SAN JOSE
– Before reaching 40 years of age, Steve Janisch wanted to be a
head professional of a golf course. The 42-year old Gilroyan
already accomp-lished that goal with previous employment at Coyote
Creek, Eagle Ridge, San Juan Oaks and Cinnabar Hills Golf
Clubs.
SAN JOSE – Before reaching 40 years of age, Steve Janisch wanted to be a head professional of a golf course.
The 42-year old Gilroyan already accomp-lished that goal with previous employment at Coyote Creek, Eagle Ridge, San Juan Oaks and Cinnabar Hills Golf Clubs.
But it was not until November that he reached his bigger goal of becoming a general manager as the 26-year garlic capital resident was hired on as GM/Director of Golf at The Ranch Golf Club – which is due to open in Spring of 2004.
“I’ll be responsible for all operations now. I’ve kinda taken that next step in terms of career-wise versus just head professional where I was just responsible for golf operations,” Janisch said. “Now, I’m responsible for golf. I’ll be responsible for beverage maintenance and putting a team together here.”
Nestled in the hills to the east of Highway 101 at the Yerba Buena Road Exit in South San Jose is the championship par-72 public golf course, which is part of The Ranch on Silver Creek community. There are going to be 538 luxury homes built in the surrounding area around Hassler Parkway and Silver Creek Valley Road.
“The homes are absolutely gorgeous,” Janisch said. “I’ve had a really good time being part of these golf communities. One of the big things we want to do here is get a really good synergy going between the homes and the golf course. We want to embrace them and we want this to be their golf course and their community.”
William Lyon Homes Inc., one of the biggest builders throughout California since the early 1950s, owns the property. The golf course is managed by Landmark Golf Company, a world-renowned company based out of Palm Springs that is recognized for its world class facilities and resorts including the Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel.
“In a lot of ways, it’s a dream come true for me to get on board. I’m working with two great companies. It’s close to home – which is nice,” said Janisch, a long-time volunteer chef at the annual Garlic Festival. “We’re going to provide a very, very high-end experience here. That’s what it’s going to be about. I know a lot of facilities say that but we’re really going to do it here.”
The course layout – which allows the natural beauty to shine through with dramatic elevation changes that play up the spectacular canyons and rolling hillsides – was designed by Casey O’Callaghan.
“He’s kind of a young and upcoming course architect and kind of his thing is he likes to take basically the land itself and design a golf course given those features, keeping everything with a natural look,” said Janisch of the graduate of UC-Berkley’s School of Environmental Design.
O’Callaghan has suc-cessfully designed several courses in the Western U.S., including Hidden Valley Golf Club in Riverside and Mountville Golf Club in the Napa Valley.
The Ranch Golf Club is expected to measure more than 6,500 yards with steep elevation changes and tiered greens. The finishing hole for the course is a 380-yard par 4 that will have a boomerang-shaped green.
“The nice thing about this golf course is it’s not a golf course that is real, real long. It’s not like they built a golf course that’s 7,200 yards across the way and you’ve got to hit it 280 yards in the air over a canyon,” Janisch said. “It’s going to be a challenging golf course. I think there is going to be a lot of what I’m referring to as spectacular and memorable golf shots out here from a pure golf perspective.”
The mammoth, arching entrance made of shale stone makes a bold impression before you even get inside The Ranch Golf Club. Six holes lie in the entrance area as you drive in. Then, there are seven holes that are a drive up to the ‘Top of the World’ and over inside ‘The Canyon.’ The 10th tee offers an incredible view of downtown San Jose and the distant San Francisco skyline on clear days.
“They weave through the canyon and the elevation changes are just spectacular. The creek runs throughout the property and there’s a lot of shots you have to hit going across the canyon and things like that,” Janisch said. “It’s a golf course that certainly doesn’t need the distance to make it tough.”
The expected signature hole of The Ranch has a devilish bunker in the middle of the green – which William Lyon Homes Inc. President Wade Cable had some say in. Bunkers are not always a bad thing for this unique course layout. On some holes, a shot into the sand trap could be considered an advantage since an off-target drive may not stop rolling down the hill.
“I’ve been a part of obviously some of the nicer facilities in this 30, 50 mile radius. This is another one. I’m proud to be here. I’m so excited,” Janisch said. “I’m just excited about having this opportunity. I’m going to continue my growth in the business. I’m still learning myself. It’s just wonderful.”
