After nearly 15 years as a golf pro and teaching pro in Columbus, Jeff Smith is branching out.
Smith, who left Otter Creek Golf Course in March, now is the Director of Instruction at Timbergate Golf Course in Edinburgh and Sagamore Golf Club in Noblesville and Sagamore’s parent company, Landscapes Unlimited.
Furthermore, Smith has landed on the faculty for instruction at the PGA of America. He one of 12 teachers nationwide who is training the next generation of golf instructors.
Young golf professionals, as they come up through the ranks, take classes on instruction. Smith will be developing teaching programs and making sure a quality instructor on site at 53 facilities around the country.
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“The PGA, I wouldn’t say no to,” Smith said. “It’s more of an honor than it is a paycheck. To be asked by the PGA of America to be one of their instructors that represents them and teaches tomorrow’s teachers to come through the PGA is a pretty nice honor.”
Since march, Smith has been teaching in Florida locales Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach and Boca Raton. He’s also been to Las Vegas to teach.
“I don’t think there’s been a day that I’ve had very little to do. I’ve been traveling quite a bit, and there’s going to be a lot more traveling in my future.”
Smith also has done a little teaching at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour and St. Annes Golf Course in North Vernon through his Plane and Simple Golf School.
In the meantime, Smith also has been able to see his three kids in their competitive golf careers. His oldest daughter Caroline just wrapped up her college career at Loyola of Chicago. Daughter Rebecca just finished her sophomore year at LaSalle, and son Drew is finishing his junior year on the Columbus North team, which plays in the Providence Regional Thursday at Champions Point Golf Club in Henryville.
“My scheduling is around watching my kids play,” Jeff Smith said. “I got to watch Rebecca play in a tournament. I got to watch Caroline’s final tournament of her college career out in Kansas. I’ve been able to watch Drew quite a bit this spring so far, and I’m going to watch him a little bit more this summer as we go. It’s nice to be able to make my schedule so I can see my kids play golf and also teach golf at a lot of different facilities.”
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Name: Jeff Smith
Age: 52
High school: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger
College: Indiana University (degree in psychology with economics minor)
Experience:
Director of Instruction, The Sagamore Club, Noblesville, April-present
Director of Instruction, Timbergate Golf Course, Edinburgh, April-present
Director of Instruction for North America — Smart 2 Move, April-present
Director of Instruction, Otter Creek Golf Course, 2010-18
Director of Golf and Operations, Harrison Lake Country Club, 2003-10
Head Golf Professional, Rolling Hills Country Club, Monroe, N.C., 1998-2003
Head Golf Professional, Pine Tree Golf Club, Kernersville, N.C., 1996-98
Asstistant Golf Professional, Bryan Park Golf Course, Greensboro, N.C., 1993-96
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