PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Dick Smith of Williamstown, N.J., the 27th president of The PGA of America, has been named as the latest honoree in the Legends of The PGA program, for contributions to the Association and the golf industry.
Smith, 63, the PGA General Manager at Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry Hill, N.J., is a native of Akron, Ohio, and attended Loyola College in Baltimore, Md. He began his professional golf career in 1961, and was elected to PGA membership in 1964.
Smith will be honored Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, at the Association’s 89th Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Smith served as president of the Philadelphia PGA Section from 1975-1980. In 1984, he was elected to the PGA Board of Directors, and was chair of the Club Relations, Tournament, Membership Eligibility and Procedures Committees. He was elected the 27th PGA President in November 1990.
On the golf course, Smith was one of the finest players ever to be elected PGA President. He competed in five PGA Championships, 11 PGA Club Professional Championships, finished 42nd in the 1970 U.S. Open and 17th in the 1992 Senior British Open. He was a five-time Philadelphia PGA Champion, and a six-time Section Player of the Year while winning more than 25 championships.
From the beginning of his presidency, Smith dedicated himself to member involvement in all Association programs and supported the Strategic Direction initiated in 1987 that led The PGA of America into the 21st century.
During his term, Smith joined in the promotion of a PGA Golf Professional Training Program (now PGA Professional Golf Management), the development of PGA Career Services, the opening of the PGA Fall Expo, new programs that enabled PGA Professionals to sell exclusive PGA Championship and Ryder Cup logoed merchandise, golf travel and other services through golf shops and the development of PGA Golf Services (now PGA Golf Properties), which grew into the Association developing PGA Golf Club and acquiring new PGA-owned facilities.
Smith’s professional golf career began in 1961, as an assistant at Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pa. He was named PGA Head Professional and General Manager at High Point Golf Club in Ivyland, Pa., and later served (1976-80) as the PGA Head Professional at Wedgwood Country Club in Turnersville, N.J. He joined Woodcrest Country Club in 1981, and remained until 1993, when he became Director of Golf and Executive Vice President at Galloway (N.J.) National Golf Club.
Two years later, Smith became owner/operator at a practice facility, The Williamstown Golf Center, in Williamstown, N.J. In preparation for the 2002 U.S. Open, Smith served from 1998-2002, as PGA Director of Golf at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y.
From 2003 to January 2005, Smith was PGA Director of Golf at Riverwinds Golf Club in Thorofare, N.J., and PGA Director of Golf at White Oaks Golf Club in Newfield, N.J. In 2004, he founded The Dick Smith Golf Group, a golf industry consulting company and continues to serve as its president. In August 2005, Smith became general manager at Woodcrest Country Club, where his son Dick Jr., is PGA Director of Golf.
Smith and his wife, Adrienne, live in Williamstown, N.J., and are the parents of two children, a son, Dick Jr., and a daughter, Stephanie; and three grandchildren, Alexandria, Zakary and Marissa.
The PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Contact:
Jamie Carbone
561/624-8446
jcarbone@pgahq.com
