Category: Newsletter

Greetings Golfers,

Today is February the oneth. Last year we opened in March. With hardly any snow on the ground and this warm weather … we’ll probably open in March this year.

So now is time to get ready for the Golf Season. Sign-up for our leagues, make tee-times, and purchase some Loyal Player Passes. You can do all those things on our website – we think it’s pretty clean and easy to navigate – we tried to make it player friendly.

The Loyal Player Packages are the same prices as last year and come in a variety of sizes: 20 rounds for $760, 40 for $1420, and 60 for $2080. Obviously the bigger the Package, the bigger the savings. And you can share them with friends or other people. Click here to visit our online store.

Also, our tee-sheet is open for reservations. We may be the only course that allows unlimited advance reservations. If you want to play every Saturday morning at 7:00 – go for it! Or, play with the family every Sunday afternoon at 3:00 – it’s yours. Or with your spouse everyMonday night at 6:30 … etc. This is a great way to get to play golf when you want to play golf. And, you’re not locked into the expense of a country club. Country clubs used to be the only option for course access and a quality course. I’m not knocking country clubs … but for only $1420, you can get 40 rounds of golf AND pre-booked tee times … without expensive downstrokes and monthly dues. And we probably have the best Green Keeper in the state. Not to mention a cool Irish Pub; a 100 new, sexy, silver EZGo golf carts; a fantastic Pro Shop; and the Power Tee driving range.

I know … I’m getting carried away … I can’t help it.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,       

Today is the last day of the 2017 PGA Show in Orlando.

I love the Show … I get to see what’s new in golf equipment, clothing, carts, business systems, etc. But I especially love seeing old friends and making new friends. We all share a love of the game of golf.

That love is really the bottom line of success in the golf business. The people who really care get through the hard times. The people who think it’s just sort of a fun business seldom survive – they can’t deal with the tough stuff.

Is golf bouncing back from its tough times? Yes. Does that mean that every golf course and every golf manufacturer will be successful? No. Not only do people have to be passionate – they have to know what their doing … and they especially have to know their market. Too many companies try to be everything to everyone. Bigger doesn’t mean better.

Golf companies are trying to move away from the old and stuffy scene – they don’t want to be Judge Smails. But they don’t necessarily know where to go. I think they have lots of options. There’s a new, younger golf scene that wants golf to be more of a sport than a game. Fine. There’s a new, young scene that wants golf to be more relaxed and sort of cool. Fine. Go for it. But figure it out – don’t just do it half-way.

Golf is figuring out that it can come in many forms: the PGA Tour, 9 hole courses, fancy golf resorts, old school country clubs, muni golf courses, college golf teams, senior golf leagues, women’s golf events, charity fund raisers, business golf … I could go on and on.

Does that sound like a weak industry? Hardly. Its strength is its diversity and options … but its weakness is when it tries to be “one size fits all”.

The PGA Show offers many great options … I wish it lasted a month.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Usually the valuable people behind the scenes go unrecognized and unheralded – golf course maintenance people are an example of such a disservice. If you have a lawn, you know how difficult it is to keep it pristine. Imagine taking care of a 150 acre lawn.

Not only is it a huge lawn, but it has different grasses – some that are very fragile and vulnerable to changes in weather. And Minnesota has extreme changes in weather. Not only do we have harsh winters, but we can have brutally hot summer days. When Bobby Jones won the US Open here at Interlachen CC, they had to cut his tie off of his shirt. Jones – a native of Atlanta – said it was the hottest he ever was in his life.

That type of heat and humidity can destroy a golf course. We live in fear for a few weeks every summer that we don’t get too wet before the brutal heat rolls in. If the timing is wrong and the heat and dew points stay high at night, a golf course can be taken over by disease. The greens and fairways can be taken over in minutes – you can see it run through a golf course. Ironically your lawn will be alright – so will our roughs. But the grasses that make fairways and greens special are the grasses that are very vulnerable to disease.

Winter isn’t easy either. If the ground doesn’t freeze before the snow comes … it’s a breeding ground for disease. The layer of snow works like a greenhouse on the unfrozen turf. The turf needs to go dormant before the snow settles on top for the winter. Otherwise, the molds can take over and spread under the snow during the winter months. It’s not much fun to have the snow melt in the spring and see a dead golf course.

Then, it’s no picnic when the snow melts even if the turf came through the winter in good shape. Once the snow melts, the grass comes awake from dormancy and wants to flower. It’s in a very delicate stage. If the weather changes and turns bitterly cold, that newly awaking grass can die.  It’s like a new born that comes out of the womb and then is thrown into a freezer … not so good.

Courses that open too early really take a beating and may not heal up until summer – or longer. I believe that we have the finest Green Keeper in the state and trust his judgment as to when we should open for play. Our Green Keeper – Barry Provo – keeps the total golf course green and healthy. Over the years men of his title have been mistakenly referred to as “Greens Keepers” – no, the title should refer to the course, not the putting greens.

A top notch Green Keeper needs to be a scientist and an artist. Barry has a vast knowledge of grasses and fertilizers, along with soil, drainage, irrigation systems, and the equipment to mow and maintain a beautiful golf course. Then he has to put together a plan and coordinate his staff so that all of this golf course maintenance works in harmony with the seasons and the unpredictability of nature. Wow! That’s where the artist side really takes over. Barry can feel what the course needs and how it should be handled.

Mr. Provo is also a manager. He hires, fires and trains his staff. And, he’s always looking to the future: are we ready to start replacing trees that look to be fading away? are we doing the proper and timely aerating of the greens? do we have a master plan to continually improve the golf course?

Barry is always on top of everything relating to the needs and future of the golf course. We are very fortunate to have such a superb Keeper of the Green.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Last week I wrote about “9 Must Read Golf Books” … let’s call them the “Front Nine”. Well, here’s the “Back Nine” … also “9 Must Read Golf Books”.

* DOWN THE FAIRWAY by Bobby Jones
* DR. GOLF by William Price Fox
* GOLF IN THE KINGDOM by Michael Murphy
* HOW TO PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF ALL OF THE TIME by Tommy Armour
* ON LEARNING GOLF by Percy Boomer
* POWER GOLF by Ben Hogan
* SWING THE CLUBHEAD by Ernest Jones
* THE DOGGED VICTIMS OF INEXORABLE FATE by Dan Jenkins
* THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN GOLF by Herbert Warren Wind

These books are a combination of history, humor, instruction, and biography. Why so many instructional books on the list? Because the golf swing is probably golf’s greatest mystery. The instructional books here are not new, but all of modern golf instruction comes from these four books.

Who is the greatest player of all time? We could never settle that argument. But the greatest writer of golf who was also a golf champion is Bobby Jones … so let’s start with his book DOWN THE FAIRWAY.

Jones wrote DOWN THE FAIRWAY when he was only 25. He had just finished winning the US Open and the British Open in the same year and wanted to write while he thought he was at the pinnacle of his career. It’s shocking to read how insightful and humble he was at such a young age. Jones makes it clear that he wasn’t always on his A game, and that some days the game felt impossible – even to him. Jones had a nervous temperament and tournament golf was very hard on him. He gives the reader an inside look at the mind and emotions of one of golf’s all time greats.

Though Bobby Jones was from money and was an old school golfer, he was not a snob. That can not be said about Dr. Golf. William Price Fox makes fun of the blue-blooded types that epitomized golf about 100 years ago in his book DOCTOR GOLF. Is it funny? Yes, if you enjoy absurd humor. This doctor is the owner of the fictional golf sanctuary Eagle Ho, and answers golf questions in the form of “Dear Abby”. The game of golf has had to wrestle with being perceived as as hotbed of exclusion and snobbery since it came to America. Doctor Golf does everything he can to portray that attitude. One frustrated writer says it best “Is there always this almost unbearable attitude of superiority in your messages?”

On a totally different wave-length is the mystical, magical GOLF IN THE KINGDOM by Michael Murphy. Murphy’s semi-autobiographical account of a young American philosophy student on his way to India via a stopover in Scotland where he meets Shivas Irons. Shivas loves the heart and soul of golf in a way that Dr. Golf pretends to. Shivas opens our traveler’s mind to the idea that golf is a vehicle to enlightenment – the type of enlightenment that he is seeking in India.

Though Shivas Irons was supposed to be a golf star, he never explains how to swing the golf club. Tommy Armour was a golf star and explains how to swing the golf club in HOW TO PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF ALL OF THE TIME. This is my all time favorite golf instructional book. I love the tone and especially love the common sense attitude towards playing golf.

A very different attitude, but a very valid and fascinating look at the golf swing comes from Percy Boomer in his book ON LEARNING GOLF. Boomer is the guy who came up with the visual of “turning your hips in a barrel”. Boomer’s a very intelligent fellow and his ideas of the golf swing are very sophisticated. He livens it up with his interludes where he discusses the golf swing with such people as a world famous mathematician and a world class dancer.

Boomer’s theories are evident in Ben Hogan’s POWER GOLF. Hogan is credited with the start of the modern swing that relied more on the big muscles and less on the hands. I believe that Percy Boomer’s book actually lead the charge, but Hogan’s book was the big breakthrough – especially in America.

The anti-modern swing bible is Ernest Jones’ SWING THE CLUBHEAD. Jones lost a leg in WWI but continued to be a champion golfer because he could “swing the clubhead”. You need to hear his mantra and see the pictures of a little girl making a perfect swing.

But golf isn’t only about the golf swing. Dan Jenkins wrote about golf for many years in Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest. Some of his best essays are in his book THE DOGGED VICTIMS OF INEXORABLE FATE. The title came from Bobby Jones description of tournament golfers. Jenkins captures the many sides of golf … and very often in humorous fashion.

But the king of golf writers is the late Herbert Warren Wind. Though his name can seem pretentious and he wrote for the New Yorker magazine, Wind is down-to-earth and captures the charm and history of our game in THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN GOLF.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,
We probably have a few more months of winter. What’s better than to sit by the fire and read a good book – especially a golf book. Here are nine must read golf books:

* PURE GOLF by Johnny Miller
* THE MATCH by Mark Frost
* THE LITTLE RED BOOK by Harvey Pennick
* SIR WALTER by Tom Clavin
* THE SPIRIT OF ST. ANDREWS by Alister MacKenzie
* IT’S ONLY A GAME by Jackie Burke
* THE STORY OF AUGUSTA NATIONAL by Clifford Roberts
* THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED by Mark Frost
* A GOOD WALK SPOILED by John Feinstein

We have to start with “The Greatest Game Ever Played” by Mark Frost. Frost has two books in this list – and they’re both must read. But this book is the story of young Francis Ouimet, a 20 year old caddie from the wrong side of the tracks in Boston, who beats superstar golf professional Harry Vardon to win the US Open. It’s a real life “Rocky” story and it changed golf in America. The movie is good but the book is better.

As much as Francis Ouimet did for American golf, Walter Hagen did even more. “Sir Walter” by Tom Clavin captures the personality that changed the image of the American Golf Professional. Hagen should be the Patron Saint of the PGA – club pros and tour pros. A little known fun fact – Hagen almost won the Open that Ouimet did … and his victory would been have almost as shocking.

Sir Walter played exhibitions against Bobby Jones – as was romantically portrayed in the movie “Bagger Vance”. They were two different cats, but both very good players and very good for golf. Their match in Florida in 1926 was the equivalent of a heavy weight boxing championship. Jones retired from golf after winning the Grand Slam in 1930, and devoted his life to the Augusta National Golf Club. But, the man who really ran Augusta National was Clifford Roberts. Roberts tells all about it in “The Story of the Augusta National Golf Club”. From the first Masters in 1934 until today – the Masters is why Augusta National exists. The story behind the club and the Masters is necessary for an understanding of the American golf scene.

The golf course architect of Augusta National was Alister MacKenzie. MacKenzie is the author of “The Spirit of St. Andrews”.  MacKenzie was a medical doctor who believed that he could do more good for people designing golf courses than in his medical practice. This book is really a treat for those who love history and the root of things. MacKenzie has chapters on The Evolution of Golf, and Ideal Holes and Golf Courses. His final chapter – Some Thoughts on Golf – is gold to those of us who share his worldview. Here are some of his thoughts “The only reason for the existence of golf and other games is that they promote the health, pleasure and even the prosperity of the community.” and “Health and happiness are everything in this world. Money grubbing, so-called business, except insofar as it helps to attain this, is of minor importance.”

An American who shared much of the same attitudes as the Scotsman MacKenzie, was Harvey Penick. His book “The Little Red Book” is the best selling golf instruction book of all time. It features a blend of simple wisdom, sound golf instruction, and good common sense. A must read.

Another Texas golf legend – Jackie Burke, Jr – wrote “It’s Only a Game”. The title is misleading – golf has been Burke’s life. At 92, he’s still at Champions Golf Club in Houston almost every day – the club that he and Jimmy Demaret founded in 1954. Burke was a great player – a Master’s champion – and a great teacher. In fact, he reiterates Harvey Penick’s famous line of “Take dead aim” when about to hit a golf shot.

Another all-around golf legend is Johnny Miller. Miller has been the best television golf commentator for the past few decades. Many people don’t know that Miller was a fantastic player – his final round 63 to win the US Open at Oakmont might be the best round ever played. He also has unbelievable knowledge and insight into the golf swing. His book “Pure Golf” is straightforward and genius. I can’t believe how it flies under the radar.

The PGA Tour basically started with Walter Hagen, then grew with Hogan and Snead and Nelson … but really took off with Arnold Palmer and television. John Feinstein spent more than a year on the PGA Tour and helps you understand the complex mix of psychology, group dynamics, and political pressures that make athletes tick. He’s a great storyteller that gets you into the heads and hearts of the champions and strugglers.  Though Mark Twain’s famous assessment of golf rings true “A Good Walk Spoiled” is a book that even Twain would enjoy.

I started this review with a book by Mark Frost and am ending it with a book by Mark Frost – “The Match”. The match the book refers to is between professional golfers Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson vs amateur golfers Ken Venturi and Harvey Ward. Unlike the Hagen – Jones matches, this match was held under the radar. But the significance was almost as important as Hagen vs. Jones.

All of these books deal with the magic of golf – amateur or professional, teacher or historian, club manager or tournament chairman. They all capture the unique charm and magic that is golf.

Cheers,

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

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,

Today is the last day.

Give the Gift of Play: Rare and Exclusive Deer Run Golf Club Holiday Special Available online until December 20th (click here).

Dynamic Duo – 2 rounds of golf plus cart, no restrictions: $120 (save up to $18)

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $200 (save up to $76)

Get your Group On – 8 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $360 (save up to $200)

Gift cards and envelopes are ready for you to personalize and sign.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

(This post might become my Holiday standard. It got so many comments last year that I have to repeat it.)

When I was in college, one of my friends stated that good conversation is the best thing in life. I’d never thought about it – I was young and more into being active.

But now I think he may have been correct. At Deer Run we host a lot of golf events, and what people seem to enjoy the most is the conversation after the golf. People want to talk. Alcohol helps loosen the tongue, but also makes people more tolerant listeners. That combination can really get the conversations going.

Another guy I went to college with was known as “Long Story”. Not only was he long, but he was unbelievably boring. His stories went on forever – they were just random uninteresting information about his day. For example, he’d start to tell you the facts about his morning – such as his breakfast, which would remind him of a breakfast he had years before with someone named Sue, then that would remind him of someone else named Sue … then … you were running for the door. His stories never had a point – they were just uninteresting information.

One weekend back then, I was sick in bed with the flu. Long Story lived for opportunities like this – I was trapped. The flu wasn’t fatal – but the stories almost were – I’m lucky to be here today.

Goethe said that the test of civilization is conversation. A really good conversationalist is like Ricky Rubio with the basketball. Rubio controls the ball, but doesn’t dominate. He keeps the ball moving and passes it to the open player – he keeps everyone in the game. He might try a tricky behind-the-back pass … not to show off, but to get somebody the ball. Witty people can be good for a conversation – but not if they’re just showing off – if they’re keeping the conversation lively and interesting, that’s great – but not if it’s just a trick shot.

Many years ago I read that Jack Nicklaus said he made a point of looking at people during conversations at parties. I’ve tried to that every since … there’s nothing worse than talking to someone who’s always looking around for someone more interesting than you are.

That’s my advice for holiday parties.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

Time is running out!

Give the Gift of Play: Rare and Exclusive Deer Run Golf Club Holiday Special Available online until December 20th (click here).

Dynamic Duo – 2 rounds of golf plus cart, no restrictions: $120 (save up to $18)

Festive Foursome – 4 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $200 (save up to $76)

Get your Group On – 8 rounds of golf plus carts, no restrictions: $360 (save up to $200)

Gift cards and envelopes are ready for you to personalize and sign.

Cheers,

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

Greetings Golfers,

So the USGA is making a rule change to make the game more fair. If the ball moves on the putting green by wind, etc … or if you accidentally move the ball … it’s not a penalty.

I’m pleased … but not excited. They were the ones who made the goofy rule in the first place.

I do appreciate their attempt to use common sense and make golf more fair. But the definition of fair is not the same to everybody. In fact, it’s probably at the root of much political and philosophical debate.

You all know the saying “Life’s not fair”. I agree with it. But, I don’t agree with using that saying as a license to not be fair in your dealings with people. Nature is unfair – a tornado might hit your house but not your neighbor’s house – life’s not fair. Your neighbor might hire you and your brother to help him clean up his yard. You might do more of the work and he might pay you both the same amount – that’s not fair. He has a right to not be fair – but now you know what kind of a person he is, and probably not someone to do business with.

As to the Rules of Golf. Of course I think they should be fair. But, I think there should only be a rule, if a rule is needed to play the game. For example: if the point of golf is to hit a ball from the tee box to the bottom of the hole on the green … there needs to be rules to define the game – such as you hit the ball with a club only (you don’t throw it) … and you need a rule to continue the game if you lose your ball.

I think the fewer rules, the better. By adding rules to make it more fair is misguided and arrogant … and complicates the beauty of the pure simplicity of the game.

Civilized society is based on the rule of law – not the whims of rulers. But more laws doesn’t mean a better and more civilized society. I hope the USGA is just beginning to start overhauling the rule book. Tyranny can come in many forms – not just a tyrant. A mob can be a tyrant. And an organization can be a tyrant – even if it’s well intended.

Cheers,

Tom

P. S. We’re still selling Holiday Passes – click here to view more information.

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