Class of 2011

Randy Smith

Golf Professional / Teacher

Biography

Inducted into the PGA of America's Hall of Fame in 2005, Randy Smith is the all-time leading PGA of America National Award winner with 18 national awards, including 1996 PGA of America Professional of the Year.

Randy currently serves as the Royal Oaks' Golf Professional Emeritus and Director of Instruction. The Randy Smith Teaching Center is home not only to the Royal Oaks playing membership, but also to numerous PGA Professionals and top amateur golfers around the world.

Born on January 13, 1952 in Wichita Falls. After his childhood in Odessa, Smith attended Texas Tech, where he spent his first two years on the golf team before going to work for professionals Gene Mitchell Sr. and his son, Gene Mitchell Jr., at Lubbock Country Club, while still an undergrad. His first post-college job was an assistant pro at Tulsa Country Club, which is when he called Harvey Penick and asked for help with his short game. He made the six-hour drive south, where the icon had served the membership of Austin Country Club for 50 years, and was still teaching.

In 1977 Randy joined the staff at Royal Oaks Country Club, in Dallas, Texas, became PGA Head Professional in 1980 and has remained ever since. He has also been a Teaching Editor for Golf Digest for more than ten years. His PGA Tour clients have included: Justin Leonard, Colt Knost, Ryan Palmer, Martin Laird and he currently coaches Scottie Scheffler.

While Randy teaches players of all levels, he especially enjoys working with juniors and his students have achieved 16 NCAA All-American honors. In addition, Randy has over 100 juniors that have received college golf scholarships.

The Great 108 is a fundraising event held at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas. It was started in 1983 by Randy Smith, who at the time was the PGA head professional. The event features junior golfers who each receivee a 9-hole playing lesson from either Smith or another of the PGA professionals on the Royal Oaks staff. Typically, the event is held in August, and 108 holes are played by each PGA professional, giving the event its name. The funds raised by the Royal Oaks members benefit the Northern Texas PGA Foundation and are directed to the Foundation’s scholarship fund and other growth of the game activities. Since its inception, The Great 108 has raised almost $2,000,000.

Legacy Video

Inductee Highlights

18 PGA of America national awards
1996 PGA of America Professional of the Year
2002 PGA of America Teacher of the Year
2005 PGA of America Hall of Fame
Named America’s Top 50 Best Teachers by Golf Digest and a member of the prestigious Top 100 Teachers by Golf Magazine

A Great Buddy

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Randy moved to Odessa, where he grew up playing junior golf and caddied at Sunset Golf & Country Club for future Texas Golf Hall of Famer Buddy Cook. He later worked at Cook’s fireworks stand during his high school days before receiving a business degree from Texas Tech. After graduating, Randy worked at Lubbock Country Club, where he was fired on more than one occasion, but always returned to work. He ultimately reunited with Cook as an assistant pro in Tulsa, Okla., before the duo crossed back over the Red River to take jobs at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas.

Justin Time

Since starting out as an assistant pro in 1977, Randy has stayed at Royal Oaks for nearly half a century, and currently serves as the Golf Professional Emeritus and Director of Instruction. That title may be a surprise to those who were around in the early days when Randy was more known as a merchandising and golf shop guru. His focus shifted to teaching after a young teenager returned to Royal Oaks after winning a major AJGA event and excitedly showed off his trophy to Randy and asked the pro to work with him. That boy went on to win the U.S. Amateur, NCAA Championship and the Open Championship and star in three Ryder Cups. His name – Justin Leonard.

18 is Golf’s Perfect Number

Randy has won more PGA of America national awards than any other professional, having claimed 18 during his career. He is one of just two people ever to be named PGA of America Professional of the Year (1996) and PGA of America Teacher of the Year (2002) and was inducted into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame in 2005. Renowned as one of America’s top 50 Best Teachers by Golf Digest and a member of the prestigious Top 100 Teachers by Golf Magazine, PGA Frisco has opened the Randy Smith & Dr. Bill Blair Who’s Next Pavilion, a 2,200-square-foot building designed for community outreach.

Great Scottie!

Randy has coached a number of juniors who went on to prolific careers. More than 100 of his players have received college golf scholarships, and 16 achieved NCAA All-America honors. In addition to Justin Leonard, he has coached notable PGA Tour professionals such as Martin Flores, Harrison Frazer, Colt Knost, Martin Laird, Ryan Palmer, John Rollins, and D.A. Weibring. His most successful protégé moved from New Jersey to Dallas and joined Royal Oaks Country Club at the age of six. Randy saw the future star’s first shots on the range and has worked with him ever since. With Randy’s tutelage, Scottie Scheffler became a Master’s champion and World No. 1.

Great 108

In 1983, Randy founded the Great 108 held at Royal Oaks, and the fledgling fundraiser event raised just over $9,000. Since that time, the event has become a staple of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, and nearly $2 million has been raised by the Royal Oaks members to benefit the Foundation’s scholarship fund and other growth of the game activities. The unique event features junior golfers who each receive a 9-hole playing lesson from Randy or another of the club’s PGA professionals. The money is well earned, as each PGA professional plays a grueling 108 holes that day.