Not too many golfers hit the ball farther than Tiger Woods.
Windsor Golf Club head professional Jason Schmuhl is one such
golfer.
Schmuhl once drove the 368 yard 8th hole at Windsor from the
back tees over the lake and onto the green. Not only did he hit the
green, he made the putt. He routinely drives the ball well over 300
yards and his prodigious length is legendary around the Windsor pro
shop.
Now, Jason will get to test his game against the likes of Tiger
Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els at the 92nd PGA Championship.
The fourth and final major of the year will be held August 12-15 at
Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Schmuhl made this very exclusive tournament field by shooting
72, 71, 77, and 69 at the very difficult Pete Dye Course at French
Lick Resort in Indiana during the PGA Professional National
Championship in late June. During his final round of 69, he was
four under par over the final eight holes.
Schmuhl got his start in golf 30 years ago when he was 8 years
old. He grew up in Sebastopol and was a golf team stand-out at
Analy High. Analy teammate and former Windsor head pro Alex Wright
said Jason has always been a solid player.
“When Jason was 13, 14, and 15 he was one of the top ranked
players in the state,” Wright said. “His recent resurgence is due
to two things – hitting it straighter, and he has a very strong
short game. He now makes a lot of clutch putts within 10 feet which
is the key to low scores,” he added.
Schmuhl played college golf at University of San Francisco and
has spent his career in golf working at Sonoma County courses
including Bodega Bay, Santa Rosa Country Club, and now Windsor Golf
Club.
Jason has worked at Windsor Golf Club for 12 years. He worked
for five years as the Tournament Director and is in his fourth year
as the Head Golf Professional. What is the best part of being the
head pro?
“I get to meet a lot of different people,” he said. “I’ve made
great relationships throughout the years.”
Assistant Golf Professional Joe Carlton works for Jason and has
nothing but complimentary things to say about his boss.
“Jason is just a regular, humble guy,” said Carlton. “He will be
playing in the PGA Championship one day and then making a turkey
sandwich for a customer the next day.”
Last Thursday Schmuhl was at the course at 4:30 a.m. with
Carlton, pulling out golf carts and preparing for the Ladies
Invitational. His priorities are his family, his job, and then his
golf game.
He is married to his wife Tracy and they have three kids –
Kristina, Riley, and Averie. His hobby away from the course is
“playing with the kids,” he said.
This won’t be Schmuhl’s first appearance playing in a PGA Tour
event. As winner of the Northern California PGA Section
Championship in 2008, Jason played in the AT&T at Pebble Beach
and the Reno-Tahoe Open. This year he is again the points leader in
the 2010 NCPGA Section Championship after winning the Stroke Play
Championship at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward earlier this month with
rounds of 73-65.
Schmuhl said the 65 he shot at Stonebrae was the greatest round
of golf he’s ever played. He started off double-bogey, par, bogey,
before charging back with eight birdies and one eagle over the last
15 holes. The 65 put him in a playoff that he later won.
What does Jason attribute his good play to over the years? He
doesn’t work with a coach but “I keep getting steadily better and
better every year,” he said.
Despite playing golf for 30 years, Jason had his first
hole-in-one earlier this year. He aced the 8th hole at Claremont
Country Club where he hit a 186-yard 7-iron.
When asked what his expectations are for the upcoming PGA
Championship, Schmuhl said, “My goal is to have fun, try to relax,
play aggressive, and play free. Whatever happens, happens.”
Matt Calegari can be reached at [email protected].
