Smith family thankful for unprecedented golf feat

Shooting one’s age is a remarkable accomplishment.

Most golfers are fortunate to pull it off once. A few others might do it a dozen times.

Green Valley resident T.E. Smith has performed this feat 2,800 times.

While each round has a handful of warm memories attached to it, Smith, 90, will remember round No. 2,800 as one of his most special trips to the golf course.

With his son Dan, 56, and grandsons Marco, 22, and Jeff, 25, visiting from Minnesota, the Smith family hit the course last Thursday for a friendly Thanksgiving round of golf.

Smith carded an 85 at the Country Club of Green Valley, giving him 2,800 rounds at or below his age—more than any other golfer in recorded history.

Marco ended up shooting in the mid-70s, with Dan finishing a couple strokes higher. Keeping with the easy-going feel of the holiday, Jeff borrowed his grandfather’s clubs for the round.

The jokes were flying as the Smiths navigated their way through the CCGV fairways. Marco, the longest hitter in the Smith clan, reached the 18th green in two, with his approach shot settling about 35 feet from the cup.

During Marco’s last visit to Green Valley, he eagled the 18th after sticking his approach to within seven feet.

“I told Marco that I’d concede that 35-footer,” Smith said with a chuckle. “He had been sinking every putt that day.”

Marco two-putted for birdie, and T.E. parred to cap his round.

Later, the Smith family gathered around the dinner table to sink their teeth into a Thanksgiving feast.

As they ate, Smith reminiscied about some of the highlights of this impressive run since he first shot his age 22 years ago, June 19, 1984 at the Moorhead Country Club.

“I birdied the first hole and pitched in on the second hole,” Smith said. “That’s when I thought that I had better take this seriously.”

Since that day, he has turned in a scorecard at or below his age on more than 100 golf courses, including five in Ireland and a round at St. Andrews in Scotland, the home of the British Open.

One of his favorite memories was when he showed up to play a 2003 Father’s Day three-man scramble with Dan and Marco at the Wheaton Country Club in Minnesota.

The three Smiths showed up with identical plus-9 handicaps—believed to be the only time a tri-generational threesome has had identical handicaps.

On Saturday, Dan went back to Wheaton to tend to his 1,300-acre farm and Marco went back to Minnesota State University in Moorhead to continue his medical studies.

T.E. will continue shooting at or below his age, with the 3,000-mark well within his sights.

But round No. 2,800—the Thanksgiving round—will hold special significance for the Smith clan.

“We’ve always had some of our best days together out on the golf course,” Smith said.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747