Jim McCabe's front 9 musings . . .

Oct 22, 2025

Jim McCabe's front 9 musings . . .

1 – List your priorities

Remember it’s golf, golf, golf. In that order.

2 – Seek shelter at a golf course

Little-known fact that can help improve the quality of your life. If you hear that a “small-craft advisory” is in effect, do not think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t own a sailboat or small vessel. That’s because it extends to yard work. You should never do yard work during a “small-craft advisory” – especially raking leaves. When you hear “small-craft advisory” seek shelter at a golf course where downwind holes are a safe haven.

3 – Dropping can be disconcerting

I keel over laughing every time I see a golfer in the 6-foot-3 range try to take one of these new-fandangle drops; you know, stooping until you get to your knee. Heck, why not go retro – drop the ball backward over your shoulder?

4 – Give it up, take it back

Colt Knost is an easy target. But shouldn’t the onus be on the USGA to have tougher and more logical guidelines for those wishing to be reinstated amateurs?

GOLF COURSE PHOTO -- Cheers to the folks at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Mass., who remind you that golf is a game with rules and what is tops on the list and most golden of all is this. Thanks to Holy Cross golf coach Steve Napoli for this photo, but here's a reminder that if you come across a golf course sign that tickles your fancy, it will probably do similarly to me, so send it along to jim@powerfades.com

5 – That’s entertainment?

When America demanded better sports entertainment, I’m not so sure that we meant Delaware vs. Jacksonville State followed by Sam Houston State and UTEP. But that’s what we got for college football – on a Wednesday, no less.

6 – Change the rule before, not after

Rarely has “the envelope rule” been employed in the Ryder Cup, but it was this year, much to the bitterness of the U.S. side. (When Viktor Hovland couldn’t play due to a sore neck, he went in the envelope and the U.S. countered with Harris English. No game, and each side got a half-point.) Needing as many points as possible, the Americans felt shortchanged by the opportunity to win another half-point and didn’t like the rule, which has been in the book since 1991. So here’s my question: If it’s so unfair was the issue ever brought up by anyone on the U.S. side?

7 – Sounds sweeter on the other side

This “envelope rule” passed as a controversy, by the way. The Euros pronounce it con-TRO-ver-sy; we choose to go with CON-tro-ver-sy. Advantage, Europe.

8 – Never been a good idea

The PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament was disbanded a few years ago (it’s still held to earn spots onto the Korn Ferry Tour) and now it’s also gone from the PGA Tour Champions landscape. Seems like a good time to reiterate how bad the all-exempt tour has always been.

9 – They don’t like our world

Of all the things I don’t have time for, here’s tops on my list: PGA Tour guys who moan about course set-ups where they have to hit 4- or 5-irons into par-4 greens.