Lumen Christi Catholic High School girls’ golf Coach Dave Swartout gets ready to introduce his players at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 state finals at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University on Saturday.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(October 15, 2022 9:43 PM) There are several numbers that stick out when it comes to high school golf and Lumen Christi Catholic High School coach Dave Swartout.
The number 50 is important because he is in his 50th year coaching boys and/or girls golf.
Seventeen is the number of state titles his teams have won – 15 in boys’ golf and two in girls.
But the most impressive number is six – Swartout teams have won state titles in six consecutive decades dating back to the 1970s.
The Titans won the MHSAA Division 4 title on Saturday at The Meadows Golf Course with a two-day total of 688. They won by 23 strokes over Lenawee Christian.
“It just means I’m old,” Swartout said with a laugh. “I have had great kids … not just golfers either.
“They work their tails off.”
Swartout’s first state title was in 1978 that started maybe the greatest run in Michigan High School Athletic Association golf final runs. Lumen Christi won eight-of-nine state titles in Class B.
This year’s girls team is different according to Swartout.
“This group (of seniors) started as freshmen when I only had two returning players,” Swartout said. “The two went out and recruited these players. We probably wouldn’t have had a team without that.”
Swartout said half of the girls whiffed quite a bit when they started, but they improved.
“They have improved 100 strokes (per event) and all nine of them played four years,” Swartout said.
He said this is the first state finals where he played all seniors.
Swartout said he will make the decision whether to call it a career after 50 years next spring after the boys’ season. He has been helped by his brother, Steve, for a number of years.
“I couldn’t do it without his help,” Swartout said.
The mentor spends a lot of time talking to players on the course during jamborees and tournaments.
“Some days you are a psychologist,” Swartout said. “We normally talk about managing the course and their games.
“This is such a special group.”
Swartout will turn 75 next year.
Lumen Christi Catholic High School
Golf Titles under Dave Swartout
Boys
1978 Class B
1979 Class B
1981 Class B
1982 Class B
1983 Class B
1984 Class B
1985 Class B
1986 Class B
1990 Class B
1991 Class B
2009 Division 3
2010 Division 3
2011 Division 3
2012 Division 3
2017 Division 3
Girls
2004 Division 3
2022 Division 4