The 19th Hole: Billy Hausch

Superintendent //  Nicklaus Club Monterey, Monterey, Calif.

Billy, what can I get you to drink?

Don’t tell Jack, but I want an ice cold Arnold Palmer.

Wait… doesn’t Jack have his own drink now?

He does, it’s a lemonade. We carry it, it’s made by Arizona (Beverage Co.) as well… but I prefer the Arnold Palmer.

Whoa… Sounds like a political football. It is.

We’re not even allowed to call them Arnold Palmers in the clubhouse, we have to call them “50/50s!”

Give me a guess: how many concerts have you been to?

I’ve probably been to close to 600 concerts. I’ve seen the Grateful Dead — or the entities they’ve created since Jerry Garcia died — the most. In fact I just got back from Playa del Carmen (Mexico), seeing them for four days. I also celebrated my 40th birthday down there.

I’m impressed! You’re a musician too, right?

Iplay harmonica, guitar and I sing, and I play in a Grateful Dead cover band.

Man, you should have grabbed the mic at the Golfdom Summit when we had the guy playing acoustic guitar!

When the guy was doing his solo in the tent? I considered it. But I figured people already thought I was weird enough with my long hair and mustache.

You still rocking the ’stache?

It’s dead until next November. I didn’t want to see it go but my fiancée, Kim, was very happy to see it go.

Read anything good lately?

I read a really good book… it was impactful. It’s called “Allen Carr’s Easy Ways to Stop Smoking.” You can guess why that was impactful — it actually got me to quit smoking after 24 years. February 25th will be one year, smoke free. After reading that book, man, I put the book down and never touched tobacco again.

How do you celebrate a job well done with the crew?

We do barbecues. I bought a large griddle. So we can do carne asada, al pastor, that sort of stuff.

Do you cook or does someone else man the grill?

It’s always me cooking. I enjoy cooking for them. I feel like, as an employee, when you roll into the shop for lunch and there’s your boss slaving away, setting you up with a great lunch… that makes you feel valued.

So when was the last time they impressed you?

Honestly, I’m impressed with them every day. I’m fortunate to have a great group of guys… every day they do something that makes me proud.

 As interviewed by Seth Jones, January 29th, 2014.