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Janik, 36, accepted the position as head golf pro at Longshore. A former standout at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, Janik has worked at the Trumbull Golf Course since 2003. He started out as the assistant professional and later became the head pro under Director of Golf Bobby Brown.
“I really like the golf course and the facility,’’ Janik said. “It seemed like a fantastic opportunity. There are a lot of good things on the horizon and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Janik succeeds John Cooper, who held the position for 25 years. The only other pro at Longshore since the town purchased the property in 1960 was George Buck, who started in the 1940s when the club was a private facility. Babe Ruth, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope were among the golfing celebrities who once made their way around the Westport course.
Janik said the town has made significant upgrades to the course in recent years, and a project to renovate and replace the course’s well-known bunkers will begin in the fall.
“The conditions at the course have gotten light years better,’’ Janik said. “The playing conditions are fantastic now. It looks like there is a lot of positive energy at the facility.”
Janik said he plans to focus on customer service and become engaged with the men’s and women’s clubs. He’ll also encourage junior golfers. At Tashua Knolls, Janik won the Connecticut Section PGA Junior Golf Leader award and was recognized in 2011, 2012 and 2013 as a U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher. In 2014 he was named aU.S. Kids Top 50 Master Kids Teacher. He also coached the high school team at Trumbull , a position he had to relinquish to take over at Longshore.
“Junior golf is the future of the game,’’ Janik said. “There’s an existing junior program and I’d like to take that and expand it.”
Chris Davies, an assistant under Cooper, will serve in the same capacity with Janik. Davies is also an ice skating instructor at Longshore.
Once more seasonable temperatures return to the region -- and the snow melts -- Janik is looking forward to working with Westport golfers. He’ll also miss the relationships he developed at Tashua Knolls.
“I’m going to miss the staff and the customers,’’ Janik said. “Bobby was my mentor and the other people on the staff have become really good friends. Countless customers have become friends over the years.”
Longshore also announced that Todd Salamone will become the new superintendent at Longshore. He has worked for the past four years at BrightView Golf Maintenance.
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