Pro golfer Dan Olsen learned game in Haslett, East Lansing on way to Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame

Dan Olsen has lived a life that people who enjoy golf only dream about.

Olsen has spent the last 30-plus years as a professional golfer on a number of different tours, traveling the world to play the sport he loves, including one year spent as a full-time member of the PGA Tour.

And it all started here in Greater Lansing, as Olsen grew up in Haslett before his family moved to East Lansing. His four years at East Lansing High School sent him on his path toward playing professionally, leading the Trojans to a state title while also winning the individual state crown his junior year in 1983.

Olsen's prep and college accomplishments at Indiana University, along with the years spent on various professional tours throughout the world, earned him a spot in the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame's 2022 class. He'll be inducted, along with six other individuals and three teams, at a ceremony July 28 at the Lansing Center.

“I was surprised about it,” Olsen said. “I was really happy because it’s a great thing and brings a lot of positive attention. It’s not just (about) me, it’s (about) everybody that’s helped me or been with me my whole sports life. It’s just a really nice thing. I’m glad to be a part of it.

“When you get an award like this, it makes you reflect on how you were, what happened when I was a kid. When you get recognized like that, it makes you wonder what was really the mix of things that had to happen for me to excel. It’s been an interesting remembrance.”

Olsen’s accomplishments as a youth stack up quite nicely. He was a two-time all-state Dream Team selection and was the LSJ Golfer of the year in 1983 and 1984. After the Trojans won the state title his junior year in 1983, they finished as runners-up the next season.

“I had a helluva year (as a junior),” Olsen said. “I was an unconscious incompetent. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just did it. Inherently, golf can make you anxious and afraid. To combat that, I just hit it as close to the hole as I possibly could all the time. … I played really aggressive to combat the anxiety and that carried me through my whole playing career. I had to learn to play conservative.”

Locally, he won the Class A state tournament, held at Groesbeck Golf Course, in 1983 and 1984 and the all-city junior tournament both years as well. Other victories included the Midway Optimist Junior World of Golf Tournament and the Southern Michigan Junior Golf Championship (17-18 division), both coming in the summer of 1984.

Olsen was, by professional standards, a late bloomer. He didn’t compete in statewide or regional events until he was in high school, but once he dedicated himself, Olsen’s game took off. He’d spend hours at Pine Lake Golf Club (now called Meridian Sun), both working at the course and playing. He eventually came to the realization that this could become his future.

“Not exactly a hotbed for Tour players, but it sure was fun,” Olsen said. “I was really glad to be a kid there. I really started practicing like a competitive golfer at Pine Lake.”

Olsen credits his high school coach, Evonne Picard, with helping to discover his passion for the game.

“She was a strong personality and she was a real positive influence,” Olsen said. “She framed the idea that we could be good players, verbally and mentally coached us into thinking that we could do that and it really motivated me to try to practice.”

And it was in 2004 when Olsen finally qualified for the PGA Tour after 12 previous attempts going through Tour school. In his lone season there, he played in 31 events, finishing in the top 25 once – tying for 12th in the Chrysler Classic of Tucson.

“I wasn’t hitting it straight enough and it’s such a merit-based sport,” Olsen said. “Major League Baseball, for example, a lot of it depends on how much they paid you to sign. They’ll give you chance after chance if you’re one of those bonus-baby guys.

“Golf, you really have to earn it. I knew that I fit in, but it’s really hard to get over that hurdle where you stay. It was really a good, fun time to run with the fastest guys in the sport.”

These days, Olsen is playing on The Legends Tour, formerly known as the European Senior Tour. He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida, where he built a par-3 nine-hole course that he runs with Gary Ganakas, the son of former Michigan State men’s basketball coach Gus Ganakas.

Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.

Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony

When: 4:30 p.m., July 28

Where: Lansing Center

Cost: $35. To order, go to lansingsportshalloffame.org. 

2022 inductees: Jim Brandt, Roger Callard, Roland Carter, Josephine Mask, Dan Olsen, Rocky Shaft, Rachel Turney, 2000 Everett girls basketball team, 2001 Everett girls basketball team, 2000 Lansing Community College softball team

Sponsors: Dean Transportation, Shaheen Chevy/Cadillac, Applegate Home Comfort, Gregory Eaton Associates, ASAP Printing, Dan Henry Distributing, One North Kitchen & Bar, AF Group, Bill and Andrew Archer Financial Advisors, Magic Johnson Enterprises, Mary Ellen Sheets

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Golfer Dan Olsen heads to Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame