Below is an interview with Mike McCabe, General Manager Old American Golf Club. Prior to Old American Golf Club, McCabe served as director of golf at Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound, Texas. He began his golf career at The Golf Academy of America in Orlando, Fla.
The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.
When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game? My Dad introduced me to the game at a very early age I but didn't take it up seriously until I was starting high school
What is your current home course? Old American Golf Club, a Tripp Davis / Justin Leonard design on the shores of Lake Lewisville north of Dallas. Old American opened in 2010, and the response has been rewarding. Golfweek, GOLF Magazine and LINKS Magazine named it a "Best New" that year. It is what you might call an instant classic, in that the strategically-driven design is a throwback to the courses of the Golden Age of golf course architecture.
To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment? Making my first hole-in-one at St. Andrews with my father there to see it, you just can't make that sort of thing up! As far as industry achievements, it was an honor to be recognized as the Northern Texas section's Merchandiser of the Year in 2010.
What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course? Cleanliness, I like things to be clean and presentable.
What is your favorite golf destination? I have been very fortunate to see some of the world's greatest golf courses but I would have to say there is nothing like the experience at Whistling Straits! Dallas is also shaping up as a strong golf destination, with Old American, The Tribute and other high-end courses within a 30-45 minute radius of DFW International. Dallas is a world-class business destination. The quality and variety of golf can hold its own with any major city.
What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet? Augusta National, easy one.
If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play? Old American Golf Club
If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? I have never been a fan of having to hit out of divots in the fairway. It is frustrating when a player splits a fairway and finds there ball resting in a divot.
Dream foursome (living)? My dad, Tom Watson, and Tiger Woods.
Dream foursome (living or dead)? Me, Payne Stewart, Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones
18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions
1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt? Putt2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One? Round of my life. I will never be able to top my first hole-in-one experience.
3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight? Crack of dawn
4) Hit a power fade OR power draw? Fade
5) Beverage cart OR halfway house? Halfway house
6) Bathroom OR bushes? Bathroom
7) Hot dog OR wrap? Burger Dog at Old American Golf Club
8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough? Sand
9) Walking OR riding? Walk
10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid? Hybrid
11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5? Par 3
12) Pants OR Shorts? Pants
13) Palmer OR Nicklaus? Nicklaus
14) Beatles OR Elvis? Beatles
15) Play for fun OR play for money? Depends on the foursome
16) Bump and run OR flop shot? Flop-a-dopalous
17) Lay up OR gamble? Lay up
18) 18 holes OR 36? 36
