Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Dustin Haas, Havre High Golf

A lot of people play golf. Not a lot of people play it well. That’s because it’s a really hard individual sport that requires patience, skill and a strong mental frame of mind for 6-7 hours at a time.

No, golf can really be a grind, it can really get a player down. It’s just not easy. And that’s why Dustin Haas, a junior at Havre High, and many players like him are so fortunate. They have what it takes to play that maddening game and play it well.

Haas, who has been Havre High’s top golfer this season, has put up scores in the mid- to high-70s in each of the Blue Ponies’ first three tournaments. That means, he’s consistent and he’s mastering the art of patience.

Golf is also a progression, and players should get better with age, and that’s what’s happening to Haas right now. He’s been playing golf as far back as he can remember, honing his skills at both Beaver Creek Golf Course and Prairie Farms. Two years ago, he joined the Havre High golf team and immediately made the varsity squad. He was a Top 15 Central A performer that season, and his Blue Pony team went to the Class A state tournament. In his sophomore season of 2014, Haas once again got better, winning the Havre Invitational, and again, earning All-Conference honors before playing at the state tournament in Hamilton.

Now, as a junior, Haas, who also competes in tennis for HHS and is an excellent student and singer in the HHS choir, is once again improving. Breaking 80 has become routine, and for the second straight season, he had the best score at the Havre Invitational, a 76 which tied him for first two weeks ago at Prairie Farms.

But getting better isn’t the only long-term goal for the sweet-swinging Haas. He wants to win a state team championship come October in Sidney, and he’s got the team to do it. With seniors Jeff Miller and Jerod Boles, and fellow juniors Kane Gabrielsen and Aden Passon, the Blue Ponies will be one of the strongest teams in Class A come season’s end.

Here are five questions with Haas, who lists Polson Bay as one of his favorite courses. The Blue Pony golf teams are slated to play at East Glacier Friday.

HDN: Who got you into golf? Who influenced you the most?

Haas: "Definitely my dad. He started taking me golfing when I was really little. And I've been playing with him ever since. He's the only reason why I got into golf."

HDN: What do you love the most about the game?

Haas: "The individual aspect of it. When you do good, you get all the glory. When you don't play well, you don't really let anyone else down. And it's a lot of fun when you get into a groove and you know you're playing really well."

HDN: What's your favorite high school golf moment so far?

Haas: "Probably my freshman year, going to state in Polson. Both our girls and guys teams made it that year, and it was just a lot of fun hanging out with the whole team there. And getting to play that course at state, that was one of my best experiences."

HDN: Who is your favorite professional golfer?

Haas: "Dustin Johnson. I like the way he carries himself. He's really confident. And he's not just a good golfer, he's a really good athlete. Plus, he hits it a really long way, so I would love to model my game after his."

HDN: What are your expectations for this golf season?

Haas: "To win state as a team. That's my number one priority. Individually, I want to get in the Top 10. I think I need to shoot around 75 or 76 to do it. But winning state as a team, that's our goal."