Risk and Reward
Greetings Golfers,
One of the many ways that I drove my kids crazy when they were growing-up, was that I constantly said that everything is risk-reward.
They’d roll-their-eyes … and say “Yeah, we know Dad”.
It’s the basis of golf course management - as a business … and as a golfer playing the game.
And … it’s really about knowing yourself and your capabilities. Not just the conventional wisdom for playing the odds.
So, Weds. night the Twins were losing their final playoff game to the Astros by one run in the 9th inning. I’ve got the game on the radio while driving home. So, Polanco is the Twins first batter … and he’s ahead in the count 3 balls to 1 strike. I’m screaming at the radio that he uses this advantage and swing. Instead, he takes a called strike on a fastball down the middle. And as I told myself he would - he struck out on the next pitch … basically ending the game and the Twin’s season. The Twins management thought the smart play was to take the pitch and hope for a walk. Wow. This is not Little League baseball … Polanco had the advantage - he had to be swinging.
The Twins strikeout a ridiculous amount. Not because they’re too free swinging … but they’re not in control of the risk-reward aspect at the plate. It’s too conventional … and only works against mediocre pitching … not playoff pitching.
If Polanco had swung and popped-up on that 3-1 pitch … people would have complained and said he should’ve taken the pitch. If he’d swung and homered to tie the game … those same people wouldn’t have said how smart it was … they just would’ve taken it for granted.
I’m not advocating for just being aggressive … I’m advocating for knowing yourself and weighing each situation on its own.
For example, a guy who was playing in his first golf tournament as a Pro, was leading until the end of the round … and a guy who’d already finished, insisted that he hit a big cut around the corner on the par 5 hole. This guy said that wasn’t his style and that he planned on drawing it up at the top left corner to give himself a good angle. But, this guy let himself be talked into what everyone else had been doing … and promptly cut-it into the woods and made 7. He didn’t win.
Playing it safe or taking a risk depends on understanding your talents and weighing the particular situation. It isn’t something that comes from data. Data is useful for understanding - I know my numbers. But, I make my decisions on more than data … I’m weighing risk-reward in everything I do.
I seldom drive much anymore … but this morning I drove on the freeway. Wow. The lane changing and getting on and off ramps is mind-boggling. Talk about not understanding risk-reward.
Though bad here, it’s nothing like when I drive from South Carolina to Orlando for the PGA Show every January. I-95 is a 6 lane road … 3 lanes going South … 3 lanes coming up North. So … the middle lane is to drive the speed limit … the left lane is to pass … and the right lane is to exit and enter the freeway. Not exactly rocket science.
However, I have people in the right lane pass me at 90 mph … then, 3 miles up the road, they’re in the left lane going 40 mph. Or, people come flying up in the right lane, turn left fast and almost hit me as they head into the left lane … then they turn hard-right in front of me to exit the freeway. This insanity is non-stop for 6 hours.
How about our schools teaching basic common-sense and risk-reward concepts?
Sports are such a laboratory for these concepts. If you have a mediocre football team and you’re playing a really talented team ranked #2 in the nation … would you play boring vanilla football?
You’re going to lose playing normal football … why not play risky football?
But … going into safe mode when you’re leading isn’t smart either. Remember this year’s College Hockey Final when the Gophers went into “playing not to lose” when they had the lead? We all knew they would lose.
Well, I can see you rolling your eyes like my kids used to. Enough is enough. I get it. But I can’t stop obsessing about risk-reward. Not if I keep watching sports or driving a car.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Charm and Effiency
Greetings Golfers,
So the MN Twins finally won a playoff game … and a series.
Their losing streak was as bad as the current USA Ryder Cup streak in Europe.
See … there is hope for our teams.
Of course you remember the Twins beating the Blue Jays in the first-round playoffs in 1991 … on their way to beating the Braves in the World Series.
Yeah … I was working at Deer Run then … but I wasn’t working here when the Twins played the Dodgers in the 1965 World Series … I’m not that old.
But I am old … and have seen a few things. I even remember that 1965 Series very well … it still hurts. I haven’t traveled as much as I hoped - yet I have seen a few interesting places. In fact, this week, I’m in Lisbon, Portugal … with the kids and even their babies. I know, we’re crazy … but it’s good and worth the madness.
Lisbon is a big city - bigger than I thought … not population-wise … but area-wise. And it doesn’t feel big-city intense … it’s pretty casual and relaxed. And patient. The streets are packed with people and cars … and yet no-one’s freaking-out. The people are genuinely friendly and kind. Babies have precedence … with the babies we don’t have to wait in-line … seriously … it’s pretty amazing and representative of the culture.
The boys and I played golf at a supposedly highly-rated golf course. As expected, the staff was very helpful and friendly. However, the condition of the course and other things we take for granted, wasn’t very good. Played with a guy from Washington, DC. He was obsessed with slow-play. He complained about the pace-of-play at his public course back home. He said he’d heard of “Fast Play Friday”. Who knows?
Can a place as relaxed as Portugal also be competent? Does this level of casualness also mean a lack of standards? These are the things I’ve been thinking about while here.
I think this relaxed scene can work … as long as people are responsible and held to it.
Ironically, a frantic and up-tight place like DC … won’t work if people aren’t responsible and held to it. I think JFK said that DC “had Southern efficiency and Northern charm”. Obviously that’s the worst of all worlds
How about if countries (and golf courses) had Northern efficiency and Southern charm?
Well, last week, the USA Ryder team had neither efficiency nor charm.
Hopefully the Twins have both. How fun would it be to see a likable Twins team in the World Series?
You can have both - charm and efficiency … but it’s a tricky balance.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Why Team USA wins the Ryder Cup in Rome
Greetings Golfers,
Well, it’s here, the first day of the 44th Ryder Cup.
And to kick things off … here’s Edina CC Head PGA Pro Marty Lass telling us why he thinks Europe will win:
Why Team Europe wins the Ryder Cup in Rome…
Let us get one thing straight-I want the USA to win this one! I always cheer for the Americans, and the 30-year stretch of not winning overseas is something they want to take care of…
However, this is why the Euro’s take the cup at Marco Simone G & CC in Rome…
These four players don’t want to have a losing record. At Whistling Straits Hovland, Hatton, Lowry and Fitzpatrick got their butts kicked, and they are the players on Team Europe that have overall losing records in the Ryder Cup. They want to change that and prove to the American’s they are going to be around for years to come and will be tough.
Team Europe is coming in strong. Although the Americans are considered favorites, all 12 players on Team Europe competed just 2 weeks ago in a DP Tour event (BMW PGA). All 12 made the cut, 7 of them posted ‘top 10’ finishes. Team USA hasn’t had much competition since the FedEx playoffs ended, and might be rusty (but rested!).
The Four rookies on Team Europe. Ludvig Aberg, Nicolai Hojgaard, Robert McIntyre and Sepp Straka have played very well, especially the last 2-3 months. The American rookies-Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Max Homa and Sam Burns played well earlier in the year and, and with the exception of Harman winning The Open Championship, haven’t shown too much lately.
Nine nationalities represented by Team Europe. Although many of them play the PGA Tour, they are originally from all over Europe. I think when the team was announced, they put in (maybe) just a bit more effort trying to get to know each other, more unity, and having the Molinari brothers as vice-captains is helpful.
Intangibles. Again, the Euro’s come in as underdogs (at least on paper). The Americans will be tough, nothing is easy here. However, I think Team Europe is a ‘refreshed’ version of their Ryder Cup team, some of their older players are done and gone. With the exception of Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, it is a very young team with not much experience. Those two veterans will unite the players and the streak will continue winning on ‘home soil’…
Bravo! Well said Marty - all valid points. However, Team USA will finally break the 30 year drought of winning on European soil.
Here’s why:
Both teams are very talented - and basically equal. However, Team USA has an irrepressible Captain … and a leader who is going to wake-up from a sleepy, lost year.
I first heard about Captain Zach Johnson when he played for Drake in Iowa. Guys complained that he wasn’t a quality ball-striker … just a very good putter. Then this “chop” goes on to play on the PGA Tour … and win Majors - especially the Open Championship at St. Andrews. This is a guy who knows how to win. And on the biggest stage. Don’t underestimate him.
Who’s this leader who’s going to wake-up and finally find himself? Obviously - Justin Thomas. This guy has it. But he always tried to find it from coaches, family, or heroes such as Tiger Woods. But that’s not where it comes from. We all know that it comes from deep-inside. This frustrating year made him dig-deep and find it on his own.
JT will be the inspirational leader. Zach Johnson will be the guy behind the scenes who knows how to win.
Oh yeah … Scottie Scheffler is going to make everyone remember that he’s as good as Rory and Rahm.
Put on your seat-belts … this is going to be a fun ride.
The guys with something to prove … are going to do it. Victory - Team USA.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
You've Been Warned
Greetings Golfers,
This is a warning. I first thought I should start with an apology … but I think a warning is better.
I’ve been sick/ill … and still am … so this blog could be a rambling mess. You’ve been warned.
Ok … let’s start. Have you seen the documentary about Johnny Manziel? I watched some of it last night. Wow! Really fascinating. But I only watched about an hour of it before I took to my bed. Can’t wait to see the whole thing.
Obviously, Manziel was freakishly talented and needed room to use that talent. But I don’t think his ridiculous out-of-control personal life negates his need for freedom on the football field.
Just talked to a young woman building a baseball program. Her enthusiasm is inspiring. And she wants to do it for all the right reasons. I believe that sports can be wonderful vehicles for growing-up.
People need room to grow and excel. Whether in work or sports. I think that most work and sports are too controlling. People are better than robots. They need the freedom to make a mistake.
I don’t mean the sloppy, careless mistake - that makes me crazy. I’m talking about the normal mistakes that come from doing and trying. And … the ones that happen from pushing the boundaries - by trying to do things better than they’re done.
We’ve become way too compliant … and yet way too tolerant of bad behavior.
I think we’ve confused the two. Nowadays, lack of compliance is bad behavior. And … bad behavior - real bad behavior… is tolerated. Huh?
It’d be like in a baseball game, if a runner tried to take an extra base and got thrown out … he’s the devil. But if another guy punches the umpire in the face - that’s ok.
I think that I’m trying to say that people need freedom to thrive … yet be held responsible when they misuse it.
Well … that’s it … it’s all I’ve got. Next week will be better. Next week, Marty Lass - legendary Pro at Edina CC - will take me on in a battle of words. Marty will tell us why he thinks Europe will win the Ryder Cup. Yours truly will be defending the US of A team.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Fall Golf is Great
Greetings Golfers,
Fall golf is great. I know … I know … it’s not officially Fall … but in Minnesota, Fall begins right after Labor Day - not Sept. 22.
The temperature is good … the bugs are gone … and it’s just a more relaxed atmosphere. Hope it’s nice until at least Halloween.
Just read a funny article titled “The Stuffiest Country Club Stories We’ve Ever Heard” … here’s the link: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-stuffiest-country-club-stories-weve-ever-heard-old-habits
They’re funny stories. And probably true. And those clubs have the right to do that stuff. Do I want to be a part of that? No … but why should I tell them not to? I will if they ask my opinion. But not if they don’t ask.
My issue is that for too long, people assumed that golf was like those stories. All golf courses - not just stuffy private clubs. Unfortunately, too many public courses tried to be poor versions of country clubs instead of having their own identity.
I’ve always thought that golf courses should have a variety just like restaurants - 5 star Michelin restaurants or fast food operations or diners or steakhouses or pizza joints, etc.
Golf hasn’t really explored its options. Take a look at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRGPPuvA7A
Golf can be spiritual … magical … a sport … silly recreational … a snob-fest … fun … dead-serious … etc.
I think where golf courses - public, private or resort - go wrong, is when they don’t know who they are. Here are some quotes that apply:
Voltaire - “Perfect is the enemy of good”.
Thoreau - “Our life is frittered away in detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify!”
To me, both those quotes are about greedy people who don’t live in reality. It’s like that moronic phrase “You can have it all!” No you can’t. Grow-up. And businesses and politicians are screwing things up when they promise too much. It’s easy to do … but honest people say don't.
Just listen to political speeches … or most marketing. They’re promising a way to get more for free. How does that work? It’s either a con … or someone gets screwed-over. Why not just be honest and straight-forward? Business and government should not be trying to appeal to the worst in people. If so, we’ll get a greedy, nasty society.
If a business is always offering “a deal” … why can’t they play it straight? Same with a politician. Isn’t life about trust? How can you trust those businesses or politicians?
I hear everyone on all sides of the political spectrum complain about corruption. And then proudly taking advantage of tax loopholes and beating-up people on business deals. Or is fair only for people who aren’t smart enough to take advantage?
Remember the movie “Wall Street” when Gordon Gecko said “Greed is good”? I don’t think it’s good. There are a lot reasons to be motivated - but greed is maybe the worst.
Fall golf is great. Let’s enjoy it. But when it’s over - we’re done. The golf course needs a break. Cross-country skiing, etc is not what it needs. Our staff needs a break. And our Clubhouse needs a rest. Our goal every year is to get better. Not bigger. We don’t “want it all”.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Not Too Fast and Not Too Slow... Just Right
Greetings Golfers,
The other day, I had a guy playing behind us who was making it clear that he thought we were playing slow. In fact, we were waiting on every shot … though the people in front of us were playing at a 4 hour pace.
Waiting doesn’t mean slow.
The golf course is a one-lane freeway that we want everyone going 60mph (4 hour round). If you want to drive 75mph … it might feel slow. However, we aren’t going to make people play faster than 4 hours to appease people who want to play faster. No one has the right to drive 50mph … and no one has the right to drive 75mph.
We’re sharing the golf course with each other. Slow play is not fair to the people playing behind dawdlers. However, some people don’t realize that they’re slow … and/or why they’re slow. Golf shouldn’t be a race track - that’s not enjoyable. But a 4 hour pace isn’t fast or hard to do. It’s just a reasonable speed. The link below is to a recent article about 8 ways to play faster. It’s sane … makes sense … and is fun to read. Enjoy!
https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/articles/miss-it-quick-8-ways-to-play-faster-golf?utm_source=GOLFPASS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GA_Weekly-Newsletter_20230905&mi_u=CE46841C-9468-4844-8F10-D1085E3E0B60
A lot of slow play happens on the greens. People not ready to putt … or reading every putt as if it’s complicated puzzle. And some greens are just too fast.
This super fast green thing is fairly recent. I remember when tournament golf had reasonably paced greens. Then it became cool to ramp up the speed for tournaments. So if it was cool for tournaments … it must be really cool for everyday play.
Really? So faster is better? Hmmmm. If I like seasoning on my steak … then pouring the whole bottle of seasoning on my steak will make it really good! Obviously that’s idiotic.
I think we all know the right speed of a green. If I’m just rolling a ball with my hand … I have an instinctive sense of how far it should roll. If it stops to soon … it’s too slow. But if it doesn’t stop rolling - it’s obviously way too fast. Why isn’t the right speed the goal?
The right speed. It works for both pace-of-play … and greens. Too fast isn’t fun or funny … and too slow is frustrating.
Maybe we should ask Goldilocks. Rumor has it that she went out to play golf after eating the bear family’s porridge. She knew what speed was “just right”.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Commit!
Greetings Golfers,
Played golf the other day with my sons and one of their friends. I’d played with this guy a few years ago and he was a pretty decent player. Well, the first 9 holes the other day were not good. Bad is actually the word. And … he’s obsessed … it’s not that he seldom plays.
But, his instructor changed everything he was doing and insisted he have a weak grip. Hmmm … this fellow was already a fader of the ball … with this new grip he had to come violently over-the-top not to hit vicious slices.
Also … his new swing had zero athleticism. Zero. And this guy is a good athlete.
Finally, on #11, we talked and all of us convinced him to go back to his old swing. He actually played well and kept improving as we went on.
What he needs is not a new swing … but rather more shot-making ability.
The search for the “perfect” robotic swing is not a good thing. The hope that you develop an automatic swing is not what golf is about (or life). It’s the same attitude as a self-driving car. So … you’d rather trust a computer to judge the icy roads and deal with last-second crazy situations? Then in the same vein, you’re just going to walk up to the ball and go through your robotic routine and then the shot happens automatically. No thinking, no caring, no feel, no awareness … just plug in the yardage and away you go.
Wow.
Why even live? Maybe you can merge with an AI computer and go through life unscathed. Is that the goal? Heck, I’m actually proud of my scars.
Maybe it’s part of a fear-of-failing mentality. Failing isn't so bad … living in fear on the sidelines is bad - really bad.
I’m not advocating reckless behavior. But I am recommending swinging-the-bat rather than hoping for a walk.
Lately, I’ve been wrestling with the concept of consistency. I think consistency needs to be the fruit rather than the goal. I think what is needed is commitment.
Of course I want our staff to be consistent - show-up on time, etc. However, if they’re really committed … they will show-up on time and do what is needed. It might come off as consistency … but commitment is what makes it work … consistency is the fruit.
Same with your golf game. Commit to your shots. Don’t just go through the motions.
And the better you get at hitting golf shots … the more you can commit to the right shot in the right situation.
The joy of golf does not come from turning into a robot and hoping that your new AI persona will play golf for you.
Commit!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Phil the Thrill
Greetings Golfers,
How do I not write about Phil Mickelson?
This week it was revealed that Phil had bet more than a billion dollars over 3 decades … with over a hundred million dollars in losses.
That sounds more like an out-of-control government than a real person. How is that even possible?
And especially - why?
Well, I think it’s wrapped-up in his nickname - “Phil the Thrill”. I think for Phil … life is all about thrills.
Phil type of gamblers are not the desperate characters hoping to win the lottery to get out of poverty. This is a guy who loves “the action”.
His golf game reflects this same attitude. Phil took crazy risks on the golf course. He had so much confidence in his short game, that he believed he could save it no matter where he hit it.
But how does that short game translate into his gambling risks? Does he think he’s so charming that he can save it no matter how much he loses?
Well, his former gambling buddy - Billy Walters - claims that “Phil doesn’t care about anybody but himself.” And that “Time and time again, he never stood up for a friend.”
Ouch. How’d you like that said about you?
But … if that’s true … can’t people feel it when they hang around with Phil? I’d like to know how babies and dogs react to Phil … they usually seem to know.
My wife and I have been watching a show about a woman who has that power. It’s called “Poker Face” … she's a human lie detector. The gambling world is after her … so she’s on the run across the country … and everywhere she stops her skill is put to use to solve a murder. It’s actually pretty good - better than my review of it.
I’ve seen YouTubes of how to spot liars … and their “tells” … and I think some of it’s valid … but what about your instinct? I meet people that some people think are charming … but sirens are going off in me … I know they’re shady.
Don’t ya think it boils down to authenticity? We all have moments of fake smiles, etc … but it’s usually not to take advantage of people, but rather to not rock-the-boat or hurt someone’s feelings.
I’m not attacking extraverts … you can be extraverted and authentic. A problem for extraverts can be that some people are suspicious of it … and can’t believe it’s real.
But babies and dogs aren’t fooled … they can tell if an extravert is real or not.
Why are people so bad at this? I think it’s because we stop listening to our gut … we stop trusting our ability to think and feel. We’re waiting to hear what everyone else thinks. I’m not talking narcissism …I’m talking about a core sense of figuring out what’s going on. That’s confidence. The narcissist’s thing is arrogance. Big difference.
Phil’s thing is arrogance not confidence. I also think confidence comes from valuing and doing the right thing.
Is never standing up for a friend … doing the right thing?
Remember the line from that John Mellancamp song “Life goes on … long after the thrill of living is gone”. If that’s how Mellancamp looked at life … I can see why he later gave himself that nickname “Cougar” … he didn’t want to grow up. If life is boring because it’s not thrilling … you need to take a class in Meaning 101.
Is/was Phil Mickelson a great golfer? Yes. Definitely one of the best of all time. Should that give him a pass to live like that? It certainly has - that’s not my call. But that the truth is coming out is always a good thing. I don’t think his charm and short-game can save his reputation.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Dignified or Undignified
Greetings Golfers,
The other day, an old friend sent me an article about the "18 most annoying golf partners”. I’d seen it before … but I was glad to see it again … it’s really hilarious. Humor is always based on reality … maybe these characters are a little extreme - but not much. Hit the link to check it out: https://mcusercontent.com/bd86eb3fc12a71ae51e243cf1/files/16ba6363-c0ea-6a5c-5036-919b479dd2d5/The18MostAnnoyingGolfPartners.pdf
We all know these guys … and as the article says … the only worse thing than to play with them, is to be one of them. Now, we’ve all had moments when we’ve been a little bit like one or even all of them. Ouch. But hopefully, it’s not our normal M.O.
One of our staff recently told me about playing with a guy who didn’t repair his ball mark on the first green. So he did it. Then on #2, this same guy flicked his cigarette butt on the side of the green. So … our guy picked-up the butt. Cig-man, then asked our guy if he worked here. Obviously, he couldn’t figure out why something would do the right thing if there wasn’t a self-serving motive.
I think this gets really interesting. Cig-man … didn’t apologize - that would be beneath him … he wanted to know our guy’s motivation. For a lot of people, dignity comes from power … not from acting in a moral way. So what is “dignity”? I always thought it came from self-respect. We’ve all seen movies where the character was poor or an outcast … but had dignity. Not the phony dignity of someone too important to lessen themselves with any show of emotion … but rather the dignity that comes from real inner strength.
In my old age, I pride myself in doing things like cleaning our locker room and taking out the garbage. I want our high-school kids to see me doing that stuff. Not so they feel guilty that I’m doing it … but that you never want to be too good to do what needs to be done.
Being too good to fix your ball mark? Oh, I guess that’s someone else’s job … after all, I paid good money to play here!
When people win prize chits in charity events we host … you can’t believe how many people try to negotiate a better deal than what they won. To me, they’ve sacrificed their dignity … I’m actually embarrassed for them. But they don’t see it that way … because for them, dignity is based on power … so every interaction is a win-lose power game.
Is it naive to deny the reality of power in our world? Of course … like the people who think bears are cute and want to take their picture holding hands with a bear. Might not turn out well. But … you would think that people would find their dignity and self-respect in acting more civilized than an animal.
So yes … power is definitely part of reality and needs to be acknowledged. But, things like culture and civilization and dignity and graciousness are ways of living that are about being better than just living a life solely based on power.
A life based solely on money and power cannot never be satisfied … because it’s never enough. It’s like a shark on a feeding frenzy.
And not only is it never enough … nothing is ever right … because nothing is ever perfect.
These folks are not a lot of laughs. Because living like this makes them permanently angry. I think they’re mad at God because the world isn’t how they would have made it. Their religion is Narcissism. Right and wrong isn’t moral … right is what they want … wrong is if they can’t have it.
They also love to give orders and control others - it’s more of their power-trip. But if people defend themselves against their attacks - the defenders are called “selfish”, etc. Because they think it is their right to act and have whatever/however they want. And sometimes, they contend that they say demanding things because they want things right … sort of like it’s their role to run around and tell everyone how to do things … because they’re the only ones who “care”. How manipulative is that?
But they’re easy to spot. They never say “I’m sorry” … and never say “Thank you”. Why would they? They should be able to do whatever they want and have whatever they want.
Why am I saying all of this? Because I never read it or hear people talk about it. It’s become normal … but it’s crazy. Ridiculous sayings like “The customer is always right” … and misguided ideas about empowerment … have led to crazy attitudes of entitlement.
Sure, that article about the “18 most annoying golf partners” is hilarious. But the attitudes behind that behavior is not hilarious. The article was fun because it didn’t show those characters being mean-spirited … they’re just clueless.
And probably a lot of the nasty narcissists we all deal with are probably clueless. But maybe they need a clue … by their behavior not being tolerated … and people talking about this ignored subject.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
The Loop
Greetings Golfers,
Last week, a good friend sent me a new article about “Hogan’s secrets”. People are still obsessed with Ben Hogan’s golf swing. And rightly so.
I certainly don’t claim to know Hogan’s secrets … but I do understand what I think was the basis of his swing.
Hang in there with me as I try to explain.
First off … make a figure-eight using a golf club or just putting your hands together. Stand as if you’re addressing a shot … then make a waist-high figure-eight swing.
Swing out away from your body on the backswing … then … loop it down and behind you on the downswing … then swing out and up away from your body on the forward swing … then swing back down toward your body … and start all over again without stopping.
Keep it slow and easy so you can feel the transitions … and the “lag” in the downswing.
This figure-eight move made the opposite way is death … taking it back inside and then coming over-the-top.
The correct figure-eight move is how you feel swinging in-to-out … and Hogan’s famous supinated left wrist at impact. The bad figure-eight move gives you a collapsed left wrist at impact.
The collapsed left wrist at impact is a disaster. People do it 2 ways: trying to scoop the ball up into the air … and the over-the-top move. No matter how much modern golf clubs try to compensate for that terrible impact-position … the clubs can’t save it.
A similar good move is a shortstop making a sidearm throw to first.
Hogan’s book “The Five Fundamentals” about set-up, grip, backswing, and downswing is great. And he has a drawing about how the downswing is on a lower and different plane than the backswing … and a comment about skipping a stone into the water … which makes sense if you understand the figure-eight analogy.
However, the book can be rigid and confusing. Much of the grip and set-up were important for Hogan … but not necessary for everyone else. And the stuff about the tied-up arms is not good for most players.
What I think is important is Hogan’s motion. None of the other stuff matters if the basic motion of the golf swing is bad.
Speaking of bad … I’ve been bad. I can’t keep-up with emails. If you’ve responded to my blogs recently … and I haven’t replied … please don’t take it personally. Some weeks I get up to 500 responses and I just can’t catch-up. Though I might if we have a rain day.
Also … I’m a villain because I worry about kids setting-up stands near the golf course. It’s not about losing golf ball or lemonade sales. In fact, I admire entrepreneurship. But the other day, one was set-up directly behind a green. The parent sitting there insisted it was safe and that they knew what they were doing. I guess that a bladed wedge-shot coming in at 1,000 mph is no problem if you’re “watching”. I held back my tongue - not about the safety issues - but in response to snarky, nasty comments of the parent. I would never light-someone-up in front of their kid.
I want people to enjoy playing golf. Hogan had an amazing swing that we can all learn from. And people should be safe on or near the golf course. People do hit wild shots. We’re not all Ben Hogan.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Living in Reality
Greetings Golfers,
One of my favorite things about golf is that you have to live in reality while playing the game. Hit it … find it … deal with it.
A few weeks ago in an interview … Bernhard Langer responded to one of the dumbest sayings about golf … that it’s “90% mental”.
Here’s Langer’s response:
“If you say that … you have no IQ … I’m sorry. If you put two players together with the same level of technique and experience and capability, then it becomes very much mental, because what is going to differentiate those two guys who are playing on the very top of their game? But if I take you on tomorrow, I don’t know how good you are, but it doesn’t matter. You could be one of the best mental in the world, I could be the worst, and I’m still going to beat you out there just because of the different technique we have, and the different experience we have.”
Thanks Bernhard - we needed that.
Is the typical recreational piano player as good as a concert pianist? Would you go to a concert to see some hack play “chopsticks” or some basic songs?
Same thing. I guess the only difference is that the concert pianist is much stronger mentally.
Wow.
This “everybody wins a trophy” mindset is moronic. Obviously we can see where it comes from … well-meaning but not well-thought-out. If everyone wins a trophy … what’s the point of winning a trophy?
That carries over to the “golf is 90% percent mental” way of thinking.
These ideas of equality are disingenuous. If we value people for qualities such as kindness, morality, responsibility, etc … we don’t have to pretend that the reality of talent, competence, and expertise don’t exist.
But if our value system is shallow … then the reality of human differences is too much to handle.
If that mindset totally took over … PGA TOUR events would be handicapped … and a 36 handicap player might win the Masters.
Well, Bernhard Langer is a former Master’s champion … and a master champion at saying what needs to be said.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Slow Down
Greetings Golfers,
When I’m out Rangering … people like to tell me how they’re playing … especially if it’s bad or good. If it’s normal round, they usually don’t talk about it. And if they’re playing poorly … they like to ask me for advice. Without seeing their swing … I always say the same thing “Grip it softer … and slow down your backswing”.
The other day I was watching a guy practice his putting with all of the training aids. His stroke was pretty good … but he never made a thing. His rhythm wasn’t great. His backswing was too quick … and then he decelerated on the forward swing.
He wasn’t nervous … he was just practicing. When people get nervous - they get quick … not just in golf but in everything.
I think the secret to fear/nerves/anxiety … is to slow down. I don’t mean get lazy … I mean to just slow down.
And not to go into passive mode like football teams do when they have a lead and then do a “prevent defense”. Or like when the Gopher hockey team lost in this year’s final after they took a nice lead and went into a non-aggressive style of play. Ugh.
But the worst is a fast backswing and then a slow-weak downswing.
The best is a slow back swing and an aggressive downswing. Obviously it has to be in rhythm … otherwise it’s a mess.
But a slow backswing lets you build up momentum and gives you time to sequence your swing and make a well-timed downswing … even on a putt.
However, someone with a naturally fast swing should not try to be a slow swinger. I mean … a slow backswing for them. Jon Rahm’s a fast swinger … but he shouldn’t try to swing like Freddie Couples. Yet, Rahm has to keep from rushing too.
I even think this is vital in everyday life. When life heats-up … it’s important to slow down and not speed-up. Too often we over react … whether it’s driving a car or dealing with a tough situation.
I’ve been thinking about this aggressive thing. We all need to live with energy and confidence … but being aggressive in sports is not the same as going around being aggressive towards other people. That’s crazy behavior. Disrespectful and unacceptable. However, defending yourself with aggression is a good thing - like making an aggressive swing at the ball.
I feel our society has gotten confused on this. We seem to value rude, crazy aggressive behavior … yet have no tolerance for defending oneself against such behavior.
That’s like an out-of-control fast backswing and a slow, weak forward-swing.
So … if you’re having a bad round or feeling nerves on the course … slow down your backswing. And if a jerk is getting too aggressive with you … give him a good, strong forward-swing.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Common Sense - Where Are You?
Greetings Golfers,
Summer in Minnesota goes by too quickly. Sure, we’ve got weird air quality from those fires in Canada … and it can get hot … but, it’s still really good. We might lead the nation in golf participation and boating … because we don’t/can’t take warm weather for granted!
Fortunately, we’ve been packed everyday. It’s crazy. It never rains - or only at night. As I’ve always said - nice weather makes me look smart.
Just had a guy say to our desk staff in the Shop “You must be cooking the books to make it look like you’re full.” Huh? He then said that he had a hard time finding an open tee-time … and that he just sat on our patio and didn’t see any players on #18 for awhile.
Hmmmmm. So … we would purposefully not open tee-times so we would look like we’re full? Wow. That’s so crazy I don’t even know where to start. That would be like us sending out the beverage cart with nothing in it … and telling everyone that it’s empty because it’s sold-out.
I guess because a 4some quit after 9 holes and the 4some before them played fast … and then the others played at a normal pace … that the gap he saw was actually part of our tee-time scam????
Ah … common sense … please come back. We miss you.
Here’s another one: Twilight golf. We charge a lesser Twilight rate because we don’t think it’s fair charging the normal rate if people can’t finish 18 holes. Some people think it’s a license to play as many holes as they can. For them … Twilight is whenever they’ve had enough. When I told them they couldn’t start another round on #1 … they were mad and said it wasn’t fair. Ummmmm … it was 9:30pm and pitch-black … not what I would call Twilight.
All we’re trying to do is make it fair. Tee-times go quickly (Thank God!) … why would we lose money cancelling valuable tee-times to pretend we’re busier than we are? And why would we charge less for Twilight if they can play more than 18 holes?
Common-sense … where are you?
While writing this … just had a person call in because they were 2minutes behind pace. I’m not making this up.
Are they just looking for a reason to be upset? Why aren’t they enjoying playing golf? Because it’s 2minutes behind pace? Really?
We all know golf can be frustrating. I get it. But this stuff seems like people just going out of their way to be unhappy.
Speaking of being unhappy. Do you think Justin Thomas is very happy? What’s going on with his golf game? It doesn’t seem like he’s enjoying playing golf. I thought the Open might be a good thing for him … sort of like a new start in a new town.
I love watching the Open. It’s like watching your buddies scrambling around out the woods to make par. It’s amazing what these guys can do with a golf ball. This is not robot golf … one basic swing that just flies the ball to targets. This is working it around the course with golf shots and imagination … and guts.
Back on our little practice green, I’ve been showing some staff and other people ways to control the ball with spin. Everyone always thinks it’s too advanced. It’s not. Its the same as controlling the ball in ping-pong. A hook spin is the same as a topspin … just low-to-high with a closed face. And … a slice/flop-shot is the same as a drop-shot … just high-to-low with an open face.
People worry too much about the path being in-to-out or out-to-in. However, the low-to-high path and the high-to-low take care of proper angle automatically. Meaning … try to swing low-to-high on an out-to-in path. Or … try to swing high-to-low on an in-to-out path. Doesn’t work.
I know, I know … a lot of topics … maybe too many. But summer goes by quickly and we have a lot of golf to enjoy. Golf isn’t easy or perfect … but it’s a great way to spend time during the summer. Let’s enjoy it!
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Control Freaks Hate People
Greetings Golfers,
Most of us don’t want to run other people’s lives.
But some people do.
Fortunately, our society is a free marketplace of goods and services. People choose what to wear and eat and drive, etc.
And companies have sales people who get their product or service into the marketplace. Those sales people are not robots. They actually make connections and relationships that are based on trust while selling what they have.
Without a free marketplace … we’re all just assigned our clothes, food, cars, etc … by who? Probably arrogant control freaks who want to run our lives.
Oh yeah … I forgot … they do it because they love us.
I think as our society is becoming more controlled … people are becoming more like actors who are good at saying their lines. And then people respect the people who are the best at saying their lines … whether it’s true or makes any sense.
So … I think that the good salesman is the guy in the movie who stops saying his lines and turns to the camera and explains to the audience what’s really going on.
The reason that I’m going off on this is because I just heard that some of the companies we use are getting rid of salespeople.
Companies like that don’t really believe in choice. They wish that there was a law that people could only buy their product or service. Relationships? Choices? Different qualities of products and services? No!!! One size fits all.
They would claim it’s about being fair and efficient.
In their mind … if people would just shut-up and take it, the machine of humanity would run much better.
The machine.
Now, some people confuse this with the freedom we have now. They want to tell every business how to operate. They are actually the same as the control freaks who want to run everything. Rather than tell businesses what to do … they should patronize the ones they like … and leave the others alone.
For example, about 30 years ago, I wouldn’t buy products from the biggest golf shoe company. I liked their stuff - but I didn’t like their sales representative. People matter more to me than stuff. Fortunately, they got rid of him and the fellow that followed him is still here. And he’s one of my favorites. He knows his product better than I do (of course!) He knows who we are - so I trust him to sell us what we need. I’m not so arrogant as to think that I know more about his products than he does. This is how relationships work. This is how a healthy business works. This is also how a healthy society works.
The people who are trying to get rid of the people side of business do not like you and me. They say they do … but they’re just saying their rehearsed lines.
We need people who stop saying their lines and look into the camera and speak the truth.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Play Golf Like A Musician
Greetings Golfers,
Though I didn’t see any of it … I heard that last weekend Bernhard Langer won the US Senior Open. And that Rickie Fowler won on the PGA Tour.
Both victories were good for golf because both players are 5’9” … the perfect height for golf. I’m kidding ( I’m 5’9”). But they’re both good guys and amazingly driven. Langer is now the Senior Tour all-time winner. And Rickie remade his golf swing. Both guys could have put their golf careers on cruise and headed-off into the sunset as former stars. Instead, they ramped-up their work ethic and won.
Langer is relentless. He turned Pro 50 years ago … and never stopped tweaking and experimenting and improving. His putting woes would have killed most guys … but he found a way that works for him. Rickie realized his swing was good … but not good enough for who he wanted to be. So, he went back to Butch Harmon and rebuilt his swing.
These guys remind me of guitarists. Carlos Santana is always experimenting and improving. Jeff Beck (R.I.P.) was the best and just kept getting better. He and Eric Clapton do an amazing version of “Moon River” … check it out on YouTube.
So the other day I was listening to Santana play “Samba Pa Ti” on YouTube … and I wondered why I don’t hear anything like this anymore. I know, I know … I sound like the crabby old guy who doesn’t like anything new. But that’s not what I’m talking about. The “music” I hear in a grocery store is worse than Muzak was. This “music” is made to appeal to everyone … but it appeals to no-one. It’s as appealing as fake food.
Ironically, something that comes from the heart like Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti” actually appeals to everyone (almost) … because most people have hearts and emotions.
AI cannot make heartfelt music. Or take the place of an instructor like Butch Harmon. Rickie Fowler is not a robot. He has a new swing … but not a robotic swing. He plays golf like a musician. So does Bernhard Langer. His swing is unorthodox … but it’s the result of constant tweaking that gives him the feel and control he needs to play the shots (notes) that make him special.
Try to play golf like a musician - not a robot. I like to sing when I play golf. I was blessed with zero singing ability … so I’m not sure my playing companions appreciate my singing … but it helps my rhythm and keeps me laughing. One time in a State Open, I sang the song “Shaft” whenever I stepped onto the tee-box … probably should have kept my singing to casual golf … no one enjoyed my “musicianship”.
Even if you don’t sing while you play … at least try to have the feel and mindset of a musician.You probably won’t play like Langer or Fowler … or Santana or Beck or Clapton … but you can love it as much as they do.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Freedom
Greetings Golfers,
We’re just a few days away from the 4th of July … how do I not talk about freedom?
Despite all of the crazy stuff going on in our country … whether political or cultural … wouldn’t you think we could agree on the value of freedom?
We may even disagree about what freedom means … but we should at least agree that it’s the defining characteristic of the USA.
Yet … we seem to take it for granted.
We could argue all day about what is good and bad about America. America is not perfect. But what country is? Or even what is (besides God)?
Upstairs in my office I have my great-great Grandmother’s spinning-wheel. When they left Norway to settle in Northern Minnesota … all they had was her wheel to help them make enough money to keep going. Why would they put themselves through such hardship? Freedom.
Probably most people reading this have a similar story.
However, freedom only works with grown-ups … or responsible people.
Too much freedom for kids or goofballs turns into chaos. Or destruction. Or the end of progress. Just a constant party. But after awhile, there’s no one to run the party or make the food and drink or supply ANYTHING. No one’s working!
Freedom at its best means the freedom to do what’s right. Not the freedom to give in to your worst self. Not freedom to be a murderer or rapist or a kleptomaniac, etc.
Irresponsible freedom only works if someone is there to clean-up the mess. We all know spoiled kids who know that they don’t have to be responsible for what they do. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about this in “The Great Gatsby”.
But what if a society goes that route? What if the people in power tell people they can do whatever they want and that society will clean it up? Is that real freedom?
I think the main thing that those people in power wouldn’t allow is freedom of speech. They don’t want anyone calling them out on their scam.
Speaking of scams … have you noticed the PGA Tour - Liv deal has vanished from the news. Vanished. Hmmmm. HUGE event … historic event for the game of golf … and … over. No more comments or insight or follow-up on how and why it all happened.
Oh yeah … and PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan has been deathly ill ever since the deal.
Will there be freedom in professional golf? Or will it be totally controlled by this new organization? Well … it already feels controlled. Free speech is always the clue. Freedom and free speech go hand-in-hand.
While writing this, I took a break and read a few emails … and a few of them also had freedom on their minds. One was from a music reviewer who referred to freedom as FreeDUMB. Wow!
Another was from my son Mikey who sent me this quote by Peter Marshall “May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right”.
I’m going to go with Mikey’s quote and proudly celebrate our nation’s freedom on the 4th of July.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Feel It
Greetings Golfers,
“95% of putts that are short don’t go in the hole”.
I’m sure you’ve heard that piece of “wisdom”. Probably good advice on short putts. Probably not on a severe downhill putt on a fast green. And probably not a good way to think about putting - especially if you’re new to the game.
I just overheard that advice being given to a kid learning to play. He then began smashing putts all over the putting green.
Most people have trouble with distance while putting. You seldom see someone 5 feet left or right from the cup. But, you see players constantly 5 feet (or more) short or long.
Putting is about feel - getting the speed right. And, with the correct speed … you have a much better sense of how it breaks. I think people need to learn how to die the putt into the hole … so that it falls in on its last turn. That’s how to get a feel of the green and the putter and your stroke. When you get that feel, then you can decide when to hit putts firm or soft.
Just read a great blog about baseball. The writer was pleased with the improved pace of play … but discouraged by how slow play came about. Too many relief pitchers and too many decisions coming from stats. Talk about losing the feel of the game. Even former Yankee star and Marlin’s manager Don Mattingly, said “It’s a game that is sometimes unwatchable”. Trying to save it with carnival acts and better food options is not the solution.
The fear of making decisions based on personal knowledge and experience is depressing. Why even have leaders? Just have statisticians run everything. What a perfect way to avoid responsibility. Then if people still aren’t happy … give ‘em a Snickers bar.
The town of Victoria had a great leader who didn’t run from responsibility. I’m talking about Sue Orsen - the owner, editor, and publisher of the VICTORIA GAZETTE. Sue’s monthly paper was a work of art and a labor of love. It has been vital to our sense of community.
Language is what distinguishes us from animals. Animals cannot put thoughts and feelings and ideas into words. As James Joyce said “ A writer is the priest of the eternal imagination, transmuting the daily bread of experience into the radiant body of everlasting life.”
Thank you Sue. I hope that Victoria can grow the right way without your words.
Yes … words are that important. We do what we do because of how we think. Words influence how we think.
Rod Carew is good with words. Maybe not as good with words as he was with a bat - but good. He’s been fun on Twitter sticking-up for hitters. MLB turned into a slug fest with guys who could only hit a home-run or strike-out. They couldn’t even hit to the opposite field when the shift was on. That’d be like a Tour player who couldn’t hit fades and draws.
Carew just told a guy to “go polish your calculator”.
Carew had unbelievable bat control - he could hit home-runs … but preferred hitting the ball where they weren’t. He had amazing feel of the bat. We need that kind of feel of the golf club. Especially the putter. Yeah, it’s good to get it to the hole … but with feel … not smashed past it.
“95% of smashed putts don’t go in the hole”.
Work on your feel.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Taking Everything For Granted
Greetings Golfers,
So I was rereading Ben Hogan’s “Five Fundamentals” and read the intro by Herbert Warren Wind. Wind was talking about how much work went into the original articles for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and then even more work to put it into a book-form.
While reading this up in my office, I looked out the window and watched a guy pull-up to the back of the Clubhouse with his truck. It was pretty amazing how well he backed-up the truck and perfectly aligned it when he finished. He then opened the back, set-up a ramp and then went in the truck and went through his inventory to load-up his cart and start bringing in his stuff.
His products don’t just magically appear in our coolers.
Ben Hogan’s instruction didn’t just magically appear on the pages of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED or his book.
I think our society is taking too much for granted. It’s easy to do … but not a good thing. We become demanding instead of respectful.
The other night while picking up hole signs after an event …. I ran into people who’d snuck on the golf course. When I said that they had to leave … they acted like I was being a jerk.
Here’s an analogy: Let’s say that a restaurant is closed and that people just walked in and sat at the tables and started eating their own food. Is that cool? Sure … why not? The restaurant just runs itself … cleans itself by magic … and things never wear-out … the staff doesn’t want to go home. I guess the restaurant people are just being mean not to allow it.
Maybe it’s because I’m getting old and know people who had death scares … and are now really thankful to be alive. But we also have to be thankful of the people who do the work that allows us to do and have so much. We’re incredibly fortunate. Do you grow the food… pave the streets … answer the phones … make the clothes … build the cars … and everything else we take for granted?
Do you let them know? I try to give our delivery guys a coke, etc … it’s not much but at least it’s recognition.
We seem to have framed our society by who’s on the “correct” side. And only those people deserve our respect. Hmmmmmm. Really? Isn’t that easily self-serving and smug? Taking for granted everything people do for us … and then feeling superior or rejecting them because maybe they don’t share your world-view?
Ironically, I find those working people more honorable and respectful than the people who dismiss them.
So … what is our society valuing? Doesn’t seem to be hard work … but rather the fruits of hard work.
That sounds like the attitude of a spoiled brat.
Hogan was definitely not a spoiled brat. His life story is mind-boggling. I’m sure most of you know it … if not, look into it … it will give you hope about humanity.
And if you need some help with your golf swing … take a look at his “Five Fundamentals”. From time-to-time, we all need to go back to the fundamentals. In everything.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Confidence Comes From Integrity
Greetings Golfers,
What would you think if a legitimate dating service merged with a house of prostitution?
Well, some people would claim that it’s a victory for “unity”.
I guess it is … if you would want to be in business with a whore house. You might even have more clients. Maybe that’s your goal - “bigger is better”.
And what if the Mafia was financing this house of prostitution? Would you then want them to be your main money source … and let them have first right of refusal to future money sources? Not that they’ll take over the whole business … naw … you’re the CEO … you have the power!
What was Jay Monahan thinking? Was/is he the real power behind the PGA? Or was he just a pawn?
How could the PGA TOUR not have enough confidence in their brand to stay independent?
And … every other golf leader is talking about how this will be good for golf in the long run. Why are they saying this? LIV was no threat. It would limp along and die.
Oh … I guess it must be about the greatly needed infusion of Saudi cash. Huh? The PGA TOUR was healthy - very healthy.
Why the panic move?
Or (as they claim) is this the way to develop a better vision for professional golf? What’s the vision?
But there is no vision. And yet they say there will be one in a year or two.
Talk about double-talk. This is just a basic sell-out.
What’s that lyric from “Hamilton”? … “I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love.”
Who are these people?
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com
Finding Balance Through Controlling Extremes
Greetings Golfers,
Does your golf swing ever get out of whack? Do you always hit the ball perfectly straight?
Well, I don’t. In fact lately, I’ve just been hitting smothered hooks. It’s a really fun shot. Especially with a long carry over water. Even a short carry over water is dangerous - I can smother hook a wedge.
So … how do I fix it? While playing - I would try to block it and lead my hands way in front of the ball at impact. This lead to super low shots and some lovely fat and thin shots … and some really fun blocked fades into weird places.
That wasn’t a fix … that was just a temporary way to get around the golf course.
Rather than rebuild my swing, I’ve decided to practice doing the opposite of my smother hook. I’m practicing hitting high fades - even violent slices.
But I first started by hitting flop shots at our seldom used
chipping green. It was scary to lay the face of my sand wedge wide open … and then try to slide it under the ball. It felt reckless and dangerous. A lot of guys get the chipping yips in their later years - I get it. But the short, punchy chip can get pretty yippy too.
However, I stuck with it. I didn’t practice very long … once I got decent at it … I stopped. I wanted my body and brain to start to trust it. Later that day, I actually hit a bunch of full-swing flop shots. Not a million … just trying to build trust in a different way of hitting the ball.
We all get out of whack. Maybe not as severe as I was … but we all do. The trick is how to fix it … and not make it worse.
So the other day, an old friend posted this:
The Buddha smiled, “Yes, you see, that is what the path is: just right, neither too tight nor too loose. Moderation in everything. Temperance in everything.”
Sounds like hitting straight golf shots. But … how do we get there?
I think we need to learn how to hit hooks and slices so that we can get back to the middle. If over time my swing gets too fadey … I’ll need to start hitting hooks to get it back in the middle.
Finding balance through controlling extremes seems to work in golf. I wonder if Buddha played golf.
Cheers!Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com