Steve Janisch talks about his journey from PGA Tour caddy to
golf pro
He is the head pro at San Juan Oaks, and Steve Janisch has held
the head pro slots at Eagle Ridge in Gilroy and at the Jack
Nicklaus-designed Coyote Creek Golf Course in San Jose. He’s been a
general manager, director of golf and a director of instruction at
two other clubs in the area as well.
Steve Janisch talks about his journey from PGA Tour caddy to golf pro
He is the head pro at San Juan Oaks, and Steve Janisch has held the head pro slots at Eagle Ridge in Gilroy and at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Coyote Creek Golf Course in San Jose. He’s been a general manager, director of golf and a director of instruction at two other clubs in the area as well.
When it comes to golf in the south Santa Clara County and San Benito County, Janisch is clearly the guy to talk to.
Recently, Pinnacle Sports Editor John Bagley sat down with the 45-year-old Janisch to talk everything from the ins and outs of running a golf course and his teaching methodology to his early years on the PGA Tour as the caddy for the “Gilroy Cowboy” George Archer. His four-year stint with Archer is something that most people aren’t aware of, but those years are filled with memories that Janisch will never forget.
After caddying for Archer, Janisch was inspired enough to turn professional himself in 1984, the year after he stopped toting the bag for the former Masters champion.
By 1993 Janisch earned his Class-A status with the PGA of America. He has lived in Gilroy for 30 years his wife and two teenage children.
Q: You caddied for George Archer from 1980 to 1984. There must be a lot of great memories of those years.
A: I wouldn’t have done anything any differently. I always wanted to be a golfer and getting to walk the fairways with Nicklaus, Watson, Trevino and Crenshaw was something I’ll never forget. Those guys were all on the top of their games back then.
Q: What is your greatest memory during those years as a Tour caddy?
A: There are a handful of memories but two really come to mind. One year George was playing in Houston at the Woodland and was paired with Sam Snead the first two rounds. [Snead] was about 70 then but the guy could still swing the club, and still had the competitive fire. He missed the cut that week. When he walked off the 18th green he said, ‘If I could putt like George, I’d still be winning out here.'”
Q: What was the other memory?
A: In 1983, George was playing in the LA Open at Rancho Park. It wasn’t at Riviera that year because they were holding the PGA there. I remember he barely made the cut then shot a 62. He went from almost last to almost tied for the lead. The last day we were paired with Watson. I also remember being paired with Arnold Palmer a few times. Those were great memories too.
Q: Several years back you were the first assistant and director of instruction at San Juan Oaks when Bruce Lewis was the head pro there. How does it feel to be back there as the head pro?
A: It’s great. I’ve always had special regards for San Juan Oaks. I left here the first time to move my career forward, but I’ve always enjoyed being here.
Q: What do you like most about it?
A: Out of all the courses in this area, I’ve always felt that it’s the fairest yet very, very challenging. What you see is what you get. There aren’t a lot of tricks. It’s a beautiful layout.
Q: Working in a golf course environment seems like a wonderful career that most people would envy. How do you like being a professional?
A: I was on the driving range today doing something and some guy commented to me that it looked like I do everything out here. I said that’s the glamorous life of a golf pro. This job is still a lot of work. There is a lot of responsibility with the job.
Q: What do you enjoy most about it?
A: Seeing people have an enjoyable experience. When people come out to play golf it is a four- to six-hour commitment. That’s a large part of a day. When they come in afterwards and tell me what a great day they had, it’s very satisfying. We’re in the recreation and entertainment business to a certain extent. I always tell my staff that we all have to come together to provide the golfers with a wonderful experience. And I pride myself on that.
Q: People think of a golf pro as a guy who plays golf all the time and gives a lesson here and there. What duties exactly does your typical day consist of?
A: I’m responsible for all golf operations – the driving range, the golf shop, the golf staff, tournament operations, merchandise operations and the golf cart fleet.
Q: And what is the most difficult part of all of it?
A: The toughest thing I feel in any business is a matter of finding good people – the labor force. And being able to retain the good ones that understand the goals of the operation. I’m not a one-man team. I tell my staff I’m only as good as you are in a lot of ways.
Q: Talk about lessons. What is your teaching philosophy and how do you go about giving lessons?
A: I approach teaching with the understanding that the golf swing is a motion, not a step-by-step thought-out process. I approach it as a motion. The biggest destroyer of that motion is tension. Muscle tension causes bad golf shots. There are really two main things to focus on: balance and then tempo and rhythm. There must be a freedom of tension in the arms, which allows the club to swing freely.
Q: How do you convey that concept?
A: It’s almost like a throwing motion. If I told someone to wind up and throw the club down the range, all of the elements of the golf swing are in that motion. The body winds and unwinds. All of the basic elements of the golf swing can be found in the throwing motion.
To book a tee time at San Juan Oaks or a lesson with Steve Janisch, call 831-636-6115.
