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

[mchepp]

Actually I would like to see it from a tight lie with a bunker between him and the green, takes some real stones to try that shot and also from your partners not running for cover. Dan has had very little experience IMO on fast greens and since he's from Oregon very few of the courses he plays are probably dry and fast.

Having played a bit in both California and Oregon I would say after a solid Oregon summer the courses are as dry and fast as any in California. Columbia Edgewater where he first started is a first rate golf course and has tons of plus handicaps that can really play. When set up right it is very challenging course. Royal Oaks where he played one of his tournaments has some of the fastest greens I have ever putted. The courses aren't the problem. His athletic ability is the problem. That said, the question of what makes a professional golfer is still one we have not answered. Clearly it is not just hard work and a blog. Is it hand eye coordination from childhood that carries into his skill as a adult? So if he'd a been a college baseball player with exquisite hand eye coordination with the right instructional guidance could he have done this? I think he would have had a better chance. But he needed to gain some necessary skills as a child instead of just picking up the game and planning to go on tour.

[flopster]

Having played a bit in both California and Oregon I would say after a solid Oregon summer the courses are as dry and fast as any in California. Columbia Edgewater where he first started is a first rate golf course and has tons of plus handicaps that can really play. When set up right it is very challenging course. Royal Oaks where he played one of his tournaments has some of the fastest greens I have ever putted. The courses aren't the problem.

His athletic ability is the problem. That said, the question of what makes a professional golfer is still one we have not answered. Clearly it is not just hard work and a blog. Is it hand eye coordination from childhood that carries into his skill as a adult? So if he'd a been a college baseball player with exquisite hand eye coordination with the right instructional guidance could he have done this? I think he would have had a better chance. But he needed to gain some necessary skills as a child instead of just picking up the game and planning to go on tour.

Well you got me there, I just assumed since it's Oregon the rainfall amounts are going to be significantly more than what we get here in N CA, plus my home course is probably one of the driest and  fastest  here in the east bay. they also cut water consumption by 30%.

[nevets88]

One thing on his blog a couple of posts ago rubbed me the wrong way. He said it was in the 30s and thought practice would be useless on mats with frozen golf balls. Ahem, I find practice useful during the winters in the NE in the 30s, 25 with the wind chill with frozen golf balls, especially now I'm pretty darn good with making use of video. I may not be able to stay out there as long, and yeah, sometimes it's not fun, but I do make progress in those conditions. I understand regional differences in weather and West Coasters aren't used to the cold but I felt that that statement was a tad shi**ing on us with cold winters.

[jamo]

One thing on his blog a couple of posts ago rubbed me the wrong way. He said it was in the 30s and thought practice would be useless on mats with frozen golf balls. Ahem, I find practice useful during the winters in the NE in the 30s, 25 with the wind chill with frozen golf balls, especially now I'm pretty darn good with making use of video. I may not be able to stay out there as long, and yeah, sometimes it's not fun, but I do make progress in those conditions. I understand regional differences in weather and West Coasters aren't used to the cold but I felt that that statement was a tad shi**ing on us with cold winters.

Particularly if his goal is to be a professional golfer.

[flopster]

One thing on his blog a couple of posts ago rubbed me the wrong way. He said it was in the 30s and thought practice would be useless on mats with frozen golf balls. Ahem, I find practice useful during the winters in the NE in the 30s, 25 with the wind chill with frozen golf balls, especially now I'm pretty darn good with making use of video. I may not be able to stay out there as long, and yeah, sometimes it's not fun, but I do make progress in those conditions. I understand regional differences in weather and West Coasters aren't used to the cold but I felt that that statement was a tad shi**ing on us with cold winters.

Was this it?

November 17:  Wanted to practice at Riverside, but they had 18 temp greens, the putting and chipping greens were frozen and the range balls off of the mats felt like rocks. I hit about 15 balls and decided there were better things to be focussing on.

I think that's okay he wants to do something else but he needs to specify to some degree, it really sounds more like he just doesn't want to hit balls in the cold. Maybe I'm being too crit i cal of the guy but why didn't he make an effort to do this in a warmer climate than northern Oregon, I know that's where he lives but the fact that he was going to do nothing but work on his golf ga me for some 8 y ears or whatever makes me wonder why he didn't try and secure some type of affordable housing in a better climate. In reality why didn't he buy a used RV or trailer cheap and get a part time job at a golf course so he could get all the free golf he needed, hell he may have even been able to park his home on the golf course property and saved on space rent, Dan obviously didn't look at all the ways he could have saved money so he could better focus on the task.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

One thing on his blog a couple of posts ago rubbed me the wrong way. He said it was in the 30s and thought practice would be useless on mats with frozen golf balls. Ahem, I find practice useful during the winters in the NE in the 30s, 25 with the wind chill with frozen golf balls, especially now I'm pretty darn good with making use of video. I may not be able to stay out there as long, and yeah, sometimes it's not fun, but I do make progress in those conditions. I understand regional differences in weather and West Coasters aren't used to the cold but I felt that that statement was a tad shi**ing on us with cold winters.

Was this it?

November 17:  Wanted to practice at Riverside, but they had 18 temp greens, the putting and chipping greens were frozen and the range balls off of the mats felt like rocks. I hit about 15 balls and decided there were better things to be focussing on.

I think that's okay he wants to do something else but he needs to specify to some degree, it really sounds more like he just doesn't want to hit balls in the cold. Maybe I'm being too critical of the guy but why didn't he make an effort to do this in a warmer climate than northern Oregon, I know that's where he lives but the fact that he was going to do nothing but work on his golf game for some 8 years or whatever makes me wonder why he didn't try and secure some type of affordable housing in a better climate. In reality why didn't he buy a used RV or trailer cheap and get a part time job at a golf course so he could get all the free golf he needed, hell he may have even been able to park his home on the golf course property and saved on space rent, Dan obviously didn't look at all the ways he could have saved money so he could better focus on the task.

Yeah, that's it.  I realize he's not intentionally doing it, but just the lack of golf IQ/awareness in that statement, or maybe he doesn't have/visit any family/friends in cold climates. There's a whole golf demographic out there who has to deal with cold weather.

[GHIN0011458]

Does anyone here think that Golf Channel would take Dan after the 10,000 hours is complete to compete on Big Break? I was thinking about that and it would be great if that happened. Remember that show Pipe Dream? Whatever happened to that show? He could do that too.

[newtogolf]

Does anyone here think that Golf Channel would take Dan after the 10,000 hours is complete to compete on Big Break? I was thinking about that and it would be great if that happened. Remember that show Pipe Dream? Whatever happened to that show? He could do that too.

If Dan ever made it to some of the lower Tours they might.  I'm not sure the average GC viewer knows who Dan is but if they think it will improve the ratings of the show they will exploit him however they can.

[jamo]

Does anyone here think that Golf Channel would take Dan after the 10,000 hours is complete to compete on Big Break? I was thinking about that and it would be great if that happened. Remember that show Pipe Dream? Whatever happened to that show? He could do that too.

If it's after the 10,000 hours, would Dan even do it? He won't be fundraising at that point, and from what I understand BB doesn't offer guaranteed money, just a prize for winning. Would he want to risk further humiliation?

[flopster]

Does anyone here think that Golf Channel would take Dan after the 10,000 hours is complete to compete on Big Break? I was thinking about that and it would be great if that happened. Remember that show Pipe Dream? Whatever happened to that show? He could do that too.

Good question, in Dans case it could be that last chance after all else failed to claim some level of success. Fact is though even the players on that show are going to be leaps and bounds ahead of him even after he completes 10,000 hours. Could you imagine Dan trying to play on TV ? He already has shown low level tournament golf pretty much shatters what little nerves he has imagine how big a disaster he would be under pressure the contestants themselves say is huge and a lot of them have played a fair amount of tournament golf. Dan most likely would be first eliminated and probably happy to get out of there.

[Lihu]

What's funny is it's my short game that suffers from nerves or injury. My long game is relatively constant. Dan's long game is what suffers. How many people fall into my category versus Dan's?

[nevets88]

[QUOTE name="GHIN0011458" url="/t/45853/the-dan-plan-10-000-hours-to-become-a-pro-golfer-dan-mclaughlin/2178#post_1080239"]   Does anyone here think that Golf Channel would take Dan after the 10,000 hours is complete to compete on Big Break? I was thinking about that and it would be great if that happened. Remember that show Pipe Dream? Whatever happened to that show? He could do that too. [/QUOTE] Good question, in Dans case it could be that last chance after all else failed to claim some level of success. Fact is though even the players on that show are going to be leaps and bounds ahead of him even after he completes 10,000 hours. Could you imagine Dan trying to play on TV ? He already has shown low level tournament golf pretty much shatters what little nerves he has imagine how big a disaster he would be under pressure the contestants themselves say is huge and a lot of them have played a fair amount of tournament golf. Dan most likely would be first eliminated and probably happy to get out of there.

He's been on tv before though and deals with the press. If his swing doesn't hold up currently I'd say it's more mechanics than pressure/mental. Of course poor mechanics can add to the pressure.

[mailman]

Anyone know where he posts videos these days? The ones on his website are really old. Regards Mailman

[Lihu]

Anyone know where he posts videos these days? The ones on his website are really old. Regards Mailman

[VIDEO]http://youtu.be/drh3xc6Haek[/VIDEO] He has a decent swing, just lacks power in my opinion.

[mailman]

Thanks Lihu. Be interesting to see if he has a "pretty" range swing and then a completely different golf course swing? :)

Regards

Mailman

[iacas]

He has a decent swing, just lacks power in my opinion.

He doesn't turn.

I also like how in two weeks he has "a new swing."

WARNING!! WARNING!!!

[Lihu]

[QUOTE name="Lihu" url="/t/45853/the-dan-plan-10-000-hours-to-become-a-pro-golfer-dan-mclaughlin/2196#post_1080896"] He has a decent swing, just lacks power in my opinion.[/QUOTE] He doesn't turn. I also like how in two weeks he has "a new swing." WARNING!! WARNING!!!

Didn't even notice that. No wonder why his swing looks like it's lacking power.

[garybbq]

Funny I was just looking at this analysis he had done in 2012 and his swing looks almost the same to me. Just skip to 3:45