These dreams, these golf desires sit right next to winning the lottery for most of us. They are so unrealistic that it often pains us to think of them. It is tough to win a PGA event when you cannot break 85 at your local municipal golf course. Most of us know where we stand in the golf food chain.

It is because of that "reality" that most people think more of a course that they would like to play or a group that they would like to play with. As great a guy as Springfield Cardinals marketing wizard Kirk Elmquist is, his golfing ability will never allow him to play on the PGA tour. As handsome as he is, he will not get an invite to the AT&T celebrity pro-am. He would, however, like to play Pebble Beach with a select group of men. His partners for the day would be Abe Lincoln, George Washington, and the creator of Pebble, "Jesus". Kirk's thoughts went to spending a beautiful summer day with three individuals who so greatly changed the course of history. Time alone with three men he would love to meet. I have a good feeling I know who would win that match.

One of our areas best players told me his dream would be to play Augusta. Realtor, Antonio Serrano said he would love to go and play but he would want to earn it. A win at the US Mid-Amateur would give him a special exemption to play at the Masters. Playing Augusta is one thing, but actually teeing it up with the world's elite would indeed be an amazing experience.

Missouri High School freshman Will Hogan is a young man with ever-changing views of the ultimate golf fantasy. Early in his freshman year his dream was to simply make the Ozark Varsity Golf Team. He just wanted to simply make the team, and he did. Then his thoughts went to playing in the number one spot. He was able to play in the number one spot on several occasions. As the state tournament approached he wanted to win a championship.

After day one his score was so good he thought he had a good chance to finish in the top 15, giving him All-State honors. He did all this as a skinny, punk freshman. His efforts were just two strokes shy of that top 15. As hard a worker as Will is, that dream is very attainable. As you might expect when I asked him about his future dreams, they included some lofty expectations, "My ultimate dream would be to play on the PGA Tour and have a very successful career." The funny thing is when I talked to his dad, Barry, about his ultimate fantasy it also included playing on the PGA Tour (not gonna happen). That would be fun though to watch this father/son combo on Tour.

A side note to Will's story; he did win that State Championship last year as a junior and another fantasy is coming true next year as when he will attend the University of Missouri on a golf scholarship.

Golf fantasies are not always big. My son Justus is a wonderful 12 year old boy. When he started playing golf seven years ago his goal was not like the rest of us. You see, he wanted to hit it in the water. He could have cared less about getting it in the hole as compared to seeing that ball take off and dive into the pond. More than anything, he wanted to hit it and see that beautiful splash. He was very good at it, as are many adults… He will learn as he gets older that it it is not so cool to hit it in the water when you are keeping score.

On a daily basis I have grown men look at me and ask how they can get my job. They think it is pretty cool to go out to a golf tournaments and get paid to be there. In nearly 600 events since 1997 I have never missed a cut, I don't have to count my score and if I slice it out of bounds or hit a top shot, people can laugh out loud and I do not care. Let's see, great courses, friendly people who really want to be there and I am doing golf shows for a living. That sounds like a pretty good golf fantasy to me.

My wife consistently reminds me how good we have it. That is a fact of which I am fully aware. They call it being "blessed". That I am.