'Dream On' by John Richardson


This book's back cover blurbs said I would find the enclosed story both inspiring and hilarious. Sorry to say, but I didn't laugh once and couldn't wait for it to end, so my "inspiration" came only when I got the chance to start reading another book.

I found Richardson's pursuit to even be unworthy of a condensed version. He spent a whole year in a self-absorbed attempt to shoot par at the expense of his wife and daughter. I quickly tired of stories relating how he practiced, read golf books, messed up his house, and tried to find a few minutes to spend with his family all in a "quest" to shoot a round of par golf in less than a year after starting with a handicap over 20.

Throughout the book I kept wondering what he would have said to his wife if she had a similar "quest," let's say winning the Boston marathon for women. Of course for the next year everything in her life would be subjugated to the background as she trained for the race.

Would her husband have supported her as he wanted her to support him in his quest?

I won't reveal the ending - I'm just happy to finish the book. At one time Richardson had the largest sandwich business in Ireland and that might have been a story to tell. I hope his menu read better than this book.

"Dream On" by John Richardson, 193 pages, $23.95, Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 978-1-61608-6

Dr. John Wagner has been a Seattle dentist for 37 years. He's been published in several dental journals as well as had several articles appear in the turf magazine for Pacific Northwest golf course superintendents. John has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Business School for several years and as a guest lecturer for several dental societies. Dr. Wagner is the co-designer (with Steve Shea of the Berger Partnership) of a golf course in Japan that cost over $120 million and was built by Wadsworth Golf Construction. He's a Past President of the Washington State Golf Association and a Trustee of the Pacific Coast Golf Association. A 7 handicap, John is currently a member of the USGA Green Section and a Director of the WSGA.