Sharing the Road

Sharing the Road

Greetings Golfers,

Can’t believe how fast the Summer goes!

Though I want it to slow down so I can enjoy it … I was also hoping that August meant that most of the road closings that started in April would be completed.

My former drive from home to Deer Run used to be 15 minutes. Now it’s 4 hours. Well … I’m exaggerating … but not much.

Fortunately, I found a new route that’s pretty good. But, it has 10 roundabouts. This time I’m not exaggerating. Roundabouts aren’t terrible … but they demand a basic level of common sense.

A few weeks ago while I was Rangering … a golfer told me that he noticed that my blogs had two themes:

• Common Sense

• Respect

That made me happy. It wasn’t my plan … or agenda … I don’t have an agenda … I just write about what I’ve been thinking about. And, if themes of respect and common sense run through … well, that’s not a bad thing.

Which gets us back to the Roundabouts. I see shocking examples of a lack of common sense and respect. Mostly, a lack of common sense.

Well … that carries over to the golf course. Last week I wrote about a player who wasn’t satisfied with a 4-hour round … this time I’ll talk about a player who lectured our staff that a 4-hour round is too fast and that we should post a disclaimer. Oh yeah … our pace-of-play should be a legal issue.

Since 1997, when we started FastPlayFriday … our culture has naturally evolved into 4-hour rounds. Even on a full golf course on a weekend day. I would think that people would respect that … and appreciate it.

It didn’t happen easily. Before we instituted FastPlayFriday … we were SlowPlayEveryday.

The reason it worked is because we enforced it. After it became successful, we got a lot of publicity. Golf magazines wrote about it … and I got calls from all over the country about how to install it. However, after I explained how to do it … the course would always say that they couldn’t enforce it. Hmmmm. I would then reply that it wouldn’t work.

Fortunately, most of our golfers get it. My speech is that we’re a one-lane road. And … we want everyone to play in 4 hours … which is like 60 mph on the road.

Some people think they have a right to drive 75 (last week’s blog) … some people think they have a right to drive 45 (the disclaimer folks).

No … we SHARE the road! 65 mph is a reasonable pace for everyone. And an enjoyable pace. Sometimes … there are little slow-downs … just like on the freeway … but it evens out.

This is not rocket science. This is basic respect and common sense.

But … for narcissists … respect and common sense are irrelevant.

It’s all about them.

Well … I have to put up with them on the road … but we don’t have to put up with them at Deer Run.

Golf always has the answer.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

The Odyssey

The Odyssey

Greetings Golfers,

I love Summertime … from July 4 to Labor Day seems to go by in a minute. I even love hot weather.

Helps my golf game … helps my old body loosen-up. Though I need to be warm … I don’t need help from dark-colored clothes. I wear a white shirt if it’s in the 90s. And a loose shirt. Seems like common-sense.

Have you seen the Odyssey? I haven’t … but I love the Greek Myths … and their philosophers - especially Aristotle.

So the Odyssey is about “going home." Along the way, Odysseus has to fight off monsters, storms, temptation, comfort … just a series of non-stop challenges.

Of course I think this relates to golf. You tee-it-up on hole #1 … and then you head out on your adventure to “come back home."

Will you have to deal with Odysseus’ same challenges of monsters, storms, temptation, and comfort? Of course - that’s why golf is 18 holes. It’s a journey … it’s an adventure.

But are we ready to deal with the journey?

The Ancient Greeks admired being well-rounded. Of course they also admired expertise. But you can still be an expert and be well-rounded. In fact, being well-rounded will increase your understanding in your focused area.

We’ve all seen people who get too specialized and get out of balance. I recently read an article on philosophy that used Tiger Woods as an example of being out of balance.

Wisdom consists not in knowing more facts than anyone else, but in understanding the causes and principles that connect them.

That’s why I like Aristotle. Though he seemed to know everything … he always seemed grounded … he always made sense. He literally invented the term “common sense." He used it to describe a biological power that combined the five senses - sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing - into one single experience.

So I started this rant about how I wear light clothes in the Summer. The other day, I was walking around Excelsior in mid-afternoon … it was 95 degrees. Every girl/woman I saw was wearing black. And usually not loose-fitting stuff.

Have we gotten so far removed from nature that we can’t see the simple wisdom in wearing clothes that match the seasons?

Here’s another example of a lack of common sense while on the "journey." Not just the journey of life … but the journey of a round of golf.

A few Saturdays ago … the Pro Shop received a call “You need to send someone out here RIGHT NOW!” Our staff was worried that someone was hurt and needed help. Nope. The caller had been "waiting." Looking at the screen, our desk person replied that they were playing at 10 minutes ahead of pace. Their response, “I don’t care - I’m WAITING!”

So … I went to see this caller … they were on the #12 tee box. I asked this golfer if they understood that the course is a one-lane road … and that everyone was playing at a 4-hour pace. And … I asked if they thought they had the right to make everyone on the course play faster than 4 hours to accommodate them?

Well … I got no reply. They just drove off.

Most people enjoy the journey of a round of golf. Especially at a 4-hour pace. Especially on a sold-out course on a Saturday afternoon.

I think the point of “The Odyssey” is about how we deal with what life throws at us. Can we face it with courage and creativity? Or do we avoid the real problems and just make unnecessary problems along the way?

Common-sense is a good thing.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

A Connected Flow

A Connected Flow

Greetings Golfers,

Just finished talking to some young guys who work on our landscaping. I don’t mean our maintenance staff … but the company we hired to do our flowers, etc.

The guy who owns the company, started it when he came back from the military. We were one of his first accounts … and now he’s rolling. When he makes it big … I’ll make sure that we take ALL the credit for his success!

Obviously I’m kidding … but I do feel a little fatherly about his company. And today some of his college age staff had to hear some of my rants. One was about how I worked on a golf course maintenance staff during college. And that I worked for our Superintendent’s mentor. That’s how we got Barry.

It’s a connected world. We don’t value connection enough. I don’t mean just in a business transactional way … I mean just connecting with people.

Last night my wife and I watched a Joe Rogan podcast where he interviewed biologist Zach Bush. Zach said that a lot of human sickness is related to a lack of connection.

We only watched half of the 3 hour podcast … looking forward to the rest of it … but the central theme is about getting back to a simpler life that is more in tune with nature.

Let’s jump to golf. Last weekend while watching the Open … I told some guys here in the Pub that I prefer the Scottish links style courses. They’re rougher and more natural and demand more strategy and shotmaking.

It’s perfect that Fox won it. His homemade swing and no-nonsense approach to hitting shots was perfect for the Open.

Instead of valuing connection … we seem to overvalue control. Especially controlling each other. Life has natural flows. Screw-up those flows and you’re in trouble. Look at your health: Does you blood flow? Does your breathing flow? Does your digestion flow?

If any of those stop flowing … you’re in trouble.

The more controlled we get … the less we flow. I want a flowing golf swing. Not a stiff, overly controlled “swing."

I want a connected world that flows.

That's what a golf course should be.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Vibe

Vibe

Greetings Golfers,

Remember that song “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys? Well, it came out 60 years ago …but I think a lot of people who know the song weren’t around in 1966.

The writer of the song - Brian Wilson - was into ESP and other 60’s type stuff. Wilson said that he got the idea from his mom. When he was a kid, she told him that dogs could judge people by their vibrations.

I agree with his mom. And I think little kids are good at picking up on people’s vibrations.

So why are so many adults so bad at it?

Because we train ourselves to shut-off our instincts and become mechanical.

I use the GPS on our carts … but I try to figure out the distance before I look at the screen. I try to predict the time before I look at a clock. I try to predict our daily revenue before my staff runs a total on our computer.

I also do goofy little physical things all day to try to develop my "feel."

Physical feel and instincts and intuition and judgement are all related and intertwined.

You can tell how far from trusting gut instincts a society is by how much they worship celebrities.

A healthy society admires heroes … people who have courage and do the right things for the right reasons.

Celebrities are usually the opposite of heroes. In fact, I was reading about celebrities who wouldn’t even let their staff look them in the eye. What???

These creeps want to be worshipped.

If you really want to know about a celebrity … read what their staff says about them. The staff always knows.

The other day a bunch of us were talking about vibe. Someone said that you can fake a lot of things … but you can’t fake vibe.

Back to celebrities. The ones who always had “fun” dancing at the start of their shows were usually the meanest to their staff. Their phony acts of fun seemed obvious … but it must work because these “people” were/are adored and glorified.

As much as the mechanics in life have to be good … the culture has to be good.

Last week I was talking to two brothers who are college football coaches. And they were talking about how the culture mattered even more than the Xs and Os.

Life cannot be run off of spreadsheets.

The spread sheets are valuable information. The yardage on the GPS is valuable information. But you have to FEEL the shot to make it work.

So … work on your feel. In everything. And trust your gut. Then … use your logic to understand what your gut is telling you.

It’s both … gut and logic. Otherwise, we’re vulnerable to being manipulated.

Remember that old saying about the Roman Empire … “Bread and Circuses”? Well, the Romans kept the people distracted with free food and circuses while they controlled everything.

Well as usual … golf is the key to developing your feel and logic.

And trust good vibrations!

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

The Judge

The Judge 

Greetings Golfers,

A few weeks ago … one of my favorite people - Judge Tinker - responded to my blog.

Here it is … enjoy!

Tom, 

Next time you fire up one of those cigars from your club, sit back in that cushy lounger, knowing that your old pal Judge will always give you something to read.... nobody, and I mean nobody, could stir the pot like you and I, especially after those cocktails...

Is the PGA Tour Restructuring the Game for Television Suits and Corporate Sponsors?
By Judge Tinker / Guest Columnist

At water coolers across the country this week, everyday golfers are trying to process the massive news that just hit the cycle. CEO Brian Rolapp and the PGA Tour Board officially approved a sweeping restructure for the 2028 season, splitting the Tour into an elite "Championship Series" for the top 90-plus golfers and a secondary "Challenger Series" for everyone else. They wrap this shakeup in corporate buzzwords like "optimized television appeal," but from where I sit, it looks like a closed shop designed to insulate their primary financial backers and corporate sponsors who are absolutely terrified of a Sunday afternoon broadcast where the marquee superstars are missing from the top of the board.

In my opinion, the mainstream media is buying into the corporate delusion that locking the top 90 guys into a closed loop guarantees a flawless television product, while seemingly ignoring the reality of the business model. To anyone who loves the game, there is nothing better than a hungry rookie or a local club pro shooting a lights-out 62 on a Monday, playing his way into a tournament, and crashing the party on Sunday. But to the big-money companies buying up the commercial breaks and title sponsorships, an unknown underdog winning a tournament introduces too much financial volatility. When casual viewers tune in on Sunday and see a leaderboard full of names they don't recognize, they switch the channel, the ratings tank, and the advertising dollars dry up.

It looks like the suits are prioritizing a predictable television product over the raw beauty of the game. The current strategy appears to fix the deck to guarantee that the same 90 famous corporate brands occupy your television screen every single weekend, regardless of whether those players are actually playing good golf. Think about the sheer absurdity of that number: 90 players. The Tour frames this as a way to give fans more consistency, but locking 90 guys into an elite tier doesn't feel like a tight, hyper-competitive showcase—it looks like a massive, bloated safety net for a country club network. If the goal were pure elite excellence, the number would be 25 or 40. Keeping 90 guys safe suggests that this isn't about the best golf; it's about protecting investments.

It has the look of a protection racket run by the corporate suits and the "Player Directors" on the Board. For those who don't know, these "Player Directors" aren't faceless bureaucrats—they are the active, ultra-wealthy superstar golfers elected to vote on Tour business. The structure they've approved ensures that the elite tier protects their own bank accounts, creating a safety net where the biggest names can rarely be relegated, no matter how badly they play.

To make matters worse, they are aggressively shrinking the calendar into a hyper-condensed February-to-August sprint. Packing 23 to 24 elite events into a shortened window suffocates the natural rhythm of a golf season just to fit into a neat television window before football starts, all while ticket prices skyrocket to pay for these astronomical multi-million dollar purses.

Forcing a corporate "NFL Model" onto an individual game looks like a deliberate attempt to manufacture a packaged product where the franchise logos matter more than actual performance. In football, a prime-time draw is guaranteed because the Dallas Cowboys are always going to show up to play the Philadelphia Eagles. But golf doesn't work that way. When networks force fans to watch multi-millionaires blindly struggle through uninspired rounds just because of their name brand, while the laser-focused young guns tearing up the mini-tours are locked completely outside the gate, the whole strategy falls apart.

The peanut gallery reading these corporate press releases is asking the ultimate common-sense question: If it’s not broke, why change it? While the Tour won't explicitly type the words, this massive overhaul suggests that the old model is fundamentally broken, and this restructure feels like an admission of systemic failure. The Tour’s previous strategy of artificially pumping up purses for limited-field "Signature Events" didn't fix the product—it diluted it, creating a confusing, fractured calendar where fans never knew who was playing where. It feels like the Tour is pulling back the curtain because they realize they can no longer survive on historical prestige alone in a hyper-competitive, modern sports entertainment market. But instead of leaning into the raw, unpredictable meritocracy that made golf great, their corporate survival instinct builds a specialized corporate fortress that guarantees their media partners a highly sanitized, predictable package.

Furthermore, the timing of this complete structural shift is incredibly telling. It seems highly coincidental that the Tour is suddenly changing its entire model right after a rival league like LIV Golf announces format updates of its own. In my view, this looks like a calculated backdoor block. By completely banning sponsor exemptions and traditional Monday qualifiers in the new elite tier, the Board has effectively locked the gates. If high-profile players who defected are planning to return once their outside contracts wrap up, there are no more loopholes. They cannot be handed a special pass to skip the line. The new structure forces any returning player to start at the very bottom, forcing them to drop down to the secondary Challenger Series and face the exact multi-player grind they thought they were leaving behind. By locking these rules into the books right now—two years before they take effect—the Tour appears to be executing a major leverage play. They are sending a loud message to players currently sitting on rival contracts, hoping the fear of a permanent lockout will scare them into re-signing with the PGA Tour early. 

That leaves the up-and-coming young guns in a bitter position. While the elite 90 cruise through their shortened season, a staggering 200-plus players will be left to fight for scraps in that secondary tier. The math is deliberately dizzying: over 200 players crammed into 144-player fields, all cannibalizing each other for a measly 20 promotion spots back to the top. From a purely economic standpoint, running two overlapping secondary tiers like this appears to make zero financial sense for the Tour's bottom line.

That branding itself feels like a major blunder. Calling the secondary tier the "Challenger Series" already sounds exactly like a minor-league feeder system, completely stripping away the prestige of being a touring professional. By locking the top 90 players into an exclusive loop, the entire purpose of a separate developmental ladder vanishes. Why would a corporate sponsor put up money for a Korn Ferry event when the path to the top tier is firmly shut? Those sponsorships may very well dry up, likely leading to the total elimination of the Korn Ferry Tour and the absolute death of Q-School. The boys grinding out there on the mini-tours right now could be effectively out of a job, especially since traditional Monday qualifiers and sponsor exemptions are entirely banned in the new Championship Series.

The exact same boardroom focus that appears to be rigging the system on television is mirrored by how the PGA Tour Venue Selection Committee fails to provide a total fan experience on the ground, and look no further than the announcement that the Tour is pulling the plug on its longtime home at East Lake for the Tour Championship finale. As someone born and raised across the street from East Lake Country Club, it saddens me to see the tournament leave my old neighborhood.

The Tour essentially forced them out by deciding to turn the historic finale into a rotating tournament with a gimmicky match-play format. As a corporate consolation prize, they offered East Lake a lesser, regular-season spring event, which the club rightly rejected rather than letting their venue be used as a second-tier afterthought.

But if I am being completely honest, from where I sit, it had also simply ceased to be an enjoyable fan experience because the committee keeps selecting prestigious courses that completely lack local infrastructure and fan parking. For years at East Lake, the tournament forced fans into remote stadium lots miles away from the property, making you wait in long lines just to be packed shoulder-to-shoulder into hot shuttle buses—a grueling setup that completely drains your energy before you even see a single ball hit, only to repeat that same crowded ride at the end of a long summer day. I noticed this exact same logistical failure at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills just last week, creating a shared nightmare that the tournament executives—who bypass the gridlock entirely—never have to experience.

If this 2028 restructuring proceeds as planned, the Tour will achieve a highly controlled, gatekept product with optimized television lineups and exclusive hospitality. However, the risk is the alienation of the traditional consumer base. When a professional sports league prioritizes corporate spreadsheets over the unpredictable nature of open competition, it risks shifting its identity from an open professional sports league to an exclusive, corporate country club.
Share this if you think the scorecard should pick the winner, not a corporate spreadsheet! (And hey, if I'm right, vote for me—I'm running for president.)

About the Author: Judge Tinker is a veteran businessman and golf industry insider who acquired his first golf course at the age of 23. Having owned and operated golf properties throughout his career, he knows the actual logistics, finances, and gridlock of the game from the inside out. He is currently running a grassroots campaign for President of the United States to take the same common-sense principles he used in business to restore raw meritocracy, operational efficiency, and consumer convenience to American sports and government. 

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Greetings Golfers,

Tomorrow is July 4.

Not just the 4th of July … but our 250th birthday.

I said OUR birthday. I’m proud to be an American.

Is America perfect? Hardly. What country is? Does that mean we should hate ourselves? I sure don’t think so.

If we’re so terrible … why do so many people want to come here?

So far, while hosting the World Cup … the media and visiting fans from around the world … have been positive about America. They seem to be surprised that we’re actually likable.

During the 20th century, America emerged as the world’s superpower. Still a young nation … America was like a youngster who all of a sudden made it big … really big!

Then mix in a giant slice of the population known as the “Baby Boomers” … and you had a country dominated by youth and new money. Almost like giving car keys and liquor and money to high school kids.

So … that led to problems.

And … maybe not the best problem solvers. Maybe a society a little too young to invoke wise solutions to the emerging problems.

Obviously, we were exciting and energetic and innovative. Great qualities. But … that needed to be balanced with wisdom. Wisdom comes from a strong understanding of the big picture … and of a strong understanding of history. That knowledge can balance the revolutionary and short-sighted goals of youth.

However, wisdom was not appreciated. Wisdom was seen as stuck in the past. America was going to leap beyond the unenlightened societies of history … and create Utopia.

Do I enjoy the fruits of this modern America such as cars, technology, modern medicine, etc? Of course. Do I want to live like the Amish? No. But sometimes I do.

There are days that I dream of living out in the country … leading a simple life. A life that could be represented by wooden woods and blade irons on a Scottish links type course. A simple home … no tv, no phone, no computers … just a lot of books and a lot of conversation.

I think that America needs to slow down and clean-up its act. Sort of like a person finally admitting they have a problem and goes to AA.

The last thing America needs is more “booze”.

And … as always … what America needs is more golf.

Happy birthday America! Let’s celebrate!

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Growing the Game

Growing the Game

Greetings Golfers,

Did you watch any of the US Open last week?

I didn’t watch any of it live … I only saw replays at night. The replays of the first two rounds were just mostly showing guys putting. That’s not why I want to watch a golf tournament.

Though it’s still early in the tournament … why not pick a good group and follow them? The announcers can set-up the challenges for the players, such as hole design and wind … and then we can actually watch great players deal with a major championship.

And … I’ve also been watching videos about the new model for the PGA Tour.

And … an interview with the guy who runs the Golf Channel and Golf Now.

The narrative is always about “growing the game." But are they?

It almost seems like farmers growing more food but destroying the land in the process.

Or are those actually farmers … or big food corporations who are doing that?

Obviously we all have to make money.

But when does it turn into just greed? More money at the expense of the innate value of something.

Is bigger always better? How about the saying “Less is more?”

Aren’t there natural sizes and limits to things?

I think we’ve become afraid or too lazy to try to get at the root of things. What makes something good? Or … what makes something bad?

Well … I know that I love watching great players play the game of golf. Putting out of context is not interesting.

If this keeps up … I’d rather play golf than watch a Major.

Playing golf is always the answer!

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Special K

Special K

Greetings Golfers,

Remember when everyone ate breakfast cereals?

Our mom wouldn’t buy the sugary stuff … we ate Corn Flakes and Cheerios.

And … sometimes … Special K.

Well, that’s going to be the theme of this blog … not breakfast cereals … but K … in fact … a reversed K.

If you want to see the best set-up of all time … go to Percy Boomer’s book “On Learning Golf” and look at the picture of his brother - Aubrey - set-up over the ball.

This is how Percy describes it:

THE ADDRESS

Points To Study

• The stance is firm, compact, and braced, qualities essential to a fast swinger.

• Note the triangle formed by the two arms and the shoulders.

• Although the right wrist is held arched (that is, UP) the right elbow is held in and down.

• Note the inclination of the shoulders due to the left side being straight and the right side curved.

• The right elbow is INSIDE the right hip.

• The left arm and club are in line.

• The shoulders and feet are square to the line of flight, the hips are profiled - that is, at a slight angle to it.

• The view of the ball from this position is a peeping at the back of the ball out of the left eye.

Ok … all that might seem pretty technical. But you can basically do all of it by making a Reverse K in your set-up.

I see people all day doing the opposite … even some pretty good players. But it’s the main reason those good players are inconsistent. Their set-up puts them in a position where they have to reroute their swing so they don’t come over-the-top.

So let’s exaggerate the bad set-up … your left arm bent in … your right arm straight … your left wrist cupped-in … your right wrist cupped-out … and your shoulders wide-open.

Pretty tough to hit a decent shot from that position.

Well … enjoy the US Open … and maybe even eat some Special K while watching it.

But especially work on your Reverse K set-up during the commercials.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Simplicity and Adaptability

Simplicity and Adaptability 

Greetings Golfers,

I’ve been struggling with the relationship between two of my favorite concepts: Simplicity and Adaptability.

I think we make things too complicated … and we also seem to be too rigid and not able to adapt.

As usual, let’s relate it to golf. I want a simple swing that works. And … I want to be able to adapt to different courses and weird weather. I need to be able to hit a variety of shots. Does that make my swing too complicated?

Also … running DRGC … I want to keep things simple … but we have to be able to adapt to a changing marketplace and economy and even weather.

We can’t be stuck. But we can’t be all over the place. We have to know who we are.

So … I asked AI for an Overview:

Keeping it simple is often the opposite of adaptability, as over-simplifying can lock you into rigid habits and assumptions. However, true adaptability requires a nuanced approach. It’s not about avoiding simplicity entirely, but rather knowing when to apply it and when to introduce complexity.

The relationship between simplicity and adaptability highlights a crucial balance:

HOW TO BALANCE THE TWO

• Design for Present & Future: A great strategy focuses on “meaningful simplicity” (clarity of meaning) rather than merely reducing effort, ensuring the output is intuitive but open to shifting requirements.

• Build the “Adaptability Muscle”: Adjust in smaller, shorter-term challenges rather than waiting for massive, disruptive shifts.

So … it’s a balance … probably trickier than I hoped … but doable. And better than the opposite … being Complicated and Unadaptable.

Think about having a complicated golf swing that can’t adapt to different courses or weather. A swing that can only work when everything is "perfect."

Or a business that can only work when everything is "perfect."

Obviously, this applies to schools, sports, cities, countries … even ourselves.

Probably the best way to get there is your golf game. Simplify your golf swing … and work on being a shotmaker. Then you’ll have the best of both worlds: Simplicity and Adaptability.

As usual … golf is the cure for everything.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Maintenance

Maintenance

Greetings Golfers,

You’ve been warned … I don’t know where this one is going.

I have two topics that I want to talk about:

1.) Maintenance

2.) Using language as a tool for “superiority” instead of connection and sharing ideas.

OK … our DR maintenance staff is incredible. I’m constantly amazed at what they accomplish.

So here’s AI’s definition: “Maintenance refers to the actions, processes, and costs required to keep machinery, property, equipment, or software in good working order."

So it’s not just about improving … it’s also about maintaining.

Too often people take maintenance for granted … or overlook it. There are cool homes in the South that I could maybe afford to buy … but I definitely couldn’t afford the maintenance. Same with cars.

And businesses. I’ve seen people buy restaurants and golf courses and have no idea of what they’re getting themselves into. The maintenance is a killer.

How about countries? Do countries quit maintaining the infrastructure because they get more votes by giving people stuff? Naaaaaaaa.

In fact, maintenance only matters if things are built. The world has always been a battle between builders and takers.

Are power and money, tools that can be used to build? Yes. Can they also be used to take? Yes.

Is “barbarian” another word for “taker”? Let’s ask AI again:

“A barbarian is a person perceived to be uncivilized, primitive, or culturally inferior. The term originates from ancient times, initially describing anyone outside the cultural or linguistic sphere of a dominant society, and has since evolved to describe people who display a lack of refinement or act with savage brutality."

Woah!!!!!!!!!!

This links to topic #2 … about using language for superiority instead of connecting.

Talk about confused thinking! So a person who "acts with savage brutality” … is the same as someone “outside the linguistic sphere of a dominant society." What???

So … speaking in a clear, simple, direct way could be taken as being a barbarian.

And … people who use money and power to loot and destroy are civilized … if they do it in the “right way." Huh?????????????

History is all about civilizations that were invaded by barbarians. The barbarians looted and destroyed … and then moved on to another place to loot and destroy … because they can’t MAINTAIN.

I think barbarians are basically bullies … people who destroy and take and act with savage brutality.

They don’t build and maintain.

And … people who use language to act superior … are also barbarians … hiding beneath their mask of culture and superiority.

Civilization is about building and maintaining. Barbarians are the enemy of civilization.

Golf courses are about building and maintaining. Please thank golf courses’ maintenance staff.

They are the truly civilized ones. Not the phony talkers … who probably made money by being barbarians.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

The Wisdom of the Texas Golf Gurus

The Wisdom of the Texas Golf Gurus

Greetings Golfers,

The other night (3am - I don’t sleep very well) I was reading a post on a famous golf instructor’s Facebook page.

On the instructor’s page … a golfer wrote two stories about his learning experiences at The Champions in Houston, TX. He’s not a skilled writer … but he has a lot to say. In fact, his story about what he learned about golf from the Texas gurus - Hogan, Demaret, Burke, etc … is mind-boggling.

Here’s the intro from the famous instructor and some of his thoughts. Then the notes/stories from his friend:

MORE THAN INTERESTING

After talking to a golf instructor and good player  - who grew up next to Jackie Burke and Jimmy Demaret’s golf course in Texas - about the game, lessons, and playing … I was taken aback by some of what he told me. So I asked him to send me a note about what we talked about.

I also talked with Hogan … and he told me it was his management skills and not his swing that supported his success. He said that if he had caddied for someone who won, that they would have won by 5 or 6 more shots.

Hogan also talked about the rhythm of each shot - to have rhythm without having to think about each step. He wasn’t talking entirely of the swing, but the order of things during the round of golf.

Here are the notes and stories he sent:

“When I was about sixteen years old, Mr. Demaret came up to me and said that Mr. Hogan wanted to visit with me about my golf. When I went over to his table, he said ask me anything. I said that I have been reading your book and before I could say anything else … he said that the book is a piece of crap and if you’re stupid enough to do what’s in the book that you don’t deserve to play the game. That the book is a description of my swing and has nothing to do with what I think or feel. That you have to find your game based on how your body works naturally”.

“My story about Jimmy Demaret is as follows. When I was fifteen years old in 1968, Mr. Demaret finally agreed to play golf with me. Since he was in his late fifties and wasn’t playing golf very often, he would usually decline. When I arrived at the club one day, he came up to me and said “let’s go play”. When we got his clubs out of bag storage, they had dust all over them because he hadn’t touched them in months. So we went to the first tee at Cypress Creek GC and he took a couple of waggle practice swings and busted one right down the middle of the fairway. As we were playing, I kept asking him how he was able to play with such power and make it look like he was taking a walk in the park. Finally when we got to hole seventeen hitting our second shots, he looked over at me and said ‘see the flag up there, I just see the shot I want to play, then I feel it and just do it’. The whole time he was saying that, he was demonstrating by by gently swinging the club in rehearsal and looking at his target. He ended up shooting 31 and I shot 35 for the nine. One of the most powerful things that he and Burke taught me was how to use my inner vision or third eye and trust what I had communicated to my hands and body so that they could simply respond to my visual cues.

As far as the overall concepts that I learned from the whole group, it was to focus on vision first and last, and then allow the hands and eyes to be the guide while the body is there to support their action, and allow them to have space to work in. In other words, they wanted to keep it simple, and trust that the ball was just in the way of where and what shape I was taking my energy to the target. Burke often told me that your beginning and ending are in the same place, just like if you’re going somewhere in a car, you first decide where your destination is and then work backwards from your starting point so that you always keep the ending in mind. The other thing he was adamant about was the ball only goes where your hands go - good or bad -  so trust them to take you there the way you visualized it. He also made me understand that my best balance was holding the club at handshake distance and that the swing happens from handshake to handshake on the backswing and follow through. And that the center of balance lies in the hands and is a dynamic movement of the hands so the body can simply respond to them. The one thing none of them ever did was talk about positions in the golf swing because they believed it destroyed the flow of the swing and interfered with energy flow. They also said the less you think and the more you feel the shots, the easier the game will be, and the more you will enjoy the experience.

Also, what I learned was that there was no right way to swing a club - just easier ways and harder ways - so choose wisely.

Wow!

 How fascinating was that?

 I don’t have time to go into it now … but I will later.

As you know … this isn’t just about the golf swing.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Hardy-Har-Har

Hardy-Har-Har

Greetings Golfers,

My speech about why I love golf always ends with “Hit it - find it - deal with it."

So thinking about it while driving in the other morning … it seemed obvious that “dealing with it” took courage and humor.

So when I got to the Clubhouse … I asked AI if courage is linked to humor. Here’s what it said:

Yes, courage and humor are deeply linked. Both are emotional and moral tools that allow us to confront, endure, and process life’s difficulties. Laughing at the absurdities of life requires a willingness to face fear, while speaking truth to power takes a different kind of bravery.

The connection between the two goes beyond just making light of a situation. The primary psychological and philosophical links include:

*EXECUTIVE VIRTUES: Philosophers often group humor and courage together as “executive virtues” - traits that make a person a more effective agent in the world, allowing them to better manage their emotions during hardships.

*A COURAGE MECHANISM: Psychologists have long identified humor as a cognitive defense mechanism. Unlike denial or suppression, humor acknowledges reality but strips dangerous or terrifying situations of their absolute power, allowing people to regain a sense of control.

*THE VULNERABILITY TO FAIL: Being funny - whether on stage in stand-up or just cracking a joke in a high-stakes meeting - requires the bravery to risk rejection of failure.

*RESILIENCE: Laughter has always served as a tool for resilience and resistance during dark times. Using comedy to mock hardship or dismantle broken systems is a bold, courageous act.

That response blew me away. I hope AI can be a tool to help humanity. I grew up watching and reading stuff about computers taking over the world. The best one was “2001: A Space Odyssey."

Ironically, the nightmare of being controlled/enslaved by computers … basically means we can’t respond with courage and humor. We’d be just a form of a robot.

Did you ever watch the Brit TV show from the mid-60s called “The Prisoner”?

It starred Patrick McGoohan, who had been starring in James Bond type shows. But he got sick of it and developed and wrote “The Prisoner” episodes. He saw glamorizing spies as just a step into a controlled society. He believed in a free society.

Well … golf is the game of a free society. Back in the old Soviet Union days … golf was banned because of its emphasis on personal responsibility.

And … to deal with life with personal responsibility … you need courage and laughter.

Laughter. I can’t emphasize it enough. When I hire the kids to work here … it’s the main thing I look for in the interview. They might have the greatest resume in the world … but if they don’t have a sense of humor … they shouldn’t work here. I don’t mean that they necessarily have to funny … but they have to appreciate humor.

When I have hired non-humor people … it always leads to drama. Nothing can be laughed off. Every little thing is “serious” … actually it’s always a power play. If it’s laughed off … they can’t use it in their never-ending reach for power.

We’ve all played golf with those people. Not much fun. They just don’t get it.

And the only way to deal with those people is with courage and HUMOR.

See … golf ALWAYS has the answers!

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

The Rotor

The Rotor

Greetings Golfers,

Let’s talk golf swing.

As you know … I’m obsessed with impact. There are many ways to swing … but good impact is good impact. Bad impact is bad impact.

Impact is truth.

I also believe that good impact means that the hands are ahead of the ball. Too many people try to lift the ball up in the air by flipping their wrists at the ball. That gets the hands behind the ball and usually an open club face at impact. That’s if there is impact. Flipping the wrists can also lead to topped shots and really fat shots. You can hardly call that impact.

Something I don’t hear about anymore is “trapping” the ball. Trapping is a good way to make solid impact. Try it on chip shots. Put your hands ahead of the ball. Obviously, that opens the club-face angle at the ball. So … close the club-face. In fact, close it enough so that the face is slightly closed. You can see how the ball is “trapped” by the combination of hands in front and a closed face.

This is a valid way to hit the ball. And is especially good on chip shots and little wedge shots. And … a weapon on windy days.

However, the trapped shot needs loft because you’re taking loft off …  so, it doesn’t work well on low-lofted clubs.

There are two types of good golfers - hitters and swingers. Lee Trevino is a good example of a hitter, and Sam Snead is a good example of a swinger. Swingers last longer than hitters. Hitters run into trouble in old age as they lose their leg and arm strength.

But young hitters are better wedge players than swingers … and usually just better iron players. Hybrid woods have been great for swingers.

For most of my life, I was a hitter-trapper. But as I got older … I started running into trouble … especially a lack of length off the tee. It was like someone flipped a switch on my game.

So … I started fooling around with releasing the club. I would fan it wide-open on the backswing … then drop it down and really release it on the downswing. Hmmmm. Some days were good … some were really not good … and I’d lost control of my wedge game.

So … I thought the way to deal with it was to just hit a variety of crazy shots. Hooks … cuts … punches … etc … because I didn’t really have a basic shot that I could count on. I was actually much better focusing on hitting a “unique” shot.

Then I was saved. I became old enough to play off the Senior tees. This allowed me to quit worrying about length … and letting me go back to “trapping”.

But … what if there was a combo trapping-swinging way to do it?

Well … I think there is. It’s called the "rotor," and it was invented by a guy named Joe Nichols. About 50 years ago … GOLF MAGAZINE had a big feature article about Joe and his rotor swing. Here is a LINK to the article and some recent commentary about it.

A well-regarded instructor in Arizona - Mike Malaska - teaches the "rotor."

I recommend fooling around with all of this stuff …”trapping” … extreme releasing … and the "rotor."

As I said earlier … people make poor contact because of flipping their wrists. They also make poor contact by “coming over the top”. As they come “over the top” … the clubhead gets there before the hands.

Impact is what matters. Fix your impact with “trapping” and/or “releasing” and/or the "rotor."

Good luck!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Golf and the Moral Code

Golf and the Moral Code

Greetings Golfers,

So it looks like LIV is done. I can’t imagine that anyone is shocked. Maybe mildly surprised … but definitely not shocked.

A few nights ago, a friend sent me this article about the demise of LIV … LINK … I highly recommend reading it. The writer nails why we love golf … and why we loved the PGA TOUR.

If you notice … I said loved … not love. He believes that LIV was a bad influence on the Tour.

In a nutshell, he says that we play golf for love. And, that our heroes - PGA TOUR players - also played golf for love. As he said, “The money never made a particular impression on us, except as a convenient shorthand for who was playing best.”

And … “The PGA TOUR has dismissed the very thing that made it so singularly attractive: guaranteed NOTHING. Earn it, earn it, earn it. Earn the right to play in 2026 based on what you did in 2025, that’s golf. Earn the right to play on Saturday and Sunday based on what you did Thursday and Friday. Yep. Has worked forever.”

Jumping ship to LIV was just about greed. These guys weren’t starving. Greed is unbelievably unattractive. And basing LIV on greed was a recipe for failure.

I’m a Capitalist - not a Communist. I believe in freedom and liberty and independence and hard work. I see Communism as a form of slavery disguised as a form of love and fairness and equality.

And yet, I can see why Communism could be attractive. Capitalism without morality is ugly. Remember in the movie “Wall Street” when Gordon Gekko said, “Greed is good”? I almost puked.

What does greed lead to? Charming qualities like entitlement and pretentiousness.

But those are not just ugly Capitalist qualities. Communists have also taken on those qualities in their own way.

Both groups believe that they are entitled. And they believe that entitlement means they are above the law … and above the basic norms of civilized society. They even value being rude. Or worse.

I just read an article about streaming star Hasan Piker and writer Jia Tolentino discussing lawbreaking, which they both endorsed not as a habit of mind, but as resistance to “actual tyranny today.”

They agreed that shoplifting is good … because “every major grocery chain steals from workers and customers." And “Streaming services are bad for creators and worthy of being ripped off." Piker also said he would steal cars “if I could get away with it."

This is not civil disobedience, it’s self-centered rights violations … “I have concocted grievances about you, and as such, I get to take your things."

Again … this greed. This is not about doing the right thing. This is an ugly form of entitlement.

Why don’t these guys ever stand-up to the bad guys? Shoplifting? Really? That’s taking a courageous stand?

Both sides just want to rationalize their greedy, selfish, shallow behavior.

We need people to stand-up to both groups’ bad behavior.

Golf should be a game and a place that rewards hard work, skill, integrity, manners, and sportsmanship.

The PGA TOUR should set that example.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Let’s Talk!

Let's Talk!

Greetings Golfers,

This week I’ve had some fascinating conversations.

With old guys … young guys … middle-aged women … all sorts of groups.

However, it wasn’t their group that made them interesting … it was the unique perspective that each one had.

That’s what I find fascinating - how people look at life.

Some people are really good at seeing the big picture. And some are really good at seeing what’s going on at ground level.

I want to know more about each one. If I get too focused on either way … I miss what’s going on.

Let’s relate it to golf … it’s great to see the layout of the hole … and then devise a good strategy. However, if I don’t factor in my lie … and the wind … my strategy might not make sense.

I think this relates to everything.

A leader needs to see the big picture and have a vision of the future. And then the leader needs to express that vision and rally people to make it happen.

However, the leader needs to also understand what’s happening on the ground level. If not, problems will occur that might make that vision unreachable.

But … without a vision … the ground level people only understand what they’re dealing with … they can’t create something special … they’re just reacting to what’s happening.

Even managing our own lives … we need to see the big picture and the reality of the ground floor.

That’s perspective.

And talking to people is a great way to gain perspective.

We all need to get out of our bubble.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

The Beauty of the Game

The Beauty of the Game

Greetings Golfers, 

In the 1991 Masters Par 3 Tournament, 78-year-old Sam Snead lost in a playoff.

Think about how amazing that is.

Should we all swing like Snead? Maybe … if we could. I can’t … he was way more flexible than I am. He could kick out the top of a doorway. I could only kick out the door handle.

So … I have to move around more than Snead. It’s that simple.

Why we always need to make everyone and everything fit into “perfect” models is not how I look at life.

People are unique.

However, impact is not relative. Well … GOOD impact is not relative. It is truth.

We seem to have confused this issue. We seem to believe that everyone is the same … so everyone should have the same swing. And … that impact is relative.

I think this misguided way of looking at the golf swing is symbolic to how we are looking at everything.

This same way of thinking would look at the staff of Deer Run as everyone is the same. Just a number … to be easily replaced … and trained-in to the system.

Many years ago … I was the Pro and working for a GM. One day, the GM told me that when he worked in the theatre … that everyone from the “star to the one carrying the spear” learned each other’s roles. And he wanted to do the same here at the golf course.

So I said “You want Tim - our Superintendent - to run the restaurant … and Barb - who runs the restaurant - to give golf lessons … and Kat - the bookkeeper - to be the Superintendent???”

That’s what he wanted. I told him that was setting people up for failure.

Making everyone try to swing like Sam Snead is the same thing. Think that would have worked for Lee Trevino?

However … Snead and Trevino look the same at impact.

Not everything is relative. Impact is not relative.

And there are many ways to get there. That’s what’s relative.

I think that we’ve flipped this upside-down about everything. Math is a good example. There is one answer to a math problem. Instead, we’re hung-up on the process to solve the problem.

One time in high school … my geometry teacher commented that it looked like I hadn’t opened my book. He was right. The next day taking the test … I had to figure out the problems while taking the test. If I had been graded on the process - I would have failed. Fortunately, I figured out the right answers.

Shouldn’t school be about learning how to think?

Isn’t America about the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”?

Or … are we turning into the “Land of the Brain-washed and the Home of the Compliant”?

I see golf as the antidote to the madness. Hit it to your target. Find it. Deal with it.

And figure out how to make it work.

That’s the beauty of the game.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Southern Charm and Northern Efficiency

Southern Charm and Northern Efficiency

Greetings Golfers, 

Been having great conversations with some guys who were at the Masters. 

It’s a different culture. Of course the place is beautiful and the course is amazing … but the atmosphere is what is mind-boggling. 

It’s the South at its best. 

There’s a famous quote by JFK when asked about Washington DC. He described it as a city of “Southern efficiency and Northern charm”. 

Well the Masters seems to have pulled off the opposite - a tournament of Southern charm and Northern efficiency. 

I’m not sure that CBS pulled it off. I thought the camera work was terrible. Half the time they didn’t even follow the ball. And they seemed to be obsessed with player reactions instead of following the shots. Or switching to meaningless action during meaningful action … such as Scheffler lining up a vital putt … then jumping to a random player hitting a “nice” shot. Never saw Scottie attempt the putt. 

Maybe CBS has gone the Washington DC route of “Southern efficiency and Northern charm”. 

The other morning I read some good advice “ Lighten-up. Relax, laugh, enjoy.” 

I get it. I try to be that guy when playing golf. And I try to be that guy running the golf course. But … I’m not sure I can be that guy … and be intense enough to properly deal with everything. I’m afraid that attitude can slip into apathy. 

Looks like the goal is to be Southern on the outside and Northern on the inside. Can you do that and not be phony? 

Probably. But it would take a strong understanding of priorities. Northern on the big stuff … Southern on the little stuff. 

Well … we have the Masters as our model. 

This week the Tour stays Down South. The tournament on Hilton Head Island is very cool. Great golf course. A shotmaker’s course. And another great vibe. It’s not the Masters … but it’s worth watching. Cheers!

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

The Joy of Sport

The Joy of Sport

Greetings Golfers,

I’m writing this on Thursday around noon … and Freddie Couples is -2 after 2 holes.

How is that possible?

Couples is probably the most natural golfer who ever played. I’m not saying the best … just the most natural.

I can’t wait to watch the Masters. Every year it’s amazing. Rory’s win last year was like out of a movie … yet it seems to be like that every year. Talk about capturing the beauty and magic of golf.

I’m in a little season-long betting event of the Majors … run by one of the best people on the planet. It’s just fun. The money is minor and meaningless … the game of picking four players for each Major and only each player once … makes it even more fun.

And that’s how I look at gambling when playing golf. Sure … I get into those games … especially with those characters Down South … but that’s not why I play golf. I just love to play golf!

I’m having a real problem with sports becoming so much about money. Every sport. And now even college sports.

Lately, I’ve had a bunch of conversations with guys about playing sports when we were kids. We played every sport … and we played neighborhood sports. Hockey on ponds that we shoveled … neighborhood football and baseball … basketball on driveways … swimming in lakes … wrestling in school … etc. For the joy of it.

Bobby Jones built Augusta National for the Masters and the joy of golf. I’m glad the legacy has continued. I wish it could spread to every sport.

Enjoy Master’s weekend!

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

La-La Land

La-la Land 

Greetings Golfers,

If you want to make someone mad … tell them what they don’t want to hear.

I’m not recommending doing that … unless it’s necessary. For example, someone loves watching Yogi Bear cartoons and thinks that real bears are like Yogi Bear … so … they’re going out to Colorado to hug a bear. Hmmmmm. You should probably tell them that most bears are not like Yogi Bear.

That’s not being mean … that’s being kind.

Here’s a quote from Charles Darwin:

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.”

Just like the Yogi Bear situation. Not knowing about the reality of bears … gives the person faulty confidence in dealing with bears.

Same with operating a golf course. I just read a great article by a golf course consultant disproving the goofy ideas that are constantly recommended to me by people who are ignorant about how a golf course operates.

He gets it. This is how he closes his article:

“The key to financial success is to replace complexity with simplicity.”

Once again … life works better when people live in reality.

I have people who think that we should be Augusta National … and with fancy restaurants and spas and swimming pools … and should be free. Because that’s what they want. Oh … and if we hosted weddings … that would pay the bills.

Here’s another example of La-la Land:

How about crashing your car four times when you’re really hammered on drugs or alcohol?

Should that be acknowledged … or trivialized?

Just read an article by a guy basically scolding people for talking about this. He said that it’s a private matter and was well handled with a public statement.

However … the public statement had no apology.

Doesn’t dealing with it mean facing this behavior that was risking the lives of other people?

And isn’t the first step to apologize?

Not if you live in La-la Land.

But La-la Land can turn into Nightmare Land quickly:

The bear-hug can turn ugly.

The golf course can fold.

The drugged-out driving can kill.

Reality is a good thing. La-la Land isn’t.

Have a Happy Easter!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Spoiled Children

Spoiled Children

Greetings Golfers,

So last Sunday, Matt Fitzgerald won the Valspar Championship in Florida. After the round, he didn’t want to talk about how he played … he wanted to talk about the slow play of his playing partner - Adrien Dumont de Chassart.

By the 11th hole, Matt was so frustrated that he hit out of turn. Then, he reported his partner to a PGA Rules Official. The NBC television announcer even described the pace of play as "glacial."

Fitzpatrick was upset because not only was his playing partner slow … but he was never ready.

Here’s an analogy. So … you’re in your car waiting in the left turn lane. The light finally changes, and the left turn arrow comes on. However, the car in front isn’t ready … and finally turns as the arrow turns yellow … and no one else makes the light.

That’s not fun on the road … or on the golf course.

We share the road. We share the golf course. Being not ready … is just selfish. It’s that simple.

Fitzpatrick also expressed his frustration with the PGA Tour not enforcing slow play.

I get it. I’m not a micro-manager or a control freak. However, I’m not tolerant of rude people.

In December, I was at a drug store waiting for my prescription to be filled. It was late in the day, and the place was packed. A huge line inside … and a huge line of cars outside. The staff was overwhelmed and doing a great job. While I was waiting … cars in line started honking … which was freaking-out the staff. So, I went outside and knocked on the car windows and told them to stop it. They did.

A decent society shouldn’t let rude, selfish people get away with acting like a jerk.

We’ve somehow flipped this upside-down. Confronting rude behavior is not being rude. It needs to be stood-up-to.

This is not controlling behavior.

I don’t care how Adrien Dumont de Chassart swings the golf club … that’s his right … but he doesn’t have a right to play slow.

I don’t care what music the guy in the car is listening to … but he doesn’t have a right to not turn when the arrow changes.

I don’t care what kind of prescription they’re picking up … but they don't have a right to be honking while waiting in line.

Years ago … one of my first columns in the Victoria paper was titled “Rudeness Will Not Be Rewarded."

A civilized society does not tolerate or reward rude behavior. And … it does encourage free speech and discussions of ideas. Ironically, I think that we have gone the opposite - tolerating rude behavior … and stifling free speech.

That’s not a society of grown-ups. That’s a society of spoiled children.

We’re better than that.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com