MILLS IS LIVING THE GOLFER'S DREAM : THIS WEEK SENIOR PGA TOUR SENIOR TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox

Shortly after taking up the game of golf, a grandiose thought forms deep in the brain. ``Wouldn't it be great if I could make a living at this?''

Sometimes it happens after the first perfect shot rockets off the club face's sweet spot.

Sometimes it happens watching a new day break over a course drenched in dew.

Or sometimes it happens while strolling up a sun-dappled 18th fairway among late afternoon shadows.

And if affection for this game reaches the addiction stage, and chances of this eventually happening are very good, this fleeting thought can turn into an enduring dream.

For most of us it remains just that. Lacking the skill to play on a professional tour, design courses, give lessons or work in a business related to the game, we dream.

But sometimes the dream becomes a reality.

It happened to Dave Mills, a former trombone player who has worked with Tony Bennett, Lena Horne and Mel Torme. Today the horn is stashed in a closet.

Mills spent three weeks in Hawaii late this summer, played about 500 holes of golf, and it was all in the course of business.

On the way home he stopped in Las Vegas, checked out the PGA International Golf Show and played the Desert Inn Golf Club.

Again, it was just business.

Since 1993 he's made his living putting out ``Golfers Guide to Southern California and Hawaii,'' a newsletter published quarterly that contains reviews of courses, advertisements for travel packages and discounts on greens fees.

On Wednesday Mills also hosts ``Golfers Guide On-the-Air,'' broadcast over KWNK-AM (670) from a studio overlooking the food court at Fallbrook Mall.

Mills writes reviews for the newsletter and also sells advertisements for it and the radio show. He gets an assist from Michael Clarke, a radio reporter for KFI who co-hosts the show and is senior editor of the newsletter.

And they play as much golf as they can.

``Even though I'm far from a pro-caliber player, I'm making a living with my clubs and my word processor while keeping a microphone in front of me,'' Mills said.

The show is broadcast from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Callers represent a wide spectrum of players, from those with low handicaps to high, young and old, and men and women.

Mills talks about courses he's recently played, what resorts offer the best deals on weekend getaways and how to get discounts on greens fees.

Clarke prepares by prowling the news wires and Internet for nuggets about recent tournaments.

Now Mills is in the midst of a three-week visit to Hawaii. Again, business will be mixed with golf.

He's broadcasting the show live from there, checking out resorts and following a couple of professional tournaments.

It's a vocation born out of exasperation. In 1990 Mills moved to Los Angeles from Connecticut, where he belonged to a private club.

Getting out to play here proved to be challenging.

``Playing golf in Southern California can be a frustrating experience, especially for residents of Los Angeles and Orange counties,'' he said. ``Lack of good tee times, slow play, inconsistent maintenance and constantly increasing fees conspire to discourage golfers.''

It wasn't long before Mills was in business for himself, and back out on the course.

Tiger's tale: After taking two months to steamroll the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods is kicking back in his new Orlando digs, chillin' with friends, including Ken Griffey Jr., and waiting to fatten his already swollen bank account in some rich postseason events.

Later this month he goes up against John Daly, Fred Couples and Tom Watson in the 14th annual Skins Game.

Woods was just a seven-year-old phenom when Watson won the first Skins Game in 1983. During a conference call with golf writers on Tuesday, Woods downplayed any head-to-head distance contest with long-hitting Daly.

``It's all about making birdies and I want to make as many as I can. That's my goal,'' Woods said of the Skins Game, wcahich is being played for the first time at Rancho La Quinta Golf Club.

But he's been keeping some of his prodigious distance in the bag. Woods says he's good for another 30 yards. On tour he's been careful to manage his game, taking what the courses give and only swinging at 75 to 80 percent.

``I can hit it 30 yards farther but there's no point. I don't know where it's going,'' he said.

Woods has not filled out his schedule for next year but has committed to two events, the Tournament of Champions and the AT&T National Pro Am at Pebble Beach. He'd like to partner there with his father.

``If my dad is able he will play with me. I'm really looking forward to that more than anything,'' Woods said.

Site: Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Dates: Today-Sunday.

Course: The Dunes Golf & Beach Club (6,815 yards, par 72).

Purse: $1.6 million.

Winner's share: $280,000.

TV: ESPN (Today, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday, noon-2 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30-4 p.m.; Sunday, 2-4 p.m.)

Last year: Jim Colbert won his fourth 1995 title and moved past Dave Stockton for the money championship with $1,444,386. Colbert, a five-time winner this season, closed with a 2-over 74 for a 6-under 282 total. Ray Floyd, the 1992 and 1994 winner, finished a stroke back.

PGA TOUR

Kapalua International

Site: Kapalua, Hawaii.

Dates: Today-Sunday.

Course: Kapalua Resort, Plantation Course (7,263 yards, par 73) and Bay Course (6,531 yards, par 71).

Purse: $1.1 million.

Winner's share: $198,000.

TV: ESPN (today, 1-3 p.m.; Friday, 4:30-6 p.m.) and ABC (Saturday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30-3 p.m.).

Notes: The tournament is an unofficial PGA Tour event. . . . Fred Couples, the winner in 1993 and 1994, tops the field along with 1992 champion David Love III, U.S. Open winner Steve Jones and John Daly.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: David Mills, left, and Michael Clarke talk golf on the radio every Wednesday afternoon. Mills is no Tour player, but he makes a living playing golf and telling other people the best places to play.

GENE BLEVINS / Special to the Daily News

Box: THIS WEEK (see text)