The Dan Plan - 10,000 Hours to Become a Pro Golfer (Dan McLaughlin)

[nevets88]

Interesting list of other folks doing something similar. Many are not very active.

https://twitter.com/golfprogress/lists/fellow-dreamers/members

SCRATCH IN A YEAR @scratchin1year

I picked up a golf club for the 1st time in 15 years in Sep 2013. My challenge is to play a scratch round of golf within one year, by 11.05.2015.

#TourQuest @TeamTourQuest

# TourQuest is: 5 guys, one dream, to make it on the PGA Tour. Follow us as we travel the country on our quest.

Steven Carey @StevenCareyGolf

On a challenge to go from an unfit, scrappy golfer to 5 H`cap or under and get on a leading UK amateur tour. Please support me and visit my website.

stephen grant @soccer2golf

x pro soccer player trying to make it as a two sport professional by getting my card on a major world golf tour(TOUGH TASK)SHAMROCK ROVERS

Chris Cooper @GolfUnderRepair

Journey of a 7 handicapper working to Open Qualification under top tuition. View lessons, top tips and all things golf related.

Brian Phillips @PGABoundBrian

I'm trying to chase my dream and with a little help from a lot of people, I'm gonna make it happen! Please visit my site for donations, even $1 helps!

[GHIN0011458]

Interesting list of other folks doing something similar. Many are not very active.

https://twitter.com/golfprogress/lists/fellow-dreamers/members

SCRATCH IN A YEAR @scratchin1year

I picked up a golf club for the 1st time in 15 years in Sep 2013. My challenge is to play a scratch round of golf within one year, by 11.05.2015.

#TourQuest @TeamTourQuest

#TourQuest is: 5 guys, one dream, to make it on the PGA Tour. Follow us as we travel the country on our quest.

Steven Carey @StevenCareyGolf

On a challenge to go from an unfit, scrappy golfer to 5 H`cap or under and get on a leading UK amateur tour. Please support me and visit my website.

stephen grant @soccer2golf

x pro soccer player trying to make it as a two sport professional by getting my card on a major world golf tour(TOUGH TASK)SHAMROCK ROVERS

Chris Cooper @GolfUnderRepair

Journey of a 7 handicapper working to Open Qualification under top tuition. View lessons, top tips and all things golf related.

Brian Phillips @PGABoundBrian

I'm trying to chase my dream and with a little help from a lot of people, I'm gonna make it happen! Please visit my site for donations, even $1 helps!

I would do this in a heartbeat but it would be SUCH a grind to market yourself for funds and focus on golf. I have thought of it.. but with a family there is no way unless I was able to raise 400k. I have never even had a lesson and am placing top 10-20 in around 75 percent of the events I play in. My focus would be strictly tournament golf though and I would be playing full time tournament golf. I would get the same instructor as Scott Langley since he is local but he is 200/hr and work a deal with him to get that to 100/hr or so for 3 hours a week. Dan Plan 2.0. My investors would get a return if somehow I made it on every dollar they put in and since it would be full time tournament golf, they would get to see results at least twice a month on actual scoreboards from amateur events. After year 2 I would turn pro and begin playing for money. I figure I am somewhere in the 3500- 5000 hour mark already of practice so mine would be 6500 hours but that wouldn't be my main emphasis. It would be deliberate practice with specific goals and specific changes to acheive those goals and bring it to tournaments. Just a dream though.. if I could re-work Dan's Plan.

[nevets88]

I'm surprised some independently wealthy guy hasn't done this, at least in social media public. Like the guy in TIm's Vermeer - who although could sit back and relax, looked like he worked pretty hard.

[bkuehn1952]

Interesting list of other folks doing something similar. Many are not very active.

Thanks for sharing the list.  As I checked them out, the results are both sad and funny.  It is sad to see so much enthusiasm and hopefulness circle the bowl all too quickly.  At the same time, it is hard not to laugh when someone announces, "Okay, now I am really going to get to work" and that is the last posting ever made.

In some ways, it sort of makes Dan and his plan just a little bit more interesting.  Here he is 4+ years later still posting entries to his blog, even if his goal still seems rather far off.

[RandallT]

As if we need more examples of how difficult it is to keep up a public blog about your golf progress... here's a trip down memory lane with these two efforts. Fair to say they were both crash and burns in the end.

Quote from Post1:

I'm making this thread my "journal" thread. I'm writing a book called "A month to shoot 70's", where it's all my thoughts. The title comes from the fact that I have around a month to consistently shoot in the low 70's until high school golf starts. I'll post here every night for a month, maybe more, with my progress. Pictures, videos, etc will be included. I think it'll be cool for everyone to look back on my notes when I'm in the Big Show.

Day 1

Getting at the course around four, to my dismay the driving range was closed. With winter creeping up, irrigation was set in and it was time to let the grass heal. Understandable, but disappointing none the less. I moved my way to the chipping green, where I would slap at the ball for a good 2 hours. By slap, I don't mean "slap", but take focused shots. It's my goal this month to focus on every shot, putting pressure on them like it's the tournament. I feel really good at where I am, and I'm very glad I'm off the baseball field and back where I belong, it truly feels right.

Quote from Post 1:

ok so i have a very good opportunity to work on golf. I recently quit my job and sold my house to start my own business which gives me some extra free time. also i am taking lessons at a local course and with those lessons i get free use of the range as much as i want. i started playing golf again in september. before i went on hiatus i was shooting high 70's low 80's. no official handicap or anything. since starting in september again i started at mid 90's now I'm down to mid-high 80's. my goal is to be a scratch golfer by my birthday in september. it is my new years resolution and i figure i'll make a golf journal thing of rounds i play (including tournaments on the Am tour i joined) sooooooo here we go

January 3rd

Course - Oak Valley 6372 yards 71/131

Score 86

FIR - 8

GIR - 5

Putts - 31

Penalty Shots - 2

2 birdies, 5 pars, 7 bogeys, 3 doubles,1 triple

[Pretzel]

I remember Kelzzy a while ago. He was an interesting case.

[Lihu]

As if we need more examples of how difficult it is to keep up a public blog about your golf progress... here's a trip down memory lane with these two efforts. Fair to say they were both crash and burns in the end.

Just looked through the threads. I remember thinking that shooting 82 was a phenomenal feat, and that he must be getting close to scratch.

I remember Kelzzy a while ago. He was an interesting case.

Yeah, I wonder how he's doing now?

[iacas]

I'm surprised some independently wealthy guy hasn't done this, at least in social media public. Like the guy in TIm's Vermeer - who although could sit back and relax, looked like he worked pretty hard.

Perhaps the situation is simply that more of the independently wealthy guys are older. This begged for a 22-year-old to do it*.

* It would have been no more or less scientifically (in)valid, of course. Just that a 22-year-old would have had a better chance of getting better than Dan.

[DrvFrShow]

For five months, I will have 390 hrs. of practice. There are limitations. That's 3 hrs/day, six days/wk. If I did this 52 weeks I'd have 936 hrs/yr. Over the next three years, that would be about 2800 hrs. That's a lot of hours of practice even for someone a lot younger than me.

Someone starting at age 10 and practicing like this would have about 10,000 hrs by age 20. By age 30, 20,000 hrs.

Practicing 7 - 8 hrs/day doesn't leave any time for life, and one must leave time for that. Also the golf swing is a repeated motion, and RSIs can occur.

[Lihu]

For five months, I will have 390 hrs. of practice. There are limitations. That's 3 hrs/day, six days/wk. If I did this 52 weeks I'd have 936 hrs/yr. Over the next three years, that would be about 2800 hrs. That's a lot of hours of practice even for someone a lot younger than me.

Someone starting at age 10 and practicing like this would have about 10,000 hrs by age 20. By age 30, 20,000 hrs.

Practicing 7 - 8 hrs/day doesn't leave any time for life, and one must leave time for that. Also the golf swing is a repeated motion, and RSIs can occur.

This is a good idea for me as well. I am thinking of breaking up my time to two 1.5 hour sessions or a 2 hour and 1 hour session.

I count the practice rounds as practice time, though.

[GHIN0011458]

[Lihu]

There are so many factors with doing something like this. The bottom line is that if you are good enough to make it, I think that success at lower levels would come within the first 5000 hours. If you were to start after the age of 22-25 I would think this is maybe how you would have to progress.

2000- developing golf swing foundation

3000- start tournaments

4000- win local amateur events/club championships

5000- win these events again and qualify for some USGA events or almost qualify; get a World Amateur Golf Ranking

6000- Top 5 in State Open's, Qualify for USGA Events, Make match play in these events.

7000- Win a state open, turn pro, start mini tours

8000- Learn Mini-tour golf, make cuts

9000- Win Mini Tour event, State Open, etc

10000+ - Maybe qualify for web.com event on a Monday, continue winning on a mini tour platform, get through us open qualifying, etc. then MAYBE you might make it on tour.

For most, we all peak at some point due to having restricted resources such as time, money, weather to where this process would take so long that we would be past our prime.. which I think is like 31-34. If Dan isn't progressing at rapid speed to start with, then the talent isn't there IMO.

I agree with your conclusion, but am curious as to what fills the training times between 3000 and 10000 hours. What sort of things does one do?

[GHIN0011458]

I agree with your conclusion, but am curious as to what fills the training times between 3000 and 10000 hours. What sort of things does one do?

I think you work on your weaknesses, make them strengths, then do it again. The key that I have found is that you cannot work on more than one very small change to a swing at a time.  I think you sharpen your skills with distance control and you really learn how to manage your round. You learn the mental game and you get to see what other good players are doing and it pushes you to do better. You learn to play percentage shots. You learn how to miss. You learn SO much playing a tournament where every stroke counts so much.

[Lihu]

I think you work on your weaknesses, make them strengths, then do it again. The key that I have found is that you cannot work on more than one very small change to a swing at a time.  I think you sharpen your skills with distance control and you really learn how to manage your round. You learn the mental game and you get to see what other good players are doing and it pushes you to do better. You learn to play percentage shots. You learn how to miss. You learn SO much playing a tournament where every stroke counts so much.

Yeah, I see. Dan really puts himself into a vacuum, and doesn't spend a lot of time playing against other people. I suppose you are suggesting that playing against other players is one of the training methods to get used to actual tournament play?

It seems like if he was really a 2-3 handicap, he could have a field day making money playing stakes rather than begging for money on the internet.

[GHIN0011458]

Yeah, I see. Dan really puts himself into a vacuum, and doesn't spend a lot of time playing against other people. I suppose you are suggesting that playing against other players is one of the training methods to get used to actual tournament play?

It seems like if he was really a 2-3 handicap, he could have a field day making money playing stakes rather than begging for money on the internet.

not necessarily.. it is very hard to find people to actually play straight up for enough cash to matter. Then you are using it to keep a public plan going which could effect your amateur status since it isn't necessarily under the radar cash. Then you have guys who want strokes and sandbag or you get guys who are scratch or better who are going to play you for enough money. This kind of money I have only seen exchange hands at country clubs where 300-500 bucks is no big deal..

[Lihu]

not necessarily.. it is very hard to find people to actually play straight up for enough cash to matter. Then you are using it to keep a public plan going which could effect your amateur status since it isn't necessarily under the radar cash. Then you have guys who want strokes and sandbag or you get guys who are scratch or better who are going to play you for enough money. This kind of money I have only seen exchange hands at country clubs where 300-500 bucks is no big deal..

True, I guess there's a difference between playing for your round cost and making a "living" off of it.

Even Cochran in the criminal thread couldn't make a living playing golf, even though he is probably skilled enough to win the Michigan open.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/78131/golfing-con-man-arrested-after-his-mothers-funeral#post_1074915

[jamo]

Was it signed - Love mom?   Otherwise it was clearly one of Dan's people trying to help him out.

Does Dan even have "people" anymore? I assume he's got a family member or two that help him or occasionally with the website, but The Dan Plan doesn't seen like a huge operation, especially given his budgetary concerns. [quote name="nevets88" url="/t/45853/the-dan-plan-10-000-hours-to-become-a-pro-golfer-dan-mclaughlin/2010#post_1074814"]Interesting list of other folks doing something similar. Many are not very active. [URL=https://twitter.com/golfprogress/lists/fellow-dreamers/members]https://twitter.com/golfprogress/lists/fellow-dreamers/members[/URL] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=292F33] SCRATCH IN A YEAR [/COLOR] @scratchin1year [/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33]I picked up a golf club for the 1st time in 15 years in Sep 2013. My challenge is to play a scratch round of golf within one year, by 11.05.2015.[/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=292F33] #TourQuest [/COLOR] @TeamTourQuest [/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=66B5D2]#[/COLOR]TourQuest is: 5 guys, one dream, to make it on the PGA Tour. Follow us as we travel the country on our quest.[/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=292F33] Steven Carey [/COLOR] @StevenCareyGolf [/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33]On a challenge to go from an unfit, scrappy golfer to 5 H`cap or under and get on a leading UK amateur tour. Please support me and visit my website.[/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=292F33] stephen grant [/COLOR] @soccer2golf [/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33]x pro soccer player trying to make it as a two sport professional by getting my card on a major world golf tour(TOUGH TASK)SHAMROCK ROVERS[/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=292F33] Chris Cooper [/COLOR] @GolfUnderRepair [/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33]Journey of a 7 handicapper working to Open Qualification under top tuition. View lessons, top tips and all things golf related.[/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33] [COLOR=292F33] Brian Phillips [/COLOR] @PGABoundBrian [/COLOR] [COLOR=292F33]I'm trying to chase my dream and with a little help from a lot of people, I'm gonna make it happen! Please visit my site for donations, even $1 helps![/COLOR] [/quote] We see it here on the forum constantly. No pros yet, as far as I can tell. [quote name="Pretzel" url="/t/45853/the-dan-plan-10-000-hours-to-become-a-pro-golfer-dan-mclaughlin/2010#post_1074871"]I remember Kelzzy a while ago. He was an interesting case. [/quote] "Interesting" is one way to put it. "Crazy, vindictive troll" is probably more accurate.

[nevets88]

I wonder if Dan Plan counts a practice round as 4-5 hours or ~10 minutes. Because while you're out there for 4-5 hours, you spend a fraction of that time actually hitting a ball.