1 – Says me

Truisms to ponder: Golf is underrated; pro golfers are grossly overpaid; golf historians are enthralling; golf with a caddie is a day well spent.

2 – So much greatness out there

If you spend the rest of your life playing courses that are not in the Top 100, you’d have total fulfillment.

3 – Yeah, let’s rumble

When it comes to the silliest things in team sports, here’s No. 1: Watching relief pitchers jog about 275 feet from their bullpen seats to “mix it up” when benches empty in a baseball game. All they do when they get there is circle the chaos to find an opposing bullpen guy to dance with. They look absurd.

4 – Pet Peeve No. 137

Back to golf. I’m not suggesting that steep-faced bunkers where balls plug into the face should be outlawed. But there needs to at least be a conscious effort to ease up on the sand.

GOLF COURSE PHOTO -- John Wells is a retired PGA professional from Massachusetts who made his way cross-country and served as head professional at Waverly CC in Portland, Ore., for 21 years. He forwarded this sign from Kohl Creek, a “nine-hole mom-and-pop course” in Wilsonville, Ore. “It shows the perils we face playing golf in the great Northwest,” he said. Should you come across an equally intriguing golf course sign, as always you can forward it to jim@powerfades.com.

5 – I mean, they took it without asking

That first time in miniature golf where my ball at the 18th hole was swallowed and never returned? Damn right I cried.

6 – It’s the best format

Let’s start a movement. Every club should have one annual tournament where the format is foursomes from start to finish. One day, two days . . . it doesn’t matter so long as it’s pure foursomes.

7 – The boasting is tiresome

When Gary Player gets revved up and says, “enough about me, let’s talk about me,” it’s time to put down the pens, shut off the recorders, and pull the plugs on the cameras.

8 – Something to work toward

Golf with fewer motorized carts and more walkers is an admirable thing to envision for the world.

9 – Leave me to my quirks

Laugh, if you will, but I like to shine my golf shoes and see nothing wrong with that.