From tee to green: Dave, we are going to miss you so much

This may only be my second local golf report of 2024, but it's one I've been thinking about for quite some time. And it's with a heavy heart I write this few words.

However, I feel beyond compelled to do so. 

This column is dedicated to Dave Greenwood. We lost Dave this past winter. And for me, Dave's passing stirred many emotions and many memories, as I'm sure it did for many of you.

Many of you will remember Dave for his long-standing association with Northern Montana College. Dave established the Northern Montana College Wrestling program in 1970. As the Head Coach, he led his teams to Frontier Conference Championships in 1976 and 1984.  Dave also coached Northern to an undefeated dual meet season going 10-0 in 1984.

In 1989, Dave retired from the college faculty at Northern Montana College as a professor of health, physical education and recreation. In 1990, Dr. David Greenwood was awarded the coveted Founders' Excellence Award, and in 1995, Coach Greenwood was inducted into the MSU-Northern Athletics Hall of Fame. 

As it pertains to Northern, Dave and I bonded over MSU-N wrestling. Every home dual, we would always chat about wrestling, and local sports in general. We could always talk about my stories in the Daily, and I was always wanting to listen to his vast wrestling knowledge. Our relationship over sports is something I always valued.

Of course, my relationship with Dave began before I ever really knew about his wrestling, or sports background.

When I was 14 years old, I got a job at Taco John's. It was my first job, and it was one that would alter my life. I got to know Dave through working for he and Judy, as did so many high school and college kids. It was during that time I learned about his love of sports, especially local sports, and he had tons of stories to tell us all. 

But, one sport in particular that Dave seemed to love so much, is one that again, we would grow to have in common over the years, and that's why I am writing this now.

After returning home to Havre after college, I became addicted to the sport of golf. And while I already knew Dave and Judy were avid golfers, it was during this time in my life that I would learn so much about the sport, and I owe much of that to Dave Greenwood.

First and foremost, Dave put me on my first golf league team, as I played on his team for my first several seasons of league golf at Beaver Creek. And not just playing league, but playing with Dave and Tom Reynolds Sr. and so many others, I learned so much. And I had so much fun riding in those carts on Wednesday nights with Dave, just listening to his stories from his golfing past. 

I also may have told him a Taco John's story or two he didn't know about either. Dave always got a laugh about hearing some of our shenanigans from the TJ's days. 

Yes, Dave loved golf, and I loved that about him. When he built Pro Putt, that was a big deal in Havre, and myself, and many of my friends spent as many hours as we could there, trying to smash the course record. Yup, Pro Putt gave us something else to do in Havre during those years, and we owe that to Dave.

I also owe some of my fondest golf memories to Dave and Judy, too. Because, the original Burrito Blast Golf Tournament was, to this day, one of the best golf tournaments I've ever been a part of. In its hay day, the Burrito Blast was as good as it got for tournament golf on the Hi-Line. Dave and Judy worked so hard to make that tournament special, and it was indeed special. I will never forget those summers for sure.

And that said, I will never forget Dave Greenwood.

When I started at Taco John's, little did I know the friendship I would end up building with Dave. I was just a teenager and one of his and Judy's employees. At that time, I had no idea what was to come.

But looking back now, from the wrestling and sports talk, to Taco John's and Pro Putt, all of the hours spent golfing, I sure do appreciate the time I had with Dave Greenwood.

Dave was a special person to so many people, including me. He was a special figure to NMC, Havre High and all of the Havre community. And, because this is a golf column, he was so very special, and such a huge part of the Havre golf scene for so, so long. Things like the Taco John's Junior Tour and the Burrito Blast meant so much to so many.

And I know, it's not just me, we're all going to miss Dave Greenwood on the golf course, this summer, and forever.