Author: graubergerkyle@gmail.com

Greetings Golfers,

I’ve got too many things to talk about for a short blog … but, I think they’re all related … so here we go.

Last week, Ted Potter Jr. held off a group of golf superstars to win the PGA Tour event at Pebble Beach. Potter held them off while he held control of his emotions – very impressive.

Potter’s agent is Chris Kosiba. Chris plays in the Deer Run Mens League. Should you and all of us connected with Deer Run take credit for Ted Potter’s victory? Probably.

I recently read an article about Doug Pederson – the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The article is about “Leading with Emotional Intelligence” … something that Coach Pederson excels at. Here are some of his EQs:

• Be Visible – “It’s the only way you can build relationships”
• Have Empathy – “I know when it’s time to give players a break.”
• Never allow adversity to get you or your team down – change the narrative to see challenges as opportunities.
• Provide a purpose higher than self. Give your team the opportunity to align with something mission-driven.

This is great stuff. Inspirational instead of motivating out of fear. Emotional Intelligence. Coaches are important people, and they don’t have an easy job. Did you read the article the other day about the Brainerd Hockey coach? He’s resigning because the parents are crazy. This is an ex-cop who’s coached for 22 years and had a lot of success. Not some kid who’s in over his head. Parents have to learn Emotional Intelligence too. Parents are coaches to their kids.

Sports are games … not life or death. And, 99.9% of kids are not going to be professional athletes. When one of my sons played high school baseball, I sat on a folding chair and watched from along the outfield fence. The parents in the stands behind home-plate were crazy … and not in a fun way.

We all need to work on our Emotional Intelligence. If coaches can lead the way – all the better. Coaches more than most roles are in a gold-fish-bowl and micromanaged at an incredible level. So, maybe their success with Emotional Intelligence will be more noticeable than it would be with other leaders.

And don’t underestimate how much it matters in golf … in your success on the scorecard … and your success as being a desirable playing companion.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM/Head Golf Professional

Greetings Golfers,

This is a big weekend for televised golf. Super Bowl fans will probably watch golf as an appetizer for the big meal/game. And the Phoenix Open is the perfect excuse to start eating and drinking … if the fans at the tournament are an example. The par three 16th hole has become a full blown circus … or a lions den … depending if you’re a player or a fan. (Sounds like the Super Bowl to me).

I like sports. I like to play sports … and I like to watch sports. But I like to watch sports less and less every year. Last week on the PGA Tour, Sunday’s final group took 6 1/2 hours. Don’t forget … they play in 3somes.

I just read that 5 1/2 hours is now the average pace of play on the Tour. That’s unimaginable. I played yesterday in South Carolina at a very difficult golf course in a 6some (I played with the Head Pro and his Assistants). It wasn’t a Tour event, but we had games going, so it was fairly serious … and we played in 4 hours … as a 6some!

I think that the main problem is that so many of these guys practice more than they play. They are so mechanical and so dependent on knowing exact yardages and playing like a robot. Their pre-shot routines are mind-boggling. And the conversations with their caddies are like watching a catcher come out to talk to the pitcher on every pitch. This has to stop. And baseball has to stop its madness also. Play the game!

Last Sunday, Roger Federer won the Australian Open in 5 sets in about 3 hours – half as long as it took the PGA guys to play their rounds. Does that make any sense?

If the PGA Tour wants decent tv ratings, they better fix this problem. And why do the networks show so much putting? Who cares? I care if it’s the leaders … but they just show random guys sinking long putts … WOW! That’d be like NBA highlight programs showing guys making meaningless free throws. Is this rocket science … or are they just clueless and/or lazy?

Let’s hope the Phoenix Open is fun to watch. I won’t talk about the Super Bowl … I’m still sulking.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM/Head Golf Professional

Greetings Golfers,

I’m writing this from the PGA Show in Orlando. I love the PGA Show as much as anyone (probably more). I get to spend 3 or 4 days seeing the latest in

 golf clubs and golf clothing.
And, everything from cigars to golf carts to range pickers to tee time software … and the latest crazy gadgets and inventions.

But, what I really love is seeing the other people in the golf business. Most of them are really into it. Probably the most intense and passionate are the golf swing instructors … they are on a pursuit of the truth. The arguments about the golf swing are about as intense as our political arguments today in America.

Tuesday evening had a forum of some gurus of the golf swing world. I’m sure most of you know who Brandel Chamblee is of the Golf Channel. He’s become well known as a bright anaylist … and a brash, opinionated guy. I’ve always gotten a kick out of him … but, I’ve got friends and family who can’t stand him. I don’t think they object to his ideas as much as they don’t like his manner … they think he’s arrogant and brash. And that’s their opinion. I love opinions. That’s why I get a kick out of Chamblee. But, not everyone believes in the freedom of speech. They say they do … but, not really. They want to shut down people who have opinions they don’t like. Obviously, if you find someone rudely opinionated … you don’t have to hang around them. However, they do have a right to voice their opinions in debates, forums, or the press.

I heard that about 30 golf instructors wanted to come and disrupt Chamblee’s presentation at Tueday’s forum … but, weren’t allowed in. If they were planning on causing a riot and not letting Chamblee speak … that’s not right. But, if they just wanted to debate him, I believe they should have had that opportunity.

Well, after Chamblee gave his talk, he was in the lobby talking with the guys that invited me to the forum. So, of course we got into talking about the golf swing. Here’s a link of your’s truly showing Chamblee some drills that I think are vital for beginning golfers. Too often, golf instructors are only interested in what’s the best technique for the best players in the world. There is not nearly enough information about what beginning golfers need to learn … and how the golf swing progresses and evolves. Most golfers are totally confused about the golf swing. And too many golf instructors are too obsessed with their idea of the perfect swing … to the detriment of what most people need to understand so that they can practice simple drills and become better players.

And maybe we’re having the same problems in political discourse in America. Of course people are going to have different ideas. That’s healthy. But it’s not healthy if people are not allowed to express their differing opinions. The pursuit of the truth is worth the price.

Greetings Golfers,

I’m writing this from South Carolina. Don’t be jealous … MN might be warmer today than SC.

So, since Minnesota has very little snow and is enjoying a heat wave … we may have an early Spring. That means golf is right around the corner. And that means you need to be golf ready.

Am I golf ready because I’ve been Down South? Hardly. We’ve had terrible weather … actually have had snow and ice. And, I got that flu over Christmas and it never left my body … maybe it’s a return of the Black Plague.

Anyway, my game is hardly razor sharp. So, I’m going to start with the basics … this what I’m going to work on, maybe you should too.

First off is my stance. I always need to work on my stance. It can get too wide and too bent over. My natural instinct is to set my hands too low. Because I’m a hands player, this feels good, but it leads to just lifting up the club instead of making a good turn on the backswing. The too wide of stance can lead to making too big of weight shifts and not enough turning during my swing. I need to play a lot to overcome those faults that a bad stance puts into motion.

Next is my grip. My left hand can get too weak (hand turned left) and my right hand can get too strong (hand turned right). They don’t really balance each other out – my clubface gets too closed and I hit hooks.

Next is my backswing. Picking up the club is not good .. I need to swing it back and make a turn. So, I focus on going back low and slow. And, as you already know, I need to make a good turn on my backswing … I try to get my left shoulder under my chin. Hogan actually wore out his shirts where his left shoulder rubbed against his chin.

Next is the downswing. I practice pulling the club down with my left hand as I shift my weight onto my left foot. This is a good drill. A very good drill to get you to swing at the ball from the inside … and not come over the top.

Next, swing through into the finish and hold your follow through. In fact, pose … it sounds obnoxious, but if you can hold your follow through you’ve completed a balanced golf swing. Congratulations!

Better get started … we may be open soon!

Skol,

Tom Abts

GM/Head Golf Professional

Greetings Golfers,

Lately, I’ve had the time to watch a lot of golf videos. My nature enjoys the banter of discussions … whether it’s philosophy, psychology, politics, business, or the golf swing.

But, too often those discussions become too hypothetical – they don’t live in the real world. The problem is that people can get frustrated and give up … then they don’t believe in anything … or then they believe in everything!

When I reach that stage of frustration, I try to prioritize what matters … that seems to help me escape the maze, and make some sense of what I’m trying to understand.

Many times I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of golf swing philosophy and lost my mind (and golf swing).

I’m a member of a golf site whose leader is a former European Tour player. Obviously a good golfer, but never really made it on Tour. Now that he’s 50, he’s going to try to qualify for the European Senior Tour. And … he’s basically rejected all golf swing philosophies. He sent me a personal email about his new style … it was pretty long and just basically said that he’s going to play golf. Ok … but what does that mean? That’s like someone who says that their personal philosophy is that they’re “going to live”.

I get it. He needs more freedom in his golf game. But, does he mean that anything goes?

Remember that old song from the 1930s “Anything Goes”?

“The world’s gone mad today and good’s bad today,

when black’s white today and day’s night today,

when most guys today that women prize today,

are just silly gigilos.

Anything goes!”

Well, that’s the constant push-pull … isn’t it. More freedom … but not lose our base. Whether it’s a society or a person or a business or a golf swing.

My golf swing is good when it’s the proper balance of stable and free. However, it gets too rigid … then I free it up and it’s good … then it gets too free and it’s bad … the pendulum is always swinging. That ever changing balance is dynamic … and necessary. But, it does get out of whack and needs to come back. Push-pull … not anything goes!

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM/Head Golf Professional

Greetings Golfers,

The new year is a good time to set goals. Goals need to be realistic … based in reality. You have to be honest about what needs to be achieved … and honest about what is needed to achieve the goals.

Sounds reasonable … basing goals on reality. But, not if you listened to philosopher Herbert Marcuse. About 60 years ago, Marcuse said that “science is the enemy because it denies the reality of utopia”. Seriously – he really said that.

Marcuse would not have liked golf. Golf is based on reality. You hit it … you find it and hit again … until you get the ball in the hole … and that’s your score. The rumor was that former North Korean dictator – Kim Jong-iI – played a round of golf and shot 34 (38 under par) … they say he made 11 hole-in-ones during that incredible round. And, it was his first time playing golf! Kim Jong-iI was probably a devoted student of Marcuse.

Kim Jong-iI was the father of the current ruler of North Korea – Kim Jong Un. Kim Jong Un’s half-brother was murdered last year in the Kuala Lumper airport by some women who gagged him with poison. Maybe his brother was worried that his half-brother had inherited the golf genes.

You probably don’t have to deal with such a jealous family member. At least not that jealous. Another reason to live in reality. The half-brother was probably in denial of how jealous Kim Jong Un was of him – especially of his golf game.

Your golf goals should be realistic. Even a score of 44 isn’t very realistic (10 shots higher than Kim Jong-iI). Our course record is 63. We don’t have a local dictator … so we probably won’t have anyone shoot 34.

It’s a shame that Kim Jong-iI didn’t make any golf videos. Herbert Marcuse could have been his director.

Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM/Head Golf Professional

Greetings Golfers,

Every year I plan on practicing and playing more golf – unfortunately, every year I practice and play less golf.

So, this winter, I’m going to do something about it. If I start now, I’ll probably carry it into the golf season.

My plan is pretty simple … if it’s too complicated or difficult, I know it won’t happen.

Step one: Swing a weighted club. Nothing tricky – just swing a weighted club back and forth for about 5 minutes. If I can do that almost every day, it will drastically improve my rhythm, flexibility, and golf strength.

Step two: Chip with my sand wedge. This I can do in my office and at home. Again, all I need to do is 5 minutes a day. Chipping will greatly improve my feel of the clubface and improve solid contact with the ball. Not only will it improve my chipping, but it will improve my full shots with all of my clubs.

That’s it. Obviously, if I stretched, lifted weights, rode a stationary bike, swam, etc … I would improve my strength and flexibility. But, I need to take realistic, baby steps. My two step routine would only take 10 minutes a day and probably not put me in the hospital.
For those of you who want to improve your golf game this year, I recommend my two step program. For those of you who really exercise and work out … my hat is off to you … but I still recommend my two step program.

You won’t see me in a swimming suit at the beach next summer, but my two step program will have me playing better golf.

Have a Happy New Year,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Time is running out!

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Cheers,

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com

Cheers,

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