I'm Doug Smith,
a golf-professional with over 30 years of experience playing the game at every level.
From junior, to Division I college, to professional golf, my playing career exposed me to the barriers that keep a lot of people away from this game. This is why as a black professional golfer turned golf-professional, my career goal is to grow the game of golf by making it more diverse, inclusive and exciting. Now I work as a broadcaster for PGA Tour Live and Golf Channel, create entertaining content for a variety of brands, and host the podcast Beyond the Fairway (now in its fourth season).
Quick facts about me:
Originally from Versailles, Kentucky.
Started playing golf when I was four.
Became the first black player on the University of Louisville golf team.
I’m the 2005 National Minority Golf Collegiate Champion (Now PGA Works Collegiate Championship).
Played my last two collegiate seasons on the Florida A&M University golf team.
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida A&M University.
Worked in advancement before becoming a full-time professional golfer.
My most challenging course so far is Club Los Lagartos in Bogota, Columbia.
I have 6 holes in one.
I now work in the golf industry and I’m working toward my PGA.
My Golf Story
We went back to my hometown of Versailles, Kentucky so I could share how I started to play golf when I was four, and what kept me playing as a kid. In this video, I reminisce at some of my childhood golf heavens like the driving range at Man O' War Golf Learning Center where they thought I was a golf practice member because I was always there, and I got to hit a lot of free golf balls.
