| Recently an editor spoke to me about doing an | | | | staying for a week in the Butler cabin? I heard none |
| article dealing with the ultimate golf fantasy. I thought | | | | of the above. It seems like winning a British Open or |
| it made sense to speak with some friends to see | | | | US Open pales in comparison to a simple round of |
| what kinds of dreams they had and what their idea | | | | golf at Augusta. I am sure people think this way |
| of the ultimate golf fantasy might be. | | | | because it is a more realistic dream. > |
| Early feedback was pretty overwhelming and it was | | | | Perhaps you have had visions, as I have, of hoisting |
| kind of surprising. Almost to a person it had to do | | | | that big cardboard check over your head. You know |
| with playing a particular course in the southeastern | | | | the check; it has a one with six zeroes behind it. How |
| part of this country (wonder where that is huh). | | | | many of us have dreamed of a final round like David |
| Handicap and occupation had little to do with the | | | | Duval had at the Bob Hope where he shot a 59? For |
| response and the desire to play a certain "goat | | | | most players, 59 is a good 12 hole total. Hey, forget |
| track" in Georgia. | | | | the US Open, how about Annika's trip around Colonial |
| Chris Obert is a scratch player and head golf | | | | several years ago? It was big news around the world |
| professional of Millwood Golf and Racquet Club in | | | | and left a lot of us wishing we could walk in her |
| Springfield. Chris had the same response as did | | | | shoes. |
| American Airlines manager and 30-handicapper Mike | | | | I will probably never play a PGA tour event at |
| Fink. Now, I realize my previous comment alone | | | | Colonial. But I can sure dream about it as I stroll |
| probably made some peoples skin crawl. Of course I | | | | around my home course. Standing over the putt that |
| am writing about Augusta National, and of course I | | | | could win the Ryder Cup! |
| am obviously kidding when I say "goat track". It is | | | | It is funny how age and our declining athletic ability |
| probably the most desired course to play in the | | | | rob us of fantasies relating to other sports. I know I |
| world. | | | | will never dive into the hole, jump up, and throw out |
| My early polling proved that to be true. Augusta | | | | that runner going to first. I will never dunk again, let |
| National, these two words send shivers down the | | | | alone make it up the court and back without an |
| spine of true golf enthusiasts. It seems not even the | | | | oxygen tank strapped to my back. I must admit that |
| glorious ocean views of Pebble Beach can compete | | | | my 50 extra pounds would make me a heck of a |
| with Magnolia Lane. I was surprised to hear talk of | | | | line-backer. At least until that 225 pound running back |
| just a simple round of golf at Augusta. There was | | | | left his foot print on my sagging chest. Golf allows us |
| not even a mention of putting on the green jacket. | | | | to keep our dreams and to excel well into our golden |
| It seemed that dream was too far out there to | | | | years. Hale Irwin at 60+ would still make a pretty |
| even fantasize about. Hey, how about playing in the | | | | good partner for most of us. |
| annual event? How about playing in the final group on | | | | We will look at more ultimate golf fantasy in the next |
| Sunday? How about taking a group of friends and | | | | article. Where would you go and what would you do? |