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

[slightlymad]

I think the main thing about his swings seems the lack of control. It looks like the club is out of his control on the follow through. Kind of how a kid swings i guess. Might have to do with muscle.

Other than that it does look like he hits the ball good. Its just not that nice looking imo.

He should post his swingvideo here to see if he can get some good pointers he

[slightlymad]

Or rather he lets it hang after hitting the ball which seems weird

[pbillaa]

I have to reply to this thread, and please let me know if i'm totally out of line. Personally I think his swing has made amazing progress, I also think its hilarious that a bunch of 15 handicap players are ripping his swing. I've been following the Dan plan for about a year now and its been quite entertaining. I think that by the time he's finished he will be a TOP level amateur player… pro???? not sure, but a great player for sure.

[David in FL]

I have to reply to this thread, and please let me know if i'm totally out of line. Personally I think his swing has made amazing progress, I also think its hilarious that a bunch of 15 handicap players are ripping his swing. I've been following the Dan plan for about a year now and its been quite entertaining. I think that by the time he's finished he will be a TOP level amateur player… pro???? not sure, but a great player for sure.

Out of line?  For having an opinion?  Not around here!

But a great player or TOP level amateur?   Before he can even get near that, he needs to be scratch or better, and more importantly, let's see if he can win something.  Anything.  B flight in his club net championship would be a step in the right direction!    He's got a LONG ways to go.

Name:

Dan McLaughlin

Club	Handicap Index	Effective Date	Low H.I.
Columbia Edgewater CC Oregon Golf Association	4.1	2/1/2014	4.1

Revision Scores Recent Scores H.I. History C.H. Calculator

Used	T	Date	Score	CR/Slope	Diff.
*	AI	11/13	78	73.0/133	4.2
	AI	11/13	84	71.0/137	10.7
	AI	11/13	81	71.9/137	7.5
*	AI	11/13	78	73.0/133	4.2
*	AI	11/13	78	73.0/133	4.2
*	AI	11/13	77	73.0/133	3.4
*	AI	10/13	76	72.0/128	3.5
*	AI	10/13	79	71.8/136	6.0
	AI	10/13	82	73.1/136	7.4
	AI	10/13	81	72.8/136	6.8
*	AI	10/13	79	73.6/142	4.3
	AI	10/13	79	72.0/128	6.2
*	AI	9/13	76	71.9/137	3.4
	T	9/13	82	69.9/123	11.1
*	T	9/13	76	69.9/123	5.6
*	AI	9/13	77	72.0/128	4.4
	AI	9/13	82	73.0/133	7.6
	AI	9/13	84	72.0/128	10.6
	AI	8/13	84	71.9/137	10.0
	AI	8/13	86	71.9/137	11.6

T = Score Type (H - Home, A - Away, T - Tournament, P - Penalty,
C - Combined, I - Internet)
U - Used for USGA Handicap Index® Computation
Low H.I. = Lowest Handicap Index over the last 12 months.

Two Lowest Eligible Tournament Scores

Used	T	Date	Score	CR/Slope	Diff.
	T	9/13	76	69.9/123	5.6
	T	3/13	81	71.7/123	8.5

Number of Eligible Tournament Scores: 11

T	Date	Score	CR/Slope	Diff.
AI	11/13	78	73.0/133	4.2
AI	11/13	84	71.0/137	10.7
AI	11/13	81	71.9/137	7.5
AI	11/13	78	73.0/133	4.2
AI	11/13	78	73.0/133	4.2
AI	11/13	77	73.0/133	3.4
AI	10/13	76	72.0/128	3.5
AI	10/13	79	71.8/136	6.0
AI	10/13	82	73.1/136	7.4
AI	10/13	81	72.8/136	6.8
AI	10/13	79	73.6/142	4.3
AI	10/13	79	72.0/128	6.2
AI	9/13	76	71.9/137	3.4
T	9/13	82	69.9/123	11.1
T	9/13	76	69.9/123	5.6
AI	9/13	77	72.0/128	4.4
AI	9/13	82	73.0/133	7.6
AI	9/13	84	72.0/128	10.6
AI	8/13	84	71.9/137	10.0
AI	8/13	86	71.9/137	11.6

Among other things, his credibility is hurt by his inappropriate hcp posting.  Rather than correctly posting scores as they occur, he posts one time a month.  Interestingly, he's posted exactly 6 scores on the 13th of each month.....this only shows back to August, but if you've been following him, you know that that's pretty consistent with what he's been doing all along.  It really calls into question the validity of his index.

He's also proven himself to be a terrible tournament player so far.  The 76 posted in September, on a pretty easy course, is by far the best tournament score I can remember seeing.  Most have resulted in double digit differentials.

I don't wish the guy anything but success, but I'm beginning to question if he's giving us accurate insight to his real progress.  I'd really like to see more verifiable tournament play.  That'll tell a lot more than anything else.

We'll see.....

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbillaa

I have to reply to this thread, and please let me know if i'm totally out of line. Personally I think his swing has made amazing progress, I also think its hilarious that a bunch of 15 handicap players are ripping his swing. I've been following the Dan plan for about a year now and its been quite entertaining. I think that by the time he's finished he will be a TOP level amateur player… pro???? not sure, but a great player for sure.

Out of line?  For having an opinion?  Not around here!

But a great player or TOP level amateur?   Before he can even get near that, he needs to be scratch or better, and more importantly, let's see if he can win something.  Anything.  B flight in his club net championship would be a step in the right direction!    He's got a LONG ways to go.

He's about half way.

[pbillaa]

Out of line?  For having an opinion?  Not around here!

But a great player or TOP level amateur?   Before he can even get near that, he needs to be scratch or better, and more importantly, let's see if he can win something.  Anything.  B flight in his club net championship would be a step in the right direction!    He's got a LONG ways to go.

Name:

Dan McLaughlin

Club

Handicap Index

Effective Date

Low H.I.

Columbia Edgewater CC

Oregon Golf Association

4.1

2/1/2014

4.1

Revision ScoresRecent ScoresH.I. HistoryC.H. Calculator

Used

T

Date

Score

CR/Slope

Diff.

*

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

84

71.0/137

10.7

AI

11/13

81

71.9/137

7.5

*

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

*

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

*

AI

11/13

77

73.0/133

3.4

*

AI

10/13

76

72.0/128

3.5

*

AI

10/13

79

71.8/136

6.0

AI

10/13

82

73.1/136

7.4

AI

10/13

81

72.8/136

6.8

*

AI

10/13

79

73.6/142

4.3

AI

10/13

79

72.0/128

6.2

*

AI

9/13

76

71.9/137

3.4

T

9/13

82

69.9/123

11.1

*

T

9/13

76

69.9/123

5.6

*

AI

9/13

77

72.0/128

4.4

AI

9/13

82

73.0/133

7.6

AI

9/13

84

72.0/128

10.6

AI

8/13

84

71.9/137

10.0

AI

8/13

86

71.9/137

11.6

T = Score Type (H - Home, A - Away, T - Tournament, P - Penalty,

C - Combined, I - Internet)

U - Used for USGA Handicap Index® Computation

Low H.I. = Lowest Handicap Index over the last 12 months.

Two Lowest Eligible Tournament Scores

Used

T

Date

Score

CR/Slope

Diff.

T

9/13

76

69.9/123

5.6

T

3/13

81

71.7/123

8.5

Number of Eligible Tournament Scores: 11

T

Date

Score

CR/Slope

Diff.

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

84

71.0/137

10.7

AI

11/13

81

71.9/137

7.5

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

77

73.0/133

3.4

AI

10/13

76

72.0/128

3.5

AI

10/13

79

71.8/136

6.0

AI

10/13

82

73.1/136

7.4

AI

10/13

81

72.8/136

6.8

AI

10/13

79

73.6/142

4.3

AI

10/13

79

72.0/128

6.2

AI

9/13

76

71.9/137

3.4

T

9/13

82

69.9/123

11.1

T

9/13

76

69.9/123

5.6

AI

9/13

77

72.0/128

4.4

AI

9/13

82

73.0/133

7.6

AI

9/13

84

72.0/128

10.6

AI

8/13

84

71.9/137

10.0

AI

8/13

86

71.9/137

11.6

Among other things, his credibility is hurt by his inappropriate hcp posting.  Rather than correctly posting scores as they occur, he posts one time a month.  Interestingly, he's posted exactly 6 scores on the 13th of each month.....this only shows back to August, but if you've been following him, you know that that's pretty consistent with what he's been doing all along.  It really calls into question the validity of his index.

He's also proven himself to be a terrible tournament player so far.  The 76 posted in September, on a pretty easy course, is by far the best tournament score I can remember seeing.  Most have resulted in double digit differentials.

I don't wish the guy anything but success, but I'm beginning to question if he's giving us accurate insight to his real progress.  I'd really like to see more verifiable tournament play.  That'll tell a lot more than anything else.

We'll see.....

I agree with you about the accuracy… When I say Top level amateur I'm taking into account that he has 5000 hours of focused practice left, not what he's done so far. Personally I think its fun to watch… Hell I feel like I'm the only person rooting for him.

[Lihu]

I agree with you about the accuracy… When I say Top level amateur I'm taking into account that he has 5000 hours of focused practice left, not what he's done so far. Personally I think its fun to watch… Hell I feel like I'm the only person rooting for him.

I'm also rooting for him, and I am currently about a 15hcp

He has a pretty decent wing, I just feel like even my not so big 14 year old son swings with what appears to be more power.

Actually, I kind of wish he would do a MySwing thread here, it would be kind of cool and might even turn more of us to root for his success.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbillaa

I have to reply to this thread, and please let me know if i'm totally out of line. Personally I think his swing has made amazing progress, I also think its hilarious that a bunch of 15 handicap players are ripping his swing. I've been following the Dan plan for about a year now and its been quite entertaining. I think that by the time he's finished he will be a TOP level amateur player… pro???? not sure, but a great player for sure.

Define that.

To me, top level means competing and getting a sniff at the match play of the US Amateur.  I don't think there's any way he competes for a State Amateur title, let alone the US Amateur.

According to the website you need a handicap of 1.4 to enter the US Amateur. That seems to be pretty tough.

[garybbq]

Does he play a full round every day but only submit 6?

[Lihu]

Does he play a full round every day but only submit 6?

No, just quit after 6.

[sacm3bill]

Name:

Dan McLaughlin

Club

Handicap Index

Effective Date

Low H.I.

Columbia Edgewater CC

Oregon Golf Association

4.1

2/1/2014

4.1

Revision ScoresRecent ScoresH.I. HistoryC.H. Calculator

Used

T

Date

Score

CR/Slope

Diff.

*

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

84

71.0/137

10.7

AI

11/13

81

71.9/137

7.5

*

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

*

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

*

AI

11/13

77

73.0/133

3.4

*

AI

10/13

76

72.0/128

3.5

*

AI

10/13

79

71.8/136

6.0

AI

10/13

82

73.1/136

7.4

AI

10/13

81

72.8/136

6.8

*

AI

10/13

79

73.6/142

4.3

AI

10/13

79

72.0/128

6.2

*

AI

9/13

76

71.9/137

3.4

T

9/13

82

69.9/123

11.1

*

T

9/13

76

69.9/123

5.6

*

AI

9/13

77

72.0/128

4.4

AI

9/13

82

73.0/133

7.6

AI

9/13

84

72.0/128

10.6

AI

8/13

84

71.9/137

10.0

AI

8/13

86

71.9/137

11.6

T = Score Type (H - Home, A - Away, T - Tournament, P - Penalty,

C - Combined, I - Internet)

U - Used for USGA Handicap Index® Computation

Low H.I. = Lowest Handicap Index over the last 12 months.

Two Lowest Eligible Tournament Scores

Used

T

Date

Score

CR/Slope

Diff.

T

9/13

76

69.9/123

5.6

T

3/13

81

71.7/123

8.5

Number of Eligible Tournament Scores: 11

T

Date

Score

CR/Slope

Diff.

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

84

71.0/137

10.7

AI

11/13

81

71.9/137

7.5

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

78

73.0/133

4.2

AI

11/13

77

73.0/133

3.4

AI

10/13

76

72.0/128

3.5

AI

10/13

79

71.8/136

6.0

AI

10/13

82

73.1/136

7.4

AI

10/13

81

72.8/136

6.8

AI

10/13

79

73.6/142

4.3

AI

10/13

79

72.0/128

6.2

AI

9/13

76

71.9/137

3.4

T

9/13

82

69.9/123

11.1

T

9/13

76

69.9/123

5.6

AI

9/13

77

72.0/128

4.4

AI

9/13

82

73.0/133

7.6

AI

9/13

84

72.0/128

10.6

AI

8/13

84

71.9/137

10.0

AI

8/13

86

71.9/137

11.6

Among other things, his credibility is hurt by his inappropriate hcp posting.  Rather than correctly posting scores as they occur, he posts one time a month.  Interestingly, he's posted exactly 6 scores on the 13th of each month.....this only shows back to August, but if you've been following him, you know that that's pretty consistent with what he's been doing all along.  It really calls into question the validity of his index.

That's just the way the system displays the entries for everybody. There was a change made a couple years ago where GHIN stopped displaying the exact dates of postings, for privacy reasons. (People didn't want their bosses seeing them post a round on a day they were supposed to be sick, for example.)

That said, I agree that the validity of his index is questionable, given how many rounds he claims are just for practice (the suspicion being that he decides to call them practice after he starts off playing poorly), and the fact that his tournament rounds are so much worse than they should be for his index.

[David in FL]

That's just the way the system displays the entries for everybody. There was a change made a couple years ago where GHIN stopped displaying the exact dates of postings, for privacy reasons. (People didn't want their bosses seeing them post a round on a day they were supposed to be sick, for example.)

That said, I agree that the validity of his index is questionable, given how many rounds he claims are just for practice (the suspicion being that he decides to call them practice after he starts off playing poorly), and the fact that his tournament rounds are so much worse than they should be for his index.

Apparently only if you look someone up using name and state.  With the GHIN number itself, actual dates are shown.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

[sacm3bill]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

That's just the way the system displays the entries for everybody. There was a change made a couple years ago where GHIN stopped displaying the exact dates of postings, for privacy reasons. (People didn't want their bosses seeing them post a round on a day they were supposed to be sick, for example.)

That said, I agree that the validity of his index is questionable, given how many rounds he claims are just for practice (the suspicion being that he decides to call them practice after he starts off playing poorly), and the fact that his tournament rounds are so much worse than they should be for his index.

Apparently only if you look someone up using name and state.  With the GHIN number itself, actual dates are shown.

True - I guess they figure you wouldn't know someone else's GHIN number (unless you're a club chairman or something, in which case you'd have a right to see someone's actual round dates), and if you're looking up by GHIN then you're looking up your own.

[iacas]

True - I guess they figure you wouldn't know someone else's GHIN number (unless you're a club chairman or something, in which case you'd have a right to see someone's actual round dates), and if you're looking up by GHIN then you're looking up your own.

A number of years ago I figured out the formula for discovering someone's GHIN number. You could type in their last name and state, and then the URL would contain a pseudo binary version of their code, with a prefix and suffix check code. Strip those off, and the GHIN number was the binary number in the middle.

I may or may not have screwed with a friend by posting several + differential rounds to his handicap record…

[Stretch]

Recent write-up:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26384712

[flopster]

Dan is at the halfway point and is still searching for a somewhat consistent golf move while playing at a questionable 4.1 index. This next season could be the make or break time for Dan. He has to improve his tournament scores in order to remain legitimate in the eyes of the golf public, if he goes out and shoots 92's while claiming a 4 he's going to find himself in some awkward discussions when asked about this disparity. I could understand an 82 or even 85 on a bad day but that has to be it.

[dsc123]

That's just the way the system displays the entries for everybody. There was a change made a couple years ago where GHIN stopped displaying the exact dates of postings, for privacy reasons. (People didn't want their bosses seeing them post a round on a day they were supposed to be sick, for example.)

Very good to know.  Last year I played a round on a work day when the boss was out of town and just dated it on the nearest weekend instead.

[dsc123]

Does Dan have to get a tour card in order to "win"?  That seems like an unrealistic goal.  But if he gets to scratch or to the point that he's playing competitively in high level amateur tournaments, doesn't that validate the 10,000 hour rule, at least somewhat?

As a 4HC, he's in the top 2.5% of all gofers who keep handicaps.  Scratch would be the top 1%.  It doesn't make much sense to say that he only "wins" if he makes the tour or something like that.  Especially since those guys have all probably put in more than 10,000 hours and probably started with more talent. The guy doesn't seem to have any natural talent for the game, and is better than 97.5% of other golfers.