Jeff Smith – February 2009 PROfile

Name: Jeff Smith
College/University: Memphis State University
Year Turned Professional: 1982
Facility and Job Title: Harvest  Point Golf Course, Owner/Operator, Head Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
A good friend, Mike Lathrop, Hillwood CC, Nashville, TN, a PGA member, offered me an assistant’s position after I had just attempted PGA Tour Qualifying in the fall of 1982 and didn’t qualify. I registered in the PGA Apprentice Program, January 1983.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Teaching would be my expertise in the golf business.
What are just a few of your accomplishments?
Junior Golf Leader 1996; Merchandiser of the Year (Public) 1993, 1995, 1997; Horton Smith Award 2000, 2001, 2006; Bill Strausbaugh Award 2004; Golf Professional of the Year 2006; Co-Chair Play Golf Iowa 2006, 2007, 2008; eleven years on the Iowa Section Board of Directors; District 8 Director PGA of America 2008-2011.

What was your greatest moment in golf?
In the golf business it would be designing, building, owning and operating my own golf facility and driving range, opened in 2000. My greatest moment in playing golf would be winning the 1978 Waterloo Open, youngest amateur to ever win at the age of 19. I beat John Jacobs, current Champions Tour.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My parents introduced me to golf both operating a golf shop and maintaining a golf course. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all greens superintendents but I was the first PGA Golf Professional. My grandparents and parents both operated the golf shop as well as maintaining the golf course grounds at Edmundson GC from 1951-1986.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
I enjoy watching my 15-year-old son practice and compete at golf. Our family enjoys vacations and my wife and I have enjoyed numerous winter vacations over the years.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Pebble Beach is a course I have never played and look forward to playing someday with some of my best friends from high school.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
My preference would be to teach novice or beginning golfers. I would encourage them that golf should be fun, is affordable, and a sport you can enjoy as a family or individual for a lifetime.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
A simple but very useful golf tip would be referring to a railroad track for alignment purpose. The outside rail is the target line, a line from the ball to the target and the inside rail is a line parallel to the target line.