Landon Gilmore has been a fixture on the Bloomington golf scene for many years now.

When he embraced the nickname 'Happy' that fame sped across the Internet and picked up steam when he committed to Ball State prior to his senior season at South. 'Wait, is that REALLY his name?'Happy played along by memorizing all the important lines from the movie. Even the on-screen Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler, chimed in, as did Shooter McGavin's Twitter (X) ego.

But all that was never the important part for Gilmore. The game was. It demands the attention of any player who wants to be great. He didn't want to be the band with a great name and a rotten album.

Happy found his groove at South, making it to state all four years and named All-State each time. In 16 postseason rounds over his career (half of them in the finals), he averaged 72.2, with seven of them 70 or better and only four of them over 74. For the third time in a row, he is the Herald-Times Boys' Golfer of the Year.

Dustin Carver is trading his coaching career for an administrative license as a new assistant principal at South. But if he were back out there next season, there's a lot he'd miss about Gilmore, one of the Panthers' best ever.

"No. 1, he was a great young man," Carver said. "No. 2 he was coachable, always coachable. Even though he was a great golfer he was always willing to listen to my advice and what I had to say and I respected that out of him.

"And then his leadership. He didn't always use his voice, but he always led by example. That was important. I think the most important thing I'll miss are the conversations we had off the course, talking golf and life and moving forward and going into college."

Gilmore remained grounded as his name recognition grew exponentially, Carver said, as well as humble and eager to learn and improve. As a result, the mental aspect of Gilmore's game is what made the biggest leap over his four years.

"He's always had the game," Carver said. "He's a four-time All-State golfer. But his decision making over the four years grew. If he would get in trouble, when he was younger, he felt the need to hit a hero shot. But he understands his game to the point he knows he's good enough to get himself out of it and that he can always get those shots back.

"And each course, he knew where he could take advantage. It was that maturity."

Gilmore averaged 72 this year, won his third Conference Indiana title and smashed the school record with an incredible 10-under par 61 at Cascades. During his stay, probably not coincidentally, South set the school scoring record and set the low bar for team score at the CI and sectional tourneys.

"He can hit a draw, he can put a fade on the ball, there's a lot of things he can do," Carver said. "But the biggest thing for him was to keep the game as simple as possible.

"His ball-striking is impeccable. What your biggest weakness is, you spend 70% of the time working on that and the other 30 refining other things you're working on. His wedges and distance control with them needed attention and he's gotten really good at that. He's learning you don't always have to hit a full shot, flighting the golf ball. He's working on the things he'll need at the next level. He wanted to be great and proved that through high school."

2024 Herald-Times All-Area Boys Golf Team

Connor Byon, South, Sr.

Tied for second on team with a 76 average while making a fourth trip to state finals. Sixth at sectional (72), shot 77 at regional, tied for 32nd at state (79-77—156). Third at CI Tournament (74) as Panthers completed a four-year sweep. Four-time All-Area.

Luke Garrett, South, Sr.

Tied for second on team with a 76 average. Sectional runner-up (69), had a 78 at regional and tied for 64th at state (85-77—162). Third at CI Tournament (77). Repeat All-Area. Will play at Kentucky Wesleyan.

Happy Gilmore, South, Sr.

Led the Panthers with a 72 average. Closed out tremendous career by tying for 11th at state with a 70-79—149. Sectional medalist (66) for second time in his career and tied for second at regional (70). Conference Indiana champ (70) for the third year in a row. Fired career best and school record 10-under 61 at Cascades. Muncie Invitational champ (68). Four-time All-Area. Will play at Ball State.

Grant McCrea, North, Sr.

Kept his average right around 80 this season. Tied for fourth at sectional (71) and had an 86 at regional. Tied for fourth at CI Tournament (77).

Colton Watson, South, So.

Fourth on team at 77 average. Tied for fourth at sectional (71), tied for seventh at regional (72) and tied for 39th at state (83-74—157) and tied for the 12th best round on Day 2. Second at CI Tournament (73).

HONORABLE MENTION: Carter Cheaney, Edgewood, Sr. (83); Hogan Conder, North, Jr. (82); Carson Gady, South, Fr. (82).

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: South's Happy Gilmore tops Herald-Times All-Area Boys' Golf Team