Referring to the exterior structure of the farm house turned club house, Tom said, "This is Chaska brick.  You don't find Chaska brick just anywhere.  The challenge was to make the place classy and functional."
The challenge was met.  "We've got the charm on the outside," he said, "but on the inside we've got the computers and modern necessities to run a business.  We were the first people in Minnesota to be on the reservation system.  This system allows us to be with our customers instead of on the phone.  It had been a nightmare."
He asked, rhetorically, "Would you rather spend your life on the phone or with your customers?"
The reservation system, whereby golfers sign up for tee times and get questions answered electronically, allows Tom and the Deer Run staff to spend their time with the customers at hand. 
How many members belong to the club?  "We are not about membership," he stated. "Deer Run is a public course.  We want to have everything that you find at a private club, only have it be public."
Tom waxes philosophically about his home away from home.  "Very seldom in life have I found something tasteful that is not also a bit snobbish," he said.  "But it doesn't have to be one or the other.  Our task at Deer Run is to have a first class quality place, and that's what drives the changes we've made.  We want to be warm and friendly, inviting and casual.  It might sound obvious, but it's what gets me fired up every day."
In simplest terms, the philosophy is "great yet casual."  The entry to the club house -- which is potted and pillared but not pretentious --  was designed and constructed four years ago.
Other recent changes at Deer Run in the last five years include expanded kitchen facilities, a service driveway to that kitchen, and a screened in patio and awning out back.
The changes also include elaborate boulder walls reminiscent of the rocky coast of Ireland, a driving range that one might find among the Scottish moors, an outdoor timepiece that tells you when the wine is chilled at the English pub.  The forged iron clock stands tall near the first hole, a gift in memory of Mark Bratrud, a golfer who died so young.
In addition to all of the above, there are now "hole to hole" paved cart paths at the Deer Run Golf Course and a new two-row irrigation system in place for its very first spring.  Such irrigation will make the whole course lush, including the rough!
The club house has increased in size threefold since the old cookstove heated water and baked apple pie for farm families.  Much of the inside remains very personal, with photos and gifts of friends.  The place fits into Victoria like an old shoe .. with new souls … and it fits into the season like warm woolen mittens.  It is a home away from home.
Merry Christmas, Deer Run.  Thank you all for being here.