The University of TDP

I want to graduate with highest honors from the 6-year program known as the The University of The Dan Plan.

I’m going to run with this analogy for a bit..

There are a lot of similarities between The Dan Plan and a University education culminating in 6 years with a Masters degree.  In both, you more or less start out as a blank slate.  You’ve just arrived at a new city (for those people who don’t go to a local college) and really don’t have a clue where anything is at first.  Freshman year is spent finding your way around, meeting people, dipping your fingers into the world of knowledge known as “freshman seminar classes” and just trying to figure out exactly what you are doing in this crazy new world.  Likewise, my first year was a broad intro into the golfing world.  I now know a bit (seriously emphasize “bit”) about the sport and what it might take to make a shot at becoming a pro.  But, knowing what a professional physicist does and getting a B+ in Physics 101 are two very different things.

Today I begin my sophomore year, so know the campus, know where all my courses are, know a few of the teachers/instructors and have a couple new friends I met in putting class.  But, I have only taken the intro classes, so am about to enroll in putting 102, swinging 102, chipping 102, grip 102 and gym 102, etc.  This next year will be about further pursuit of what my coaches have slowly introduced me to thus far.  It is an important second year of building fundamentals.  Without the proper base knowledge, it would be impossible to get a good mark on the more advanced courses.

As a sophomore, I’m in a position where I can offer some advice to those newer to the game than me, but the majority of the people I meet are still much further along in their education, so most of the time I can learn from those that I practice and play with.  Also as a sophomore, I can start to think about what I might want to major in and slowly begin to find my “style” of play.  And, who knows, maybe I’ll like that irons class that I’ve been hearing so much about

I Haven’t quite picked a major (read as my signature as a golfer) yet, but am getting a feel for the world of golf and slowly coming to see what types of strengths my physique offers.  My small freshman world is soon to be much larger..

Today’s homework:  An oldie but goodie, putting in a straight line through a couple of clubs: