a good motto. But, I need time to simplify and clarify. How often have you walked away from an argument … and then had your rebuttal? Me too. That’s why those actors have scripts … they’re not winging it.

However, it pertains to everything. How about your golf swing? We all want a nice, simple swing that we clearly understand.

And, as a golf course manager, we all want a nice, simple operation that we clearly understand. It’s funny, I’d been thinking about this concept over the weekend for my next blog. Then yesterday, I stopped over and talked to Mike Harmon at Secession GC. I respect Mike as much as I respect anyone in the golf industry. He’s built Secession from the ground floor into one of the best golf clubs in the country. I love talking to Mike.

So yesterday, what does he want to talk about? Simplifying. About how necessary it is to constantly try to simplify your golf operation. We talked about it for over an hour. It’s easy to make things complicated. Actually, it’s not smart … it’s lazy. Life is complicated. It’s our job to prioritize and organize. Otherwise it’s a mess. A complicated mess.

Here’s the difference between reality and tv: Mike and I had to talk for an hour to make our points. But it was worth it. Real life is still better than tv – even if we’re slower to make our points.

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,

On Monday I played my usual 1pm game with those characters I’ve mentioned in past blogs. Well, I finally had a putt for birdie. About 8 feet, but downhill/sidehill and it had me a little spooked. My stroke was pathetic … and the ball wobbled weakly and stopped a foot short of the hole. One of the guys said that it was bad contact … yeah … thanks for telling me.

Later that night, I was reading a post that Brad Faxon made on a golf website about his putting. He was mad that he’d been referred to as a “natural putter”. He even posted copies of his hand-written notes about his practice sessions. But, what really hit me was when he talked about learning from Ben Crenshaw. Crenshaw told Faxon that he let himself move right on his backswing (remember this is putting!) to make sure that his backswing was twice as long as his follow through. Woah. What was that? Conventional wisdom was that they should match … or even the follow through should be LONGER. But, Crenshaw wanted to give the ball a HIT.

Think about it … if you want to punch someone … do you make a little backswing and emphasize the follow through? Of course not. You wind-up and make sure that when you hit … you hit HARD … at impact.

Crenshaw was known for a long, fluid putting stroke with a definite hit at the ball. This is what Faxon worked on as he made his way to number one in putting.

Now, I’m pretty good at chipping. And I definitely give it a hit. Not a scoop … not a flip … a hit. I try to make a fluid stroke … but I hit it.

Let’s take this further. Your golf swing should hit the ball. I know some people just lift up the club and crash down on the ball. That’s not what I want. I want you to have soft, relaxed hands and make a full rhythmical swing … and give the ball a hit!

All golf swings should be a swinging HIT. Well, not all. Not bunker shots or flop shots … because on those shots you don’t want solid contact. But, on most shots you want solid contact. That means a “swinging hit”.

Even on slippery downhill putts.

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,

While at the PGA Show last week, I could feel something was going on … but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  But then, while walking around the equipment showrooms, it hit me. There are two main golf worlds – Sport or Game.  Can golf be both? Sure. But for most people, it leans heavily one way or another.

A lot of the new golf clothing seems to be more game oriented. It’s good looking stuff that you could wear anywhere.  Back when metal woods took over about the same time Tiger came on the scene … golf went more “sport” than “game”. Nike jumped in with its mock-turtleneck shirt and “athletic” clothes … and the other companies followed suit.  The golf swing became more about the body than the hands … and the emphasis was on hitting it far. Golf courses got longer … and you were supposed to be lifting weights in the off season.

Let’s be honest … are you lifting weights so you can hit it farther?  I’d love to hit it farther … but I keep hoping the golf gods are going to sprinkle some magic on me … I’m not lifting weights.

I guess I lean toward the game side. Maybe even a lot. I love to play golf. Play. Maybe that’s the key word. Golf for me is play … fun … recreation.

A sport sounds serious. If you’re a Tour player … it probably has to be a sport. Same with a college golf team … or even a high school golf team.

However, if you’re playing for fun … you’re probably a game person. And if you are, the golf clothing this year is better than ever. You can wear it out to dinner – not to the gym.

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 in Orlando for the annual PGA Show. I love seeing everything: clubs, clothes, computer systems, etc. And, I especially love seeing the people of the golf industry.

But, it’s not just a party … we do a lot of purchasing.

So, to get extra sharp at negotiating, I just read “Never Split The Difference” by Chris Voss. Mr. Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator and has some pretty interesting ideas. He especially emphasizes the power of no. He understands that negotiating is all about trust. All of these tricks to get someone “to yes” … can backfire. It’s easy to get someone to say yes to bland questions such as “Do you like nice weather” … but that’s not really establishing rapport. Both parties need to be able to say no … otherwise the negotiation is not real.

We all have to learn how to say no. Remember that silly Jim Carey movie when he says yes to everything. That’s not freeing yourself up or becoming positive … you’re just eliminating your judgement and being a robot who does anything.

I’ve wrestled with this all of my life. My nature is to be a people pleaser. That’s why I’m in the hospitality business. But, to really please the most people, I have to say no to many individual requests. Our operation can’t do everything. I can’t say yes to everything. People can’t just order things we don’t have on the menu … people can’t buy clubs below cost … people can’t play too early in the morning and get in the way of our grounds crew … people can’t set-up their own league within our leagues … people can’t stay in the pub all night … we can’t host weddings. Obviously, I could go on and on.

Of course people are going to try to get special treatment. I get it. But, it usually comes at the detriment of our service to everyone else. Good for them … bad for most of our customers.

Our goal is to provide a great golf experience. Ironically, saying yes to everyone’s whims would defeat our mission.

That means that I have to say no.

Negotiating is about getting to what is best. The title of Voss’ book says “Never Split The Difference” because the 50/50 compromise usually isn’t what is right – it’s just usually a way out that won’t work or last. Remember the tale about King Solomon offering to cut the baby in half? Same concept. Doing the right thing is not always easy … especially in negotiations. No is necessary to doing the right thing. Too often yes is not a positive … it’s just an easy way out.

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