Analy grad and Windsor pro qualifies for PGA Tournament

by Matt Calegari
Special to Sonoma West

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .