During various stages of his esteemed career in sports and life, PGA of America Golf Professional Jamie Smith has been a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, world-class surfer, world champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, competitive skier, athletic-fitness trainer and a survival expert. Whew!
Today, he’s the 63-year-old Director of Instruction at Jamie Smith Golf Instruction in San Antonio, while serving as a Lead PGA HOPE instructor for the Southern Texas PGA Section.
Yes, Smith still likes to catch a wave, schuss down a slope, practice his Jiu Jitsu moves and make a birdie or three on the golf course. But he gleans maxi mum satisfaction by helping Veterans like himself transition to civilian life through PGA HOPE programs.
“Being Air Force retired (after 23 years), I can relate to what a lot of Veterans are going through,” says Smith, a native of San Diego who retired from the Air Force in 2004 and was elected to PGA of America Membership in 2009. “In my case, it has reignited my passion for teaching and has shown how golf can make a difference in the lives of Veterans.”
Like many Veterans, Smith was a bit reluctant at first to immerse himself in PGA HOPE programs – even as a PGA Professional.
“Douglas Carlton (PGA) kept pushing me to do the training. Once I did it and started assisting, I knew it was for me,” admits Smith. “With all I have been through, I could quickly see I was where I was meant to be. It is easier for them (Veterans) to share what they may be going through once they see what I’ve gone through.”
Indeed, when Smith trades stories with his PGA HOPE colleagues, he may mention that he was a multiple All-Services Military Surfing Cham pion and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. What he won’t tell them is that his medical records reveal a list of injuries reminiscent of a professional stunt man.
“I ended up with a hip and knee replacement, a disc replacement in my neck and a fusion in my lower back,” admits Smith. “I nearly drowned once while surfing and broke my neck once and my nose twice.
“Surfing and all the sports I have competed in really set the stage to get me involved with PGA HOPE.”
When Smith’s third duty station was in Hawaii, his love for surfing truly took off. “I had the time of my life when I was stationed there,” he recalls. “I was always on the water when not on duty.”
Smith’s introduction to golf came in the late 1980s, when an Air Force supervisor asked him to join him on the golf course.
“I birdied the 18th hole and was hooked,” Smith remembers. “After I got the golf bug, I became a pretty good player fast.
“Once I retired from the Air Force, my wife (Felecia) decided I should do something I love. She was still active-duty Navy, and I knew golf would let me play and teach wherever she was stationed. So, the journey began.”
Always looking for innovative ways to teach the game and make a difference in people’s lives, Smith has discovered that PGA HOPE and PGA Jr. League are perfect avenues for him to connect with players young and old, and to use golf to develop camaraderie. His idea of pairing PGA Jr. League and PGA HOPE participants together on scramble teams, for “Heroes and Future Heroes” events, became an instant hit.
“The PGA HOPE participants loved getting to mentor these kids and the PGA Jr. League kids loved playing alongside them. It’s a win-win all the way around,” notes Smith, who guided his PGA HOPE team in the 2025 Secretary’s Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina, in conjunction with the PGA Championship.
Smith has become passionate about PGA HOPE programs after witnessing firsthand how it can change and even save lives.
“I have a couple of PGA HOPE grads who I still play golf with and one of them helps me teach HOPE as a volunteer,” says Smith. “He is absolutely sure golf has saved his life. Believe me, when PGA Professionals work with Veterans through PGA HOPE, it makes a difference.” —Roger Graves
