There is a good chance that if you have clicked on a golf story that you have had heard of the Haney Project. The show consists of Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' straight-laced former swing coach gives lessons to the likes of Charles Barkley and Ray Romano.

This summer the PGA Professionals of Wisconsin are creating their own "Haney Project" with 12 members of the media. This is the 2nd year they have run this program in an effort to promote the game of golf and bring attention to local tournaments, especially the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in August.

I was lucky enough to get myself involved in this program having known Bob Neumann since High School. Bob has been a Class A PGA Professional since 2001 and has been the Head Pro at Whitnall Golf Course since 2002 after apprentice stints at Brown Deer and Geneva National. It is his job to correct the motion that I call my golf swing.

Let's just say that I am not as funny as either Barkley or Romano, so making a TV show wouldn't work. I am definitely not as good of an athlete as Charles, but would dominate Ray and probably a better golfer than both of them. Or maybe not, it depends which of me shows up to the course.

The idea of the program is that over the course of three months, once my handicap has been set, how may strokes can I shave off of the that number. I will be receiving weekly lessons from Doctor Neumann in an effort to improve my game culminating with a nine-hole tournament at Hidden Glen Country Club on August 7th. The winner will be the player that has improved his handicap by the most strokes -- which puts everyone on a level playing field.

I didn't actually have a set handicap, so I played some rounds with The Doctor in order for us to come up with a decent starting point. He also needed to see me play up close and personal in order to come up with a game plan for our lessons.

I had a general idea of what my handicap was -- somewhere around 15-18. This means when I consistently play, I play in the high eighties. But let's be honest, when I do play the rules aren't exactly the Bible.

Think about it, when was the last time you putted a three-footer? It was weird to stand that close to the hole. After beer four, are you really going to count that penalty or just drop another ball? After hitting it out of bounds, are you really going to walk your ass back to the tee box? I'm guessing not. Bad lie in the fairway, or anywhere for the matter, its winter rules 12 months of the year.

In fact, I barely keep score when I play, much less follow all of the one million rules. As I write this, I am wondering if I am the exception -- I am guessing that I am not. It's about the beers, gambling and friends. Maybe not in that order, but I digress.

We finished up our trial on Wednesday -- a beautiful day to play golf and not a lot of people on the course. To give you a bit of an idea about my game, it's the first time I have played this year not in a scramble. It's the first time in my life I have played the ball down. Believe me, you might think you are a 15, as general rule just add three a side.

A typical hole for me is like on No. 2; trees lining both sides of a narrow fairway; a par four, 420 yards into a slight breeze. I didn't hit driver on No. 1, so this is my first big swing of the day. We didn't warm up on the range, because well, Whitnall doesn't have a range.

I hit a great drive right down the middle, not loose yet so I still have 150 left. That is a great spot for me (more on that to come) I have a full 8-iron with no trouble in front and the pin is on the left. (Not that it matters, I aim for the green) I pull the ball slightly so I am about 15 feet off the green to the left, with an easy chip to come.

You may as well say easy chip to me in a foreign language, because I am beyond terrible. I skull the chip across the green, into the bunker on the other side, then play a decent shot out of the trap to about 10 feet. I then proceed to lip out the put leaving with about four feet, a putt that I would never normally putt. Well, on cue, I miss it. I hit two shots 420 yards to be 15 feet away from the hole in two and I end up with a 7. I am the King of that ... that is my game.

I proceed to drive the ball very well and putt decently. I hit zero greens in regulation and chip like my hands are on fire. I'm not kidding, my 4-year-old is better. I gave away at least a dozen strokes. My best club is my driver, but it kills my game, because any hole less than 400 yards and I am within 100 yards on my second shot or what I call Hell.

Anyway, it's just a start. The Doctor took copious notes. The good thing is that I have plenty of room for improvement. I shot 55. (And I was trying!)

For full disclosure here are The Doctor's notes from Wednesday and our subsequent gameplan.

STUDENT: Dave Roloff, handicap 18

Strengths:

• Clubhead speed
• Athletic ability 
• Balance and hand-eye coordination 
• Decent off the tee with excellent distance
• Decent putter

Weaknesses:

• Competitive nature 
• Extremely strong grip with right hand
• Quick inside take away which produces and off plane swing
• Short game within 100 yards needs a complete overhaul
• Inconsistent ball striking creates offline shots leading student into double bogey and other scores

Plan: Two full swing range lessons addressing grip and take away and swing plane issues. Tempo and aggressive swing will be adjusted. Drills will be introduced and practiced between lessons.

Two short game lessons to install confidence and build a foundation for improved success. Drills will be introduced and practiced between lessons.

Time frame: Completed by July 25th. Wrap-up and practice round for event to follow.