A-B-C

A-B-C

Greetings Golfers,

It’s good to be back. I love South Carolina … and I need a break … but Minnesota is home  - it’s that simple.

I like simple. And I try to make things simple. We all want to make things easier … but first, you have to make them simple. Complicated is never easy.

The secret to simplifying is to focus on what matters - what’s the point. If something is really complicated … then you need to start connecting the dots and seeing patterns. Otherwise it’s just overwhelming.

I’m very wary of people who make things complicated. Some people think that’s smart. They condemn simplifying by saying it’s making everything too black-and-white.

Obviously we need to be aware of nuances and details … and very often they are more important than people realize and are over-looked or discounted. And they may actually be what’s important.

So it gets back to priorities. I like to prioritize things as … A … B … C. But I know people who think everything is an A. Well … then nothing is an A.

What’s funny is that some people can’t see how that works. For example, if we have a C visible here at DRGC … some people will point it out and say, “If they can’t get that right, how can they get the big things right?”

Well … they’re already taking for granted how well the big things are working … and focusing on petty stuff.

I think they’re referred to as "nitpickers." And they’re usually sort of arrogant … as if no one else has their ability to focus on petty issues. Most people are sane enough to understand that everything can’t be perfect, and they focus on what matters.

Then there’s the “head-in-the-sand” crowd that doesn’t want to admit when big things are messed-up. In fact, they then think it’s good to point-out how the little things are good. It’s like that old-saying about rearranging the deck chairs while the Titanic is sinking.

We see these attitudes everywhere. Of course. The problem is if leaders think like this … or take the advice of these types of people.

These people are usually not villains … but their lack of understanding priorities can ruin a business or a school or a city or a country.

You see it in a golf swing all the time.

Around 30 years ago … a woman came into the shop demanding someone fix her swing. I offered to help. While walking to the range, she explained that she was on the rise at her corporation and they wanted her to play golf, so they had sent her to a famous golf school in AZ for 2 weeks. And … she was struggling with her swing.

So, I asked her to hit three shots with her 8-iron at the 100-yard sign. She did … but it probably took an hour … you’ve never seen such a pre-shot routine. However, every shot went about 15 feet to the right.

Hmmmm. I then said, “You think that the golf swing is a series of steps - A,B,C,D,E,F,G - and that my role is to identify which step needs to be fixed, and then your swing will be fixed, and you’ll hit great shots." She replied with arms-crossed, “Of course!”

Then I said … “What if I told you that none of that stuff matters?” And I asked for her 8-iron and said that I was going to hit it at the 150 sign. And … I was standing sideways to the ball - fully facing the target. And then I asked, “What would they say about this stance at your school?” She said that it was ridiculous. I then got lucky and hit the sign. Then I reversed and set-up with my back facing the target. And another good shot. And then put the ball far away so I really reach … and then another almost off my toes. And fortunately hit good shots every time.

She then proclaimed, “Those are trick shots!” And I replied, “So what? They work.” And then I held her club and pointed at the club-face and said, "You don’t know where that is with your swing. That's what you need to work on.”

She was not pleased. In fact, she stormed away.

However … and this is very cool … she came back a year later and said that she gets-it. I told her that I wasn’t trying to be a jerk … but I could see that she was so brain-washed that I had to be extreme.

There is hope! I believe that most people want to know how things work and don’t really want to be appeased when they have it wrong.

It’s good to be home!

Cheers!

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